Kumasi
Kumasi | |
---|---|
UTC | |
Postal codes | AK000-AK911 |
Area code | 032 |
Website | kma.gov.gh |
Kumasi (historically spelled Comassie or Coomassie, usually spelled Kumase in
Kumasi is the second-largest city in Ghana, after the capital, Accra.[7] The Central Business District of Kumasi includes areas such as Adum, Bantama, Kejetia, Asawasi, Pampaso, and Bompata (popularly called Roman Hill), with a concentration of banks, department stalls, and hotels. Economic activities in Kumasi include financial and commercial sectors, pottery, clothing weaving, Weaving of basket and textiles. There is a significant timber processing community in Kumasi that serves the domestic market. Bantama High Street and Prempeh II Street in Bantama and Adum, respectively, are the business and entertainment hubs in Kumasi.[citation needed]
History
Origins
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 Bosomtwe.[citation needed]
Etymology
The name Kumasi was derived from the Twi language, meaning 'the Kum tree survived' or 'under the Kum tree'. The word "asi" means 'under', 'down', 'below' or 'something that has endured or survived'.[citation needed]
Around the end of the 17th century, the Ashanti Kingdom's chief Fetish Priest, Okomfo Anokye planted three kum trees at different places: one at Kwaaman, ruled by the Nananom Ayokofuo; a second one at Apemso-Bankofo, ruled by Nananom Aduanafuo; and a third at a village near Fomena and Amoafo called Oboani, which was ruled by Nananom Ɛkoɔnafuo. Komfuo wanted to see which of these would become a great city for the kingdom, as he was directed by the oracles. The kum tree at Kwaaman flourished so vigorously that the King and his people often sat underneath, and so Kwaaman became Kum-ase, meaning 'under kum'.[citation needed]
The tree at Oboani was, however, very tiny and for no apparent reason, relatively short. According to oral tradition, this small tree produced other trees that were all small in size. The name of the village was changed to Kuma, meaning 'small kum'.[citation needed]
The kum tree at Apemso-Bankofo did not grow at all. After a few weeks the leaves withered and the tree fell down; so it was said that the village's kum tree was dead, and the village became Kum-awu, later Kumawu.[4]
Ashanti Empire
The city rose to prominence in 1695, when it became the capital of the
European sources in the late 19th century mentioned the city's neatness such as the account of F. Boyle in 1874 who stated Kumasi's smell "are never those of sewage" as well as Brackenbury, who wrote around 1873 that "the streets are generally very broad and clean, and ornamented with many beautiful banyan-trees affording grateful shade from the powerful rays of the sun."
In 1888, R. Austin Freeman was disappointed with the ruins of Kumasi following the British destruction in 1874 and the Ashanti civil war before 1888.
Kumasi was a great disappointment to me, and my disappointment increased as I walked round and examined the town. It was not merely that so little existed, but that so much had been destroyed. As it stands, or then stood, the town was nothing more than a large clearing in the forest, over which were scattered, somewhat irregularly, groups of houses. The paths were dirty and ill kept, and between the groups of houses large patches of waste ground intervened, and on these, amidst the tall, coarse grass that covered them, were to be seen the remains of houses that had once occupied them. These houses once stood in wide and regular streets, but since the destruction of the city in 1874 the natives do not seem to have had heart to rebuild them. Yet there remained some few vestiges to show what Kumasi had been in its palmy days... A few broad, well-kept streets still existed, lined by houses, [of] ... admirable construction, careful and artistic finish and excellent repair...
— R. Austin Freeman.[17]
Population of Kumasi during the time of the Ashanti Empire varied. In the early 19th century, Ashanti sources estimated a populace of 100,000 while European sources gave a figure around 12–15,000.[17] According to historian Ivor Wilks, the city may have had a population of 40,000 in the 1860s.[18]
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 and of the subsequent march to the coast.[19] (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 in 1900.[19])
Colonial era
In 1926, following the return of the Ashanti King
Geography
The city features a
The city almost features two rainy seasons: a longer season from March through July and a shorter rainy season from September to November.
The month 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.
Climate
Like other parts of Ghana, Kumasi has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average annual high temperature is 30.7 °C (87.3 °F), while the average annual low temperature is 21.5 °C (70.7 °F). The hottest time of year is from February to May, around the time the wet season starts. February has the highest average high at 33.5 °C (92.3 °F). April has the highest average low at 22.4 °C (72.3 °F). August has the lowest average high at 27.7 °C (81.9 °F). January has the lowest average low at 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
Kumasi receives 1,402.4 millimetres (55.21 in) of rain over 128 precipitation days, with a distinct wet and dry season like the rest of Ghana. The dry season is short, lasting from November to February. June, the wettest month, receives 214.3 millimetres (8.44 in) of rainfall over 17 precipitation days on average. Kumasi receives 1951.8 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the sunshine being distributed fairly evenly across the year, with a noticeable dip from June to October. March receives the most sunshine, while August receives the least.
Climate data for Kumasi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1984–2020) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 37.5 (99.5) |
38.9 (102.0) |
38.5 (101.3) |
36.4 (97.5) |
35.2 (95.4) |
33.9 (93.0) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.6 (90.7) |
33.1 (91.6) |
33.9 (93.0) |
36.0 (96.8) |
35.9 (96.6) |
38.9 (102.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.2 (91.8) |
34.5 (94.1) |
33.9 (93.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
32.0 (89.6) |
30.3 (86.5) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
29.6 (85.3) |
31.0 (87.8) |
32.2 (90.0) |
32.2 (90.0) |
31.6 (88.9) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 27.4 (81.3) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.5 (83.3) |
28.0 (82.4) |
27.5 (81.5) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
24.9 (76.8) |
25.8 (78.4) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.3 (81.1) |
27.0 (80.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21.7 (71.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.2 (73.8) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.3 (72.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
21.5 (70.7) |
21.9 (71.4) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.4 (72.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.1) |
13.3 (55.9) |
17.8 (64.0) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.2 (64.8) |
17.2 (63.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
18.3 (64.9) |
15.6 (60.1) |
13.9 (57.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24.8 (0.98) |
49.0 (1.93) |
109.9 (4.33) |
163.6 (6.44) |
174.0 (6.85) |
227.3 (8.95) |
125.6 (4.94) |
68.8 (2.71) |
175.1 (6.89) |
175.6 (6.91) |
50.1 (1.97) |
27.6 (1.09) |
1,371.4 (53.99) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 1.4 | 3.7 | 7.7 | 9.5 | 10.9 | 12.3 | 8.3 | 6.9 | 12.0 | 13.2 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 93.7 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 178.5 | 177.4 | 187.8 | 192.3 | 191.5 | 135.2 | 98.8 | 75.9 | 93.7 | 159.4 | 196.2 | 180.5 | 1,867.2 |
Source 1: NOAA[21] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Sistema de Classification Bioclimática Mundial (extremes 1984–1990)[22] |
Culture
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
Places of worship
Among the
Economy
The main occupations in Kumasi are professional, such as services and manufacturing.
Mining and exports
Manufacturing
Kumasi has 50% of the
Energy
Solar panels are prevalent in Kumasi and throughout the Ashanti region. Solar energy technology is a major energy source and contributor to electricity generation in the region.
Commerce
Much of the shopping and trading activity in the city takes place at Kumasi's
FM Stations
Education
Primary school
There are both government-assisted primary schools in Kumasi and also private primary schools in Kumasi which educate boys and girls between the ages from 6 to 15.
Secondary education
There are elite all-boys and all-girls senior high schools such as Prempeh College, Kumasi High School, T I Ahmadiyya School, Opoku Ware School, Yaa Asantewaa Girls' Senior High School and St. Louis Senior High School in Kumasi. There are also many elite mixed senior high schools such as Kumasi Academy and Anglican Senior High School, and a host of other public secondary schools, as well as their private counterparts in the city.
Tertiary institutions
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (formerly the Kumasi College of Technology) is the biggest university in the Ashanti Region and the first biggest in Ghana followed by the University of Ghana. Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan attended this institution. A number of other public and private universities and tertiary institutions have since been founded in Kumasi, some of which are listed below.
Institution | Location | Private/ Public | Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology | Bomso to Anwomaso | Public | ||
Wesley College of Education | Tafo | Public | ||
St Louis College of Education | Mmrom | Public | ||
Garden City University College | Kenyase | Private | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology | |
Christian Service University College | Santasi | Private | University of Ghana | |
Ghana Baptist University College | Amakom | Private | University of Cape Coast | |
Valley View University (Kumasi Campus) | Oduom | Private | ||
University College of Management Studies (Kumasi Campus) | Ayeduase | Private | ||
Christ Apostolic University College | Kwadaso | Private | ||
Kessben University | Lake Road | Private | Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (est. 2020)
formerly the University of Education, Winneba (Kumasi Campus)]] Tanoso |
Transportation
Air
Kumasi is served by the Kumasi Airport. As of May 2020, two airlines offered regularly scheduled flights to Accra. Airlines servicing the airport included Africa World Airlines and Passion Air. In 2013, the Government of Ghana approved expansion plans to the Kumasi Airport to service international flights into the region. The airport was renovated and completed by October 2022.[27]
Bus and taxicab
There is public transportation from Kumasi to major cities such as
; Public transport in the city is provided byIn 2002, the city introduced the
In 2017, Uber introduced services in Kumasi, a year after a successful introduction in Accra.
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 trains run to and from Kumasi due to the collapse of the railway corporation. A $6 billion project to upgrade the railways was due to get underway in 2011.[30]
Port
As of 2011[update], construction of the Boankra Inland Port, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) away, has come to a halt.[31]
Sports
The local
There is the Royal Golf Club which has the
Healthcare
Kumasi has the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to support medical training at the university, the West End Hospital, several other private hospitals, public clinics and hospitals. Recommended private medical facilities include Kumasi Rabito Clinic located at Ahondwo-Daban Kumasi behind the Unity Oil Filling Station. There is also the KNUST hospital that serves people in the university and surrounding communities.
Recreational parks and gardens
Kumasi has four recreational parks which are opened to the public. The list of recreational parks are
International relations
Twin towns and sister cities
Kumasi is
Country | City | County / district / region / state | Date | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ivory Coast | Abidjan | Lagunes
|
2004 | |||
Treichville | ||||||
US | Atlanta | Georgia | 2010 | |||
Netherlands | Almere | Flevoland | 2001 | |||
US | Charlotte | North Carolina | 1996 | |||
US | Columbus | Ohio | 2008 | |||
Canada | Kitchener | Ontario | 2010 | |||
US | Newark | New Jersey | 1999 | |||
South Africa | Tshwane | Gauteng | 2010 | |||
US | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | 2001 | |||
UK | Methilhill
|
Scotland | 2017 |
Notable people
- 2001 Nobel Peace Prize[33]
- Mohammed Muntari, footballer
- Mohammed Salisu, footballer
- Philomena Nyarko, statistician[34]
- Reggie Tsiboe, singer
See also
- Lake Bosomtwe
- Ashanti Goldfields Corporation
- AngloGold Ashanti
References
- ^ Ghana: Administrative Division
- ^ "Demographic Characteristics". Ghanadistricts.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ "World Population Review". Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Since When Did Kumasi Become Greater Kumasi?". GhanaWeb. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Kumasi: The Garden City without gardens?". Graphic Online. 31 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "The grasscutter shows why it is hard to stop bushmeat hunting". The Economist. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ Ivor Wilks (1989), p. 375–377
- ^ "Kumasi | Ghana". Britannica. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ McCaskie, T. C. "Denkyira in the Making of Asante" in The Journal of African History vol. 48 (2007) no. 1, p. 1
- ISBN 9780435948115. Archivedfrom the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ISBN 9781579582456. Archivedfrom the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- S2CID 19587869.
- )
- ^ David Owusu-Ansah, Historical Dictionary of Ghana, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2014, p. xliii
- ^ Beckett p.365
- ^ S2CID 161253857.
- ^ Ivor Wilks (1989), p. 374
- ^ a b Morgan, Henry James, ed. (1903). Types of Canadian Women and of Women who are or have been Connected with Canada. Toronto: Williams Briggs. p. 160.
- ^ "Kumasi". Ashantibiz. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Kumasi Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Ghana–Kumasi". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Kumasi Fort and Military Museum". Ghana Museums & Monuments Board. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 1209-1211
- ^ "Implement Asamang-Tamfoe community mining plan — Youth group". Joynewsplus.com. 13 January 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Ndetei, Chris (19 July 2018). "List of radio stations in Kumasi". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "New terminal for Kumasi International Airport to be ready in October 2022". Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Ashanti Region". Metro Mass Transit Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ "Bus Rapid Transit System". Metro Mass Transit Ltd. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ "Ghana, China signs railway contract". Ghana News Link. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ "Baonkra Inland Port Project, stuck?". Kapital News. Kapital Radio 97.1 FM. 7 February 2011. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ Amoah, Gabriel (27 June 2007). "Baba Yara stadium ready in October". TheStatesManOnline.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Biography". Kofi Annan Foundation. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Mrs Philomina Nyarko, wife of another prominent personality goes missing in Kumasi". MyNewsGh. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
Bibliography
- ISBN 9780521379946. Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via Books.google.com.