| Ashanti Region | |
|---|---|
| Location of Ashanti Region in Ghana | |
| Abbreviation | AS |
| ISO Code | GH-AH |
| Capital | Kumasi |
| Districts | 27 |
| Government | |
| • Regional Minister | Hon. Kofi Opoku Manu (NDC) |
| • Members of Parliament | 39 |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 24,389 km2 (9,416.6 sq mi) |
| Population [2] | |
| • Total | 3,612,950 (2,000 census) Ranked 1st |
| • Density | 148.14/km2 (383.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | GMT |
| Area code(s) | 032 |
The Ashanti Region is the third largest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 24389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000, accounting for 19.1 per cent of Ghana’s total population. The Ashanti region also harbors the capital city of Kumasi.
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The Ashanti region is centrally located in the middle belt of Ghana. It lies between longitudes 0.15W and 2.25W, and latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N. The region shares boundaries with four of the ten political regions, Brong-Ahafo Region in the north, Eastern region in the east, Central region in the south and Western region in the South west. The region is divided into 27 districts, each headed by a district chief executive.
Several festivals are celebrated in the region, the major ones being the Akwasidae and Adae Kese. These are religious festivals celebrated by some members of the Akan ethnic group of which the Ashanti belong. The festivals are celebrated to remember past leaders and heroes. Though they are dead, their spirits are believed to be alive and taking interest in the affairs of the living, watching their actions, and consulting with them during the Adae festival.
The center of population of the Ashanti Region is located in the Kumasi Metropolitan District. According to the 2000 census, the region had a population of 3,612,950, making it the most populous region; however, its density (148.1 per square km) is lower than those of the Greater Accra (895.5/km2) and Central (162.2/km2) Region [3] Majority of the region’s population are Ghanaians by birth (87.3%) with about five per cent naturalized Ghanaians. A smaller proportion (5.8%) of the population originate from outside Ghana, made up of 3.7 per cent mainly from the five English-speaking countries of ECOWAS and 2.1 per cent from other African countries. The non-African population living in the region is 1.8 per cent of the total population. Akans are the predominant ethnic group in the region, representing 77.9% of Ghanaians by birth. A high proportion (78.9%) of the Akan population is Asante. The non-Akan population in the region comprises the Mole- Dagbon (9.0%), the Ewe (3.2%), the Grusi (2.4%), the Mande-Busanga (1.8%) and the Ga- Dangme (1.4%). The other smaller ethnic groups form about 1.3 per cent of the population of the region.[4]
The religious affiliations of the people of the Ashanti region are below[5]:
The Ashanti region is served by the Kumasi Airport, which handles domestic flights. Five National highways – N4, N6, N8, N10 and N6 – and a few Regional highways such as the R52 and R106 serve the region.
The N4 connects Accra in the Greater Accra Region with Kumasi in the Ashanti Region through the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, while the N6 connects both cities via Kwame Nkrumah Circle and through Nsawam. The region is also connected to the Central Region by the N8 and N10, both of which originate from Yemoransa in the Central Region. The N10, however, continues on, connecting the regional capital of Kumasi to Paga in the Upper East Region.
The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 27 districts.[6] Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Area, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves.
| Districts in Ashanti Region Region[7] | ||
|---|---|---|
| District | Capital | Population |
| Adansi North | Fomena | 235,680 (2000 census) |
| Adansi South | New Edubiase | 129,325 (2000 census) |
| Afigya-Kwabre | Agona | |
| Ahafo Ano North | Tepa | 71,856 (2000 census) |
| Ahafo Ano South | Mankranso | 133,874 (2000 census) |
| Amansie Central | Bekwai | 219, 508 (2000 census) |
| Amansie West | Manso Nkwanta | 108, 768 (2000 census) |
| Asante Akim North | Konongo | 126, 465 (2000 census) |
| Asante Akim South | Juaso | 96, 885 (2000 census) |
| Atwima Kwanwoma | Foase Kokoben | 234, 759 (2000 census) |
| Atwima Mponua | Nyinahin | |
| Atwima Nwabiagya | Nkawie | |
| Bekwai Municipal | Bekwai | |
| Bosome Freho | Asiwa | |
| Bosomtwe | Kuntenase | 145,524 (2000 census) |
| Ejisu-Juaben Municipal | Ejisu | 124, 179 (2000 census) |
| Ejura/Sekyedumase | Ejura | 81, 119 (2000 census) |
| Kumasi Metropolitan | Kumasi | 1, 171, 311 (2000 census) |
| Kwabre | Mamponteng | 164, 668 (2000 census) |
| Mampong Municipal | Mampong | |
| Obuasi Municipal | Obuasi | |
| Offinso Municipal | Offinso | 138, 190 (2000 census) |
| Ofinso North | Akomadan | |
| Sekyere Afram Plains | Kumawu | |
| Sekyere Central | Nsuta | |
| Sekyere East | Effiduase | 157, 378 |
| Sekyere South | Agona Ashanti | 143, 213 |
The Ashanti region has one public four-year institution, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. In addition, there are a number of private universities and university colleges spread throughout the region.