Ashanti Region

December 2002] Ashanti, with Kumasi as its capital, lies approximately at the centre of the country. It covers an area of 24,390 square kilometres representing 10.2% of the land area of Ghana.

Ashanti is the most populous region in Ghana. According to the 2000 Population and Housing Census Report, the Region recorded a total of 3,612,950 representing 19.1% of national total of 18,912,079. Males constitute 50.2%. Out of the three hundred and sixty four (364) settlements described as urban in Ghana i.e. with a population of 5000 and above, fifty eight (58) are in Ashanti. Fifty-one point three (51.3%) per cent of the people live in urban settlements. The Region has eighteen administrative districts, the highest in the country. It is made up of one Metropolitan Assembly (Kumasi metropolitan Assembly) and seventeen (17) other District Assemblies.

There are as many as thirty-three (33) constituencies giving the Region a strong representation in Parliament. Ashanti has thirty-three (33) Traditional Council areas. A Paramount Chief heads each council. All the Paramount chiefs also owe allegiance to Otumfuo, the Asantehene who is the head of the Asanteman Council. Otumfuo is also the head of the Kumasi Traditional Council. Ashanti is affectionately dubbed the Resource Basket of Ghana because it is endowed with numerous resources.

The Region has abundant food supplies to feed its people and others. These include plantain, maize, cassava, cocoyam, yam, vegetables and other cereals and legumes. Irish potatoes also thrive well in Nsuta near Mampong.

The industrial crops grown include cocoa, oil palm, tobacco, bast fibre, cotton, citrus and cashew.

The Region has the largest number of Poultry Industries in the Country. It is also the home of large poultry feedmills.

A sizeable quantity of bamboos and canes grow wildly in the forest belt.

The Region is endowed with large deposits of gold and bauxite. Other mineral deposits of economic value found in the Region include manganese, iron, silica, clay and limestone. Traces of copper, platinum, lithium, tin arsenic and mica are also found.

The Region has several tourism potentials including Lake Bosumtwe. z Added to these the people in the Region exhibit perhaps the highest entrepreneurial acumen and drive in the country, ready to foster partnership with local and foreign investors for the development of the Region. z The Regions vast natural resources, including arable land and mineral deposits, have led to the establishment of some industries. These include Wood Processing and Furniture, Beverage (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), capital goods and metal fabrication. z The Suame Magazine located in Kumasi is recognised as the most efficient mechanical, electrical and car body building workshop in the sub-Sahara Africa.