Capital: Kumasi
Location: Between longitude 0 15 – 2 25 West and Latitude 5 50 – 7 40 North.
Boundary: Brong Ahafo region to the North, Western Region to the West, Central Region to the South and Eastern and Volta Regions to the East.
Administrative structure
Ashanti Region has one (1) Metropolitan , Six (6) Municipal and twenty (20) District Assemblies.
Land Area
Total land area – 24,389 square kilometre. About 1,463,340 hectares (60%) are arable. About 1,181,788 hectares (81%) of the arable lands are cultivated.
Administrative Map of Ashanti region
Demographic
Population – 3,612 950 ( 19.1 % of the national total, 2000 census). The sex ratio (Male: Female) for the entire region was 1:0.98. The population density is 148.1 persons per sq km(2000 census) higher than the national average of 79.3. Population growth rate of 3.4% is above the national average of 2.7%
Economically active population (15 to 49 Years, 2000 census), is 1,612,467 (representing 19.45% of national figure of 8,292,114, 2000 census). Of this 706,888 are engaged in agriculture (farming, forestry, fishing and hunting), representing 43.8. Sex ratio; 50% males and 50% females. Approximately 65% of the total population depends on agriculture for their livelihood.
Weather
The region experiences double maxima rainfall in a year, with peaks in May/June and October. Mean annual rainfall is between 1100 mm and 1800mm. The mean annual temperature ranges between 25.50c in the southern districts and 320c in the northern parts of the region. Humidity is high averaging about 85% in the southern districts and 65% in the northern part of the region.
Drainage
The Rivers are: Pra, Offin, Afram, Oda, And ,Lake Bosomtwe, (a meteoritic lake) of size 47.68sq km, and measures about 10km across its widest point.
Vegetation
The southern districts are covered with moist semi-deciduous forest whilst the Guinea savanna covers the northern partThe Guinea Savanna consists of short deciduous and fire resistant trees. Riverinee forests also occur along the Afram River and streams of the savanna zone.
Soils
Soils in Ashanti region are mainly of two types, Forest ochrosols are found in the southern districts whilst the savanna ochrosols are confined to the northern districts. The pH and nutrient status of the soils is shown in the table below.
Table 1 Fertility Status of Soils in Ashanti
Soil |
Soil pH |
%Organic matter |
%Total Nitrogen |
Available Phosphorus(mg/kg soil) |
Available Calcium(mg/kg soil) |
1. Offinso-Ejura2.Kwadaso-Juaso, Obuasi |
5.3-7.84.3-7.0 |
1.5-3.01.5-3.0 |
0.2-0.30.1-0.2 |
0.12-120.12-12 |
50-10050-100 |
Source: Soil Research Institute, CSIR-Kumasi
The physical characteristics outlined above imply the following: The rainfall, temperature, and the rivers can support all year agricultural production of food and cash crops. Lake Bosomtwe offers ample attraction and opportunities for the development of tourism.
Land Use
Agriculture land use
Agriculture is the dominant sector in the region’s economic activities and it is endowed with abundant arable lands which support the production of cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, oil palm, citrus cashew, mango and food crops like cassava, plantain, rice, yam, cocoyam, maize, and vegetables.
| Commodity | Metro / Municipal / District |
| Cocoa oil palm and citrus | Atwima Mponua, Sekyere East, Amansie West, Amansie Central, Ahafo Ano North, Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma, Adansi South, Adansi North, Offinso, Ejisu Juaben, Asante Akim South and Ahafo Ano South districts |
| maize and other food crops such as cassava, plantain, yam | All |
Ejura Sekyeredumase dominates in the production of maize, yam, groundnuts and cowpea. Asante Akim North produces plantains on medium to large scale.
Forest resource
About 3,180 sq km representing 22.5% of Ghana’s forest reserves are in the region. About 2,340 sq km (65%) of this is being exploited whilst the remaining 1,240 sq km (32%) is protected.
Some economic trees found include Wawa, Odum, Sapele and others. Lumbering activities therefore take place in almost all the districts in the region.
Mineral resources
The region is endowed with mineral resources such as gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, silica, sand, limestone, clay and stone deposits. ). Gold bearing rocks are found in Obuasi Municipal, Amansie West, Asante Akim North, Amansie Central and Atwima Mponua districts. Nyinahin in Atwima Mponua district is endowed with bauxite deposit which is yet to be harnessed.
Tourism
There is no doubt that the Ashanti Region constitutes the heartbeat of Ghana’s tourism. A number of tourist attractions are found in the Regional Capital, Kumasi and other centers in the various districts for more information click here
Farming systems:
Mixed cropping, mono-cropping and shifting cultivation ( short fallow periods usually less than 5 years are practiced). Tree crops such as Cocoa, oil palm, citrus and mango are grown as mono-crops in plantations. However, these plantation crops are inter-cropped with food crops during the early periods of establishment. About 77% of farmers have farm sizes below 1.2ha. Mechanized farming is practiced mainly at the Ejura Sekyedumasi, Mampong Municipality and other transitional zones.
Land Tenure System: Stool, family ownership, lease hold and share cropping (Abunu & Abusa).