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 km2 (9,417 sq mi) and making up 10.2% 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, and 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, and 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 lower levels of taxation and with less 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; its density (148.1 per square 1 km (0.62 mi)) is lower than that of the Central Region (162.2/km2). 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% of the population of Ashanti was from one of the five English-speaking countries of ECOWAS and 2.1% was from other countries in Africa. The non-African population living in the region is 1.8% of the total population. Akans are the predominant ethnic group in the region, representing 94.2% of citizens by birth. The dominant proportion (82.9%) of the Akan population is Ashanti.
Transport
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 Yamoransa in the Central Region. The N10 is also connected to Kumasi.
Education
Senior high schools
Higher education
The Ashanti region has three public universities. In addition, there are private universities and colleges, which are spread throughout the region.
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.
There are about 1,654 health facilities in the region, mostly consisting of CHPS facilities and health centers. This is a list of some 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
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 one 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, and 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: