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Kumasi

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Kumasi
City
Top: Fort of Kumasi, Middle left: Kejetia Market, Middle right: Kwame Nkrumah Science and Technology University, Bottom: Manhyia Palace
Top: Fort of Kumasi, Middle left: Kejetia Market, Middle right: Kwame Nkrumah Science and Technology University, Bottom: Manhyia Palace
Official seal of Kumasi
Seal
RegionAshanti
DistrictKumasi Metropolitan
Founded1680
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorSamuel Sarpong
Area
[1]
 • Total254 km2 (98 sq mi)
Elevation
250 m (820 ft)
Population
 (2007 est.)[2]
 • Total1,468,609
 • Density5,800/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC
Area code032
Websitekma.gov.gh

Kumasi (historically spelled Comassie)[3] is a city in Ashanti, 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 300 miles (480 km) north of the Equator and 100 miles (160 km) north of the Gulf of Guinea. Kumasi is alternatively known as "The Garden City" because of its many beautiful species of flowers and plants.

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

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 Twi speaking Akans.[4] Parts of the city, including the Royal Palace, were destroyed by British troops in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War of 1874.

Kings Way Road in Kumasi, 1925.

Lady Mary Alice Hodgson, the first English lady to visit Ashanti, wrote "The Siege of Kumassi" 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
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
16
 
 
32
19
 
 
68
 
 
33
21
 
 
122
 
 
33
22
 
 
139
 
 
32
22
 
 
180
 
 
31
22
 
 
214
 
 
30
21
 
 
135
 
 
28
21
 
 
76
 
 
28
20
 
 
170
 
 
29
21
 
 
184
 
 
31
21
 
 
90
 
 
31
21
 
 
28
 
 
31
20
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.6
 
 
90
66
 
 
2.7
 
 
91
70
 
 
4.8
 
 
91
72
 
 
5.5
 
 
90
72
 
 
7.1
 
 
88
72
 
 
8.4
 
 
86
70
 
 
5.3
 
 
82
70
 
 
3
 
 
82
68
 
 
6.7
 
 
84
70
 
 
7.2
 
 
88
70
 
 
3.5
 
 
88
70
 
 
1.1
 
 
88
68
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

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

Solar Panels and Solar Energy in Kumasi, Ashanti.

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.

Economy

Mining and Exports

File:Gold Bars.jpg
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.

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.

Energy

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

Infrastructure

Transportation

File:Kumasi Airport.jpg
Kumasi International Airport

Public transport in the city is provided by transit buses, a mix of privately owned mini-buses known as Tro-Tros, taxis 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 metro bus services. By air, is the Kumasi International Airport.

Bus Transport

Road Transport Services: Kumasi Transit Bus and Taxis

Kumasi has a bus rapid transit system for the public road transport in Kumasi.[6] This is so that the congestion problems on roads can be solved, and could also make bus transport more common in the city.[7]

Rail transport

Kumasi Train Station in March 2002

Kumasi is served by the Kumasi International Airport and railway lines to Sekondi-Takoradi. The train service has been suspended for several years because of damaged track, bridges and locomotives. A $6 billion project to upgrade the railways, was due to get underway in 2011.[8]

Port

As of 2011, construction of the Boankra Inland Port, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) away, has come to a halt.[9]

Landmarks

Manhyia Palace. This is the principal façade, the Front; originally constructed and completed in 1925. It acquired its present appearance following a remodeling, in 1995.

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.

The Okomfo Anokye Sword; blade of the sword that Okomfo Anokye buried to the hilt as a symbol of the strength of the Ashanti People sometime around the year 1690.

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.

Education and science

File:View of Butler House.jpg
Pearson House of Prempeh College, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) main entrance.

Secondary and College

The Prempeh College was founded in Kumasi by Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II in 1949, and there is a polytechnic. John Kufuor attended and graduated from the Prempeh College.

University

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.

Healthcare

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Physicians at KATH.

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.

Demographics

With a population of 1,517,000,[10] Kumasi is the largest city in Asanteman. The native and largest ethnic group is the Ashanti. Dominant religions is Ashanti and Akan traditional beliefs, and Christianity, with a smaller number of adherents to Islam 5%, and Irreligion.

Culture

Festivals and Events

The Adae Kese Festival is a very important, albeit rare, celebration of the Ashanti's. It is held in a large open space in Kumasi. The festival is normally well attended and embraced by Ashanti's from all walks of life. The Adae Kese celebrations are magnified forms of Sunday Adae festivals, celebrated every six weeks in accordance with the Akan calendar which is based on a cycle of 42 days and nine months in a year. Invariably, the last Akwasidae festival is set aside for the celebration of Adae Kese.

Kumasi during Adae Kese

Adae Kese is usually held to climax celebrations of specific milestones and achievements of the Asante kingdom. It was first celebrated to mark the attainment of statehood of a newly celebrated people, in the aftermath of the Ashanti war of independence, otherwise known as the "Battle of Feyiase", which was fought against the Denkyiras between 1697 and 1699. Adae Kese, like other Akwasidae events, serves as the platform for pledging allegiance to the kingdom and to affirm loyalty to the occupant of the Golden Stool which represents the unity and embodiment of all Ashanti.

The event is marked in two phases. There are solemn private observances which are performed at the King's palace (Manhyia Palace) chambers by accredited members of the royal family and other functionaries. It includes rituals, aimed at cleansing the spirit of the incumbent King and the presentation of ceremonial sacrificial meal (Esq.) and drinks to ancestral spirits. Their blessing and protection guide the kingdom to prosperity.

The public celebrations take the form of a colourful durbar of chiefs and queen mothers presided over by the Asantehene. It involves the display of cherished regalia and paraphernalia accompanied by traditional drumming with the Akan drum and dancing as well as firing of musketry amidst pomp and pageantry.

The Adae festival is a continuous demonstration of faith in the vision and heritage of the Asante Kingdom, which has existed since the introduction of the Golden Stool in 1700. The festival is also to commemorate and re-enforce the independence of the Ashanti people and an occasion to re-affirm each state's loyalty to the confederacy instituted in the aftermath of the Ashanti war of independence fought against the Denkyiras between 1697–1699. It provides a platform for the King to meet and share his thoughts with his sub-chiefs and subjects and also reward deserving ones.

Time your visit to coincide with an Akwasidae Festival, (Sunday Adae). You can determine the Akwasidae dates by counting 6 weeks down the calendar from 1 Adae. For example, in 1991 the dates were: January 6, February 17, March 31 May 12, June 23, August 4, September 15, October 27, December 8.

Sports

Kumasi Sports Stadium

The local football (soccer) team, the Kumasi Asante Kotoko has won several national and continental trophies and awards. 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.[11]

Professional wrestler Kofi Kingston was also born in Kumasi. It is also the home of King Faisal Footbal Club a premier division side. There is the Royal

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Kumasi is twinned with:

Country City County / District / Region / State Date
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Abidjan Lagunes 2004
Treichville
United States USA Atlanta Georgia 2010
Netherlands Netherlands Almere Flevoland 2001
United States USA File:Charlotteflag.png Charlotte North Carolina 1996
United States USA File:ColumbusOHFlag.svg Columbus Ohio 2008
Canada Canada File:Kitchener Flag.png Kitchener Ontario 2010
United States USA Newark New Jersey 1999
South Africa South Africa
Tshwane
 File:Coat of arms of Gauteng.svg Gauteng 2010
United States USA Winston-Salem North Carolina 2001
* Numbers in date column list the year of twinning.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Demographic Characteristics". Ghanadistricts.com. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  2. ^ "Population of Kumasi, Ghana". GeoNames. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  3. ^ Coomassie and Magdala the story of two British campaigns in Africa
  4. ^ McCaskie, T. C. "Denkyira in the Making of Asante" in The Journal of African History vol. 48 (2007) no. 1, p. 1
  5. ^ a b Morgan, Henry James Types of Canadian women and of women who are or have been connected with Canada : (Toronto, 1903) [1]
  6. ^ "Ashanti Region". Metro Mass Transit Ltd. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Bus Rapid Transit System". Metro Mass Transit Ltd. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Ghana, China signs railway contract". Ghana News Link. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Baonkra Inland Port Project, stuck?". Kapital News. Kapital Radio 97.1 FM. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  10. ^ 2005, source: United Nations Population Division
  11. ^ Kumasi Sports Stadium Ready. TheStatesManOnline.com.
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