# Ashanti Region

The Ashanti Region is located in the southern part of Ghana and is the third largest of 16 administrative regions, occupying a total land surface of 24,389 km$^2$ (9,417 sq mi) and making up 10.2 percent of the total land area of Ghana. It is the most populated region in Ghana, with a population of 5,440,463 according to the 2021 census, accounting for around one-sixth of Ghana's total population. The Ashanti Region is known for its gold bar and cocoa production. The largest city and capital of Ashanti is Kumasi.

## Geography

The Ashanti Region is located in the middle belt of Ghana. It lies between longitudes 0.15W and 2.25W as well as latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N. The region shares boundaries with six of the sixteen political regions: the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo in the north, the Eastern Region in the east, the Central Region in the south, and the Western Region in the South west. The region is divided into 43 districts, each headed by a District Chief Executive.

## Economy

The economy of the Ashanti Region is largely self-sufficient, dominated by the service sector, agriculture sector, as well as by natural resources. The region is also known for its production of manganese, bauxite and agricultural commodities such as cocoa and yam, with the region having low levels of taxation and without much need for foreign direct investment.

## Demographics

The center of population in 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 of Ghana; however, its density (148.1 per square 1 km (0.62 mi)) is lower than that of Central the (162.2/km$^2$) Region. The majority of the Ashanti Region's population is from the Akan ethnic group and is made up of citizens by birth (94.2%), whereas 5% are naturalized Ghanaians. A smaller proportion (5.8%) of the population originates from outside Ashanti, Akanland, or Ghana; 3.7 percent of the population of Ashanti was from one of the five English-speaking countries of ECOWAS and 2.1 percent was from other countries in Africa. The non-African population living in the region is 1.8 percent of the total population. Akans are the predominant ethnic group in the region, representing 94.2% of citizens by birth. A high proportion (82.9%) of the Akan population is Ashanti.

## Transport

The Ashanti region is served by the Kumasi Airport, which handles domestic flights. Five national highways (the N4, N6, N8, N10 and N6) and a few regional highways, such as the R52 and R106, are located in the region.
The N6 is connected to Kumasi, Nsawam, the N4, and Accra via Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Ashanti is also connected to the Central Region by the N8 and N10, both of which originate from Yemoransa in the Central Region. The N10, is also connected to Kumasi.

## Education
### Higher education

The Ashanti region has three public universities. In addition, there are private universities and colleges, which are spread throughout the region.

#### Universities

* Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
* Ghana Baptist University College, Kumasi
* Spiritan University College, Ejisu
* Garden City University College, Kenyasi, Kumasi
* Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, (formerly Kumasi Campus of University of Education, Winneba)]
* National Institute Of Information Technology, Kumasi Campus NIIT.
* Kumasi Technical University, K-Poly
* IPMC, Kumasi Campus
* Akrokerri College of Education
* St. Monica's College of Education, Mampong
* Christian Service University College, Odeneho Kwadaso
* Wesley College of Education
* St. Louis College of Education
* Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (formerly Mampong Campus of University of Education, Winneba)
* Mampong Technical College of Education (MAMTECH)
* S.D.A. College of Education, Agona

## Healthcare

Healthcare in the region is managed by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate (RHD), which is headed by Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang. Under the agency there are 43 smaller district health directorates managed by their respective district.$^{:para1,2}$
There are about 1,654 health facilities in the region, mostly consisting of CHPS facilities and health centers.$^{:para3}$ This is a list of the most popular hospitals in the Ashanti Region:
* Manhyia Hospital
* Kwadaso SDA Hospital
* Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
* Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital
* Kumasi South Hospital
* First Care Hospital
* Tafo Government Hospital
* Suntreso Government Hospital
* West End Hospital

## Sports

* Kumasi Asante Kotoko
* Ashanti Gold SC
* King Faisal Babies F.C.
* New Edubiase United
* Main stadium is Kumasi Sports Stadium

## Administrative divisions

The Ashanti Region is administered by a local government. Under its administrative system, the region is divided into 43 MMDAs (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 18 Municipal and 24 Ordinary Assemblies). Each District, Municipal, or Metropolitan Assembly is administered by a Chief Executive and Member of Parliament representing the central government, but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected by the other members of the Assembly. Afterwards, the MMDAs were increased from 10 to 18 in 1988; from 18 to 21 in 2004; from 21 to 27 in 2008; from 27 to 30 in 2012; and from 30 to 43 in 2018. The current list of Members of Parliament is as follows:
* Map of all the districts in the Ashanti Region
Administrative divisions of Ashanti Region :
| District | Capital | Constituency | Member of Parliament | Party |
| Adansi Asokwa | Adansi Asokwa | Adansi-Asokwa | Kobina Tahir Hammond | NPP |
| Adansi North | Fomena | Fomena | Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Second Deputy Speaker) | IND |
| Adansi South | New Edubiase | New Edubease | Adams Abdul Salam | NDC |
| Afigya Kwabre North | Boamang | Afigya Kwabre North | Collins Adomako-Mensah | NPP |
| Afigya Kwabre South | Kodie | Afigya Kwabre South | William Owuraku Aidoo | NPP |
| Ahafo Ano North Municipal | Tepa | Ahafo Ano North | Suleman Adamu Sanid | NPP |
| Ahafo Ano South East | Dwinyame / Adugyama | Ahafo Ano South East | Francis Manu-Adoabor | NPP |
| Ahafo Ano South West | Mankranso | Ahafo Ano South West | Kwaku Adu Johnson | NPP |
| Akrofuom | Akrofuom | Akrofuom | Alex Blankson | NPP |
| Amansie Central | Jacobu | Odotobri | Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi | NPP |
| Amansie West | Manso Nkwanta | Manso Nkwanta | George Kwabena Obeng Takyi | NPP |
| Amansie South | Manso Adubia | Manso Edubia | Frimpong Yaw Addo | NPP |
| Asante Akim Central Municipal | Konongo | Asante Akim Central | Kwame Anyimadu - Antwi | NPP |
| Asante Akim North | Agogo | Asante Akim North | Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi | NPP |
| Asante Akim South Municipal | Juaso | Asante Akim South | Kwaku Asante-Boateng | NPP |
| Asokore Mampong | Asokore Mampong | Asawase | Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak(Minority Chief Whip) | NDC |
| Asokwa Municipal | Asokwa | Asokwa | Patricia Appiagyei | NPP |
| Atwima Kwanwoma | Twedie | Atwima-Kwanwoma | Kofi Amankwa-Manu | NPP |
| Atwima Mponua | Nyinahin | Atwima Mponua | Isaac Kwame Asiamah | NPP |
| Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal | Nkawie | Atwima-Nwabiagya South | Benito Owusu Bio | NPP |
| Atwima Nwabiagya North | Barekese | Atwima-Nwabiagya North | Emmanuel Adjei Anhwere | NPP |
| Bekwai Municipal | Bekwai | Bekwai | Joseph Osei-Owusu (First Deputy Speaker) | NPP |
| Bosome Freho | Asiwa | Bosome-Freho | Akwasi Darko Boateng | NPP |
| Bosomtwe | Kuntanse | Bosomtwe | Yaw Osei Adutwum | NPP |
| Ejisu Municipal | Ejisu | Ejisu | John Ampotuah Kumah | NPP |
| Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal | Ejura | Ejura-Sekyedumase | Muhammad Bawah Braimah | NDC |
| Juaben Municipal | Juaben | Juaben | Ama Pomaa Boateng | NPP |
| Kumasi Metropolitan (KMA) | Kumasi | Bantama | Francis Asenso -Boakye | NPP |
| Kumasi Metropolitan (KMA) | Kumasi | Manhyia North | Akwasi Konadu | NPP |
| Kumasi Metropolitan (KMA) | Kumasi | Manhyia South | Matthew Opoku Prempeh | NPP |
| Kumasi Metropolitan (KMA) | Kumasi | Nhyiaeso | Stephen Amoah | NPP |
| Kumasi Metropolitan (KMA) | Kumasi | Subin | Eugene Boakye Antwi | NPP |
| Kwabre East Municipal | Mamponteng | Kwabre East | Francisca Oteng Mensah | NPP |
| Kwadaso Municipal | Kwadaso | Kwadaso | Kingsley Nyarko | NPP |
| Mampong Municipal | Mampong | Mampong | Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong | NPP |
| Obuasi East Municipal | Tutuka | Obuasi East | Patrick Boakye-Yiadom | NPP |
| Obuasi Municipal | Obuasi | Obuasi West | Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng | NPP |
| Offinso Municipal | Offinso | Offinso South | Augustine Collins Ntim | NPP |
| Offinso North | Akomadan | Offinso North | Isaac Yaw Opoku | NPP |
| Oforikrom Municipal | Oforikrom | Oforikrom | Emmanuel Marfo | NPP |
| Old Tafo Municipal | Old Tafo | Old Tafo | Vincent Ekow Assafuah | NPP |
| Sekyere Afram Plains | Drobonso | Sekyere Afram Plains | Alex Adomako-Mensah | NDC |
| Sekyere Central | Nsuta | Nsuta-Kwamang | Adelaide Ntim | NPP |
| Sekyere East | Effiduase | Afigya Sekyere East | Mavis Nkansah Boadu | NPP |
| Sekyere Kumawu | Kumawu | Kumawu | Philip Basoah | NPP |
| Sekyere South | Agona | Effiduase-Asokore | Nana Ayew Afriyie | NPP |
| Suame Municipal | Suame | Suame | Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu (Majority Leader) | NPP |

## Points of Interest

The following is a list of potential points of interest in the Ashanti Region:

### Parks

* Bobiri Forest Butterfly Sanctuary
* Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary
* Digya National Park
* Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve
* Owabi Forest Reserve and Bird Sanctuary

### Recreation areas

* Centre for National Culture, Kumasi
* Rattray Park

### Historic sites

* Komfo Anokye Sword site
* Manhyia Palace Museum
* Kumasi Fort and Military Museum
* Armed Forces Museum
* The Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
* The Asante Traditional Buildings
* Yaa Asantewaa Museum

### Festivals

* Papa Festival
* Kente Festival
* Yaa Asantewaa Festival
* Mmoa Nni Nko Festival
* Nkyidwo Festival

### Other

* Kejetia Market
* Adinkra cloth printing in Ntonso

## Notable people
### Acting

* Sonia Ibrahim

### Athletes

* Sulley Muntari
* Emmanuel Frimpong
* Samuel Kuffour
* Tony Yeboah
* Kwadwo Asamoah
* Maxwell Konadu
* Harrison Afful
* Quincy Owusu-Abeyie
* Kofi Kingston
* Ransford Selasi

### Filmmakers

* Deborah Owusu-Bonsu

### Musicians

* Nana Acheampong

### Military and political figures

* Kofi Annan
* John Kufuor
* I. K Acheampong
* Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa
* J.H. Frimpong-Ansah
* Joseph Yaw Manu
* Kwasi Anin-Yeboah
* Joseph Adjei Buadi

### Business

* Sam Jonah