Overview
Kumasi, Ghana’s second biggest city is 300km from the national capital, Accra. The city is 150sq km in size. For health administration, the Metropolis has been divided into 10 Sub metros: Abrepo-Ohwim, AdiembraSantasi, Ahodwo-Danyame, Bantama-Bohyen, Buokrom-Moshie, Manhyia-Ash Town, Dichemso, PatasiSuntreso, Subin North and Subin South. Kumasi Metropolis, which form 8.2% of the Ashanti Region Population (2021 census), shares boundaries with about 2 municipals and 4 districts/municipals, namely, Suame Municipal, Old Tafo, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Kwadaso, Asokore-Mampong and Atwima Kwanwoma.
Vegetation/Climate
The climate is typically wet equatorial with the major rainy season running from late February to early July and the minor from mid-September to early November. The dry season is at its peak in the months of December and January to 30°C in March. The vegetation can be described as mostly semi-deciduous forest with several valuable trees.
Occupation
The main occupation of the citizens are trading and farming. Central Market (The largest Open Air Market in the ECOWAS Sub-Region), Adum Shopping Centre (Heart Beat of Commerce), Suame and Asafo Magazines; and Kaase/Asokwa Industrial Area and Anloga Timber Products Markets are the main trading centres. There are other satellite trading centres located in the various sub metros. The communities at the outskirts of Kumasi do some farming.
Culture/Festivals
Like other Akans, residents of Kumasi who are predominantly Akans, are matrilineal. The commonest language spoken is Asante Twi. The staple food of the residents is fufu and soup but rice eaten with sauce is currently the commonest in the metropolis. Akwasidae, an important traditional festival, is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks. The festival is marked by performances of traditional music and dance such as Adowa and Kete at the courts of the traditional overlord of Asantes, the Asantehene.
Electricity
Kumasi has 5 bulk supply points with 231km of overhead lines and 140.6km underground cables. There is Power Supply everywhere within the Metropolis.
population
In terms of population, Kumasi is the largest of the 43 districts in Ashanti Region. It has a population of 453,205. Kumasi is a cosmopolitan city with trading being the main occupation of the inhabitants. There are 188 communities with 107 outreach sites.
Religious Groups
The predominant religion in the metropolis is Christianity. A significant number also belongs in the Islamic faith. There are also a few people who practice their indigenous Traditional religion as well as a very tiny minority that are not religious.
Transportation
Almost all the major roads within the Metropolis are tarred. Kumasi has an airport, 846km of road network but only 271km is asphalted or bitumen surfaced. The major means of transportation is by public vehicles (Taxi and minibus “trotro”).
Education
There are three public universities, three private universities, one teacher training college, eighty-four secondary schools and over a thousand basic schools (the private sector provides the bulk of these institutions at the pre-school level).
