WELCOME TO KUMASI, THE GARDEN CITY OF AFRICA

Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti region is located in the rain forest region of Ghana and is popularly known as "The Garden City" because of its various species of flowers and plants. It is the second-largest city in Ghana, located in the south-central part of the country, about 250 km from Accra.
Queen Elizabeth II of England gave Kumasi the name Garden City of Africa when she visited the area in the 1960s because of the varied plant life in the area.
Lake Bosomtwe, the largest natural lake in Ghana, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean, is located approximately 32 km south of Kumasi.
While the terrain surrounding Kumasi is relatively flat, the countryside is lush with tropical vegetation.
With over 2.5 million citizens, the city spans a radius of about 18 to 20 miles.
The largest ethnic group is the Asantes, but other ethnic groups are growing in size.
Approximately 80 percent of Christians and 20 percent Muslims, with a smaller number of adherents to traditional beliefs.
The city rose to prominence in 1695 when it became capital of the Asante Confederacy due to the activities of the then ruler, King Osei Tutu I.
King Osei Tutu I was known as the Kumasihene and he served as ruler of the Asante Confederacy.
Parts of the city, including the Royal Palace, known as Manhyia were destroyed by British troops in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War of 1874.
A relatively young city, Kumasi was founded in the early 19th century by King Osei Tutu. The king named the city after the Kum tree, which he planted as a symbol of victory for the Asante Empire over the British. The Asante region has been independent since 1875 even though Ghana itself only declared independence in 1957. A descendant of King Osei Tutu, Nana Osei Tutu II, is King of the Asantes today, receiving allegiance from the people within the democracy of Ghana. He is said to be the richest King on Africa's West Coast. The King resides in Kumasi, and his home, the Manhyia Palace, is one of the city's most spectacular sights. The city holds an important place in the history of the Asante people as legend has it that a golden stool in the palace descended from heaven, and Okomfo Anokye, an ancient priest received the Golden stool, which signifies an embodiment of the soul of the Asante nation.
Near the palace grounds a copper sword was said to have been driven into the ground by Okomfo Anokye, which no one has been able to remove by any means.
Kumasi remains a royal city, the role of the King has been mainly symbolic. Due to large gold deposits that have been mined in the area, Kumasi has been among the wealthier cities in Ghana. Today's major exports are timber and cocoa. Kumasi has 50 percent of the timber industry in Ghana, with more than 4,000 employed in the business.