Kumasi

Kumasi
City
Top: Aerial view of Central Business District (CBD) in Kumasi and Private Housing Estates in Kumasi, Bottom left: Kumasi Sports Stadium, Bottom: Ghana Commercial Bank (GBC) Building in Kumasi, Ghana Armed Forces (GFA) Museum in Kumasi and Luxury Real Estates in Kumasi.
Seal
Kumasi Geographic Coordinate System of the City of Kumasi
Coordinates: 6°40′N 1°37′W / 6.667°N 1.617°W / 6.667; -1.617Coordinates: 6°40′N 1°37′W / 6.667°N 1.617°W / 6.667; -1.617
Country	Ghana
Region	Ashanti
District	Kumasi Metropolitan
Founded	1680
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Kojo Bonsu
Area[1]
• Total	254 km2 (98 sq mi)
Elevation	250 m (820 ft)
Population (2013 est.)[2]
• Total	2,069,350
• Density	8,100/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC
Area code(s)	032
Website	kma.gov.gh

Kumasi (historically spelled Comassie or Coomassie)^[3] is a city in Ashanti Region, South Ghana and is among the largest metropolitan areas of Ghana. Kumasi is located near Lake Bosumtwi, in a Rain Forest region, and is the commercial, industrial and cultural capital of Asanteman. Kumasi is approximately 500 kilometres (300 mi) north of the Equator and 200 kilometres (100 mi) north of the Gulf of Guinea. Kumasi is alternatively known as "The Garden City" because of its many beautiful species of flowers and plants. It is also called Oseikrom.

History

Origins

Lake Bosumtwi

There is evidence that the area around Kumasi has been kept cleared since the Neolithic age and that the first human settlement was at Lake Bosumtwi.

Asanteman

Kings Way Road in Kumasi, 1925.

The city rose to prominence in 1695 when it became capital of the Ashanti Confederacy due to the activities of its ruler Osei Tutu. The ruler of Kumasi, known as the Asantehene, also served as ruler of the Confederacy. With their 1701 victory over Denkyira the Asante confederacy became the primary state among the Akans.^[4] Parts of the city, including the Royal Palace, were destroyed by British troops in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War of 1874.

Lady Mary Alice Hodgson, the first English lady to visit Ashanti, wrote "The Siege of Kumasi" an account of the siege of the fort by the nationals of Ashanti Confederation and of the subsequent march to the coast.^[5]

She was the daughter of Hon. W. A. G. Young, C.M.G., former Governor of the Gold Coast, and the wife of Sir Frederick Mitchell Hodgson, K.C.M.G., the Governor of the Gold Coast (1900).^[5]

Kumasi remains a royal city in 1926 the Ashanti was restored ceremonial control over Kumasi, the full role of king was restored in 1935. The city holds an important place in the history of the Ashanti people, as legend claims that it was here Okomfo Anokye received the Golden stool, an embodiment of the soul of the Ashanti nation.

Climate

Kumasi features a tropical wet and dry climate, with relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the year. Kumasi averages around 1400 mm (55") of rain per year.

The city almost features two different rainy seasons, a longer rainy season from March through July and a shorter rainy season from September to November.

In actuality, the months of February through to November is one long wet season, with a relative lull in precipitation in August. Similar to the rest of West Africa, Kumasi experiences the harmattan during the “low sun” months. Lasting from December to February, the harmattan is the primary source of the city’s dry season.

Landmarks

Manhyia Palace and Museum in Kumasi

Features of the city include Fort Kumasi (built by in 1896 to replace an Asante fort and now a museum) and the Kumasi Hat Museum.

Royal Asante attractions include the Kumasi National Cultural Centre (including the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum with various Asante regalia including a reproduction of the golden stool), the Okomfo Anokye Sword, the Asantehene's Palace (built in 1972), and the Manhyia Palace, dating from 1925, now a museum.

Kumasi is also home to a zoo, and St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi. The large Kumasi Central Market and Tafo Kumasi.

Economy

The main occupations in Kumasi are professional occupations such as services and manufacturing.

Mining and Exports

Gold Bars and Theobroma Cacao and Cacao

Due to large gold deposits that have been mined in the area, Kumasi has been among the wealthier cities in Africa. The city's major exports are gold bars, hardwood and cocoa.

Manufacturing

Kumasi has 50% of the timber industry of Ghana, and the Kaasai Industrial Area plays an important role in the Kumasi and Ashanti industry. The Guinness Ghana Breweries is based there and is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

Energy

Solar panels are prevalent in Kumasi and Ashanti; Solar energy technology is a major energy source and contributor of electricity generation in Ashanti.

Commerce

Panoramic view of shopping street in Kumasi, and the biggest shopping street in West Africa, 2008.

Much of the shopping and trading activity in the city takes place at Kumasi's shopping streets, in and around Kejetia Market and Adum. These two areas; Kejetia and Andum are in close proximity with the two having a common boundary.

Education and science

Pearson House of Prempeh College, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) main entrance.

Senior High Schools and Colleges

There are notable senior high schools like Prempeh College which was founded in Kumasi by the King Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II in 1949, and Opoku Ware School; named after the Asanteman King Opoku Ware I and founded in 1952. the city also has a polytechnic to boost its education called Kumasi Polytechnic. Former president, John Kufuor attended and graduated from the Prempeh College.

Universities

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (formerly the Kumasi College of Technology) is the Premier University of Science and Technology in West Africa. The city's most famous son is the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, who attended and graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Kumasi is the location of Garden City University College.

Transportation

Air

Kumasi is served by the Kumasi Airport. As of May 2014 at least four airlines offered regularly scheduled flights to Accra and Tamale. Airlines servicing the airport included Africa World Airlines, Antrak Air, Fly540 and Starbow Airlines. The airport is also undergoing construction to allow for night operations.^[7]

Bus and Taxicab

Kumasi Taxicabs

Public transport in the city is provided by transit buses, a mix of privately owned mini-buses known as Tro-Tros, taxicabs and buses. Tro-Tros are usually converted mini-buses that run regular, well-known routes. Some taxis also run regular routes, which cost more but provide for a more comfortable ride.

In 2002, the city introduced the metro bus services a rapid transit system for public road transport in Kumasi (MetroMass).^[8] This was in order to reduce congestion on roads and to make a larger and more organised bus routine system available in the city.^[9]

Rail

Kumasi is served by the railway lines to Sekondi-Takoradi and Accra. The train service has been suspended for several years because of damaged track, bridges and locomotives. Currently, no train is running from and to Kumasi due to the collapse of the Railway Corporation some years back. A $6 billion project to upgrade the railways, was due to get underway in 2011.^[10]

Port

As of 2011, construction of the Boankra Inland Port, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) away, has come to a halt.^[11]

Sports

The local football (soccer) team, the Kumasi Asante Kotoko has won several national and continental trophies and awards, and serves as a rival to the Accra based Hearts of Oak. Their stadium, Kumasi Sports Stadium also known as Baba Yara Stadium was built in 1959, renovated in 1978, and again in 2007 with a seating capacity of 40,000.^[12] It is also the home of King Faisal Football Club a premier division side. There is the Royal Golf Club which has the Asantehene as President. Professional wrestler Kofi Kingston was also born in Kumasi.

Healthcare

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi

The Kumasi has a teaching hospital to support the medical training at the University (Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital), the West End Hospital, several other private hospitals, public clinics and small hospitals.

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Kumasi is twinned with:

	Country		City		County / District / Region / State	Date
	Ivory Coast		Abidjan		Lagunes	2004
			Treichville
	USA		Atlanta		Georgia	2010
	Netherlands		Almere		Flevoland	2001
	USA		Charlotte		North Carolina	1996
	USA		Columbus		Ohio	2008
	Canada		Kitchener		Ontario	2010
	USA		Newark		New Jersey	1999
	South Africa	Tshwane			Gauteng	2010
	USA		Winston-Salem		North Carolina	2001

See also

• Lake Bosumtwi
• Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
• AngloGold Ashanti

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kumasi.

• Kumasi News
• http://www.mygardencity.com Interactive Community Platform for Ashanti Region
• MSN Map
• KNUST home page
• Kumasi Market Video
• The Siege of Kumasi on Internet Archive