Background of the region
Briefly discussed as background to the
Ashanti Region, among others, are the history, location and physical
features, modern political and traditional administration, cultural and
social structure, religion, tourist attractions, demographic
characteristics and the major economic activities.
Location
The Ashanti Region is centrally
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 four of the ten political regions, Brong-Ahafo in the north,
Eastern region in the east, Central region in the south and Western
region in the South west.
Physical features
The region occupies a total land area
of 24,389 square kilometres representing 10.2 per cent of the total
land area of Ghana. It is the third largest region after Northern
(70,384 sq. kms) and Brong Ahafo (39,557 sq. kms) regions. The region
has a population density of 148.1 persons per square kilometre, the
third after Greater Accra and Central Regions. More than half of the
region lies within the wet, semi-equatorial forest zone.
Due to human activities and bushfires,
the forest vegetation of parts of the region, particularly the
north-eastern part, has been reduced to savanna. The region has an
average annual rainfall of 1270mm and two rainy seasons. The major
rainy season starts in March, with a major pick in May. There is a
slight dip in July and a pick in August, tapering off in November.
December to February is dry, hot, and dusty.
The average daily temperature is about
27 degrees Celsius. Much of the region is situated between 150 and 300
metres above sea level. The region is endowed with a spectacular
geography-lakes, scarps, forest reserves, waterfalls, national parks,
birds and wildlife sanctuaries. Notable among them are the Owabi
Arboretum and Bomgobiri wildlife sanctuaries. The region is drained by
Lake Bosomtwe, the largest natural lake in the country, and Rivers
Offin, Prah, Afram and Owabi. There are other smaller rivers and
streams which serve as sources of drinking water for residents of some
localities in the region.
Brief history
The Asante (Ashantis) constitute the
largest of the various subgroups of the Akan, who trace their origins
partly to Bono-Manso and Techiman, in present-day Brong Ahafo Region.
They constitute 14.8 per cent of all Ghanaians by birth, and 30.1 per
cent of the total Akan population of 8,562,748 in the country. Various
oral traditions have it that the Ashantis migrated from various places
through Bono-Manso/Takyiman (Techiman) to present day Ashanti Region.
As a united people, they started with a
nucleus of the Oyoko clan around Asantemanso. After several years of
subjugation by other empires, such as the Akwamu and the Denkyira,
Asante eventually grew to be a very powerful empire founded by King
Osei-Tutu I (1695-1717), after defeating the Denkyira King Ntim Gyakari
during the battle of Feyiase (Buah, 1998).
Ironically, King Osei Tutu I had spent
his childhood days in the court of the Denkyira King, according to
custom, and had escaped from there to Akwamu where he met his lifelong
friend and spiritual mentor, the legendary Okomfo Anokye. It is
believed that it was through Okomfo Anokye�s extraordinary supernatural
powers that King Osei Tutu founded the Ashanti Empire; as he is said to
have commanded the Golden Stool to fall from �the heavens�, the stool
which, to this day, serves as the symbol of the spirit, unity and
strength of the Ashantis.
At the height of its glory, the
influence and culture of the Asante Kingdom stretched beyond the
borders of the present day Ghana. The Ashanti were able to preserve
what was best in Akan culture, including the use of gold dust as
currency and gold weights as a measure, which system was actually
originated by the great Bono (Brong) King Akumfi Ameyaw I (1328-1363)
(Buah, 1998).
The Asante fought many successful wars
against the Denkyira and their allies including the Wassa, the British,
the Fante, and even the Bonos (Brongs). Indeed it was the Ashanti King
Opoku Ware I who defeated the Bonos in 1723 and destroyed Bono-Manso,
forcing the Bono Empire to move its capital from Manso to present day
Techiman. The Ashanti Empire eventually collapsed with the defeat and
exile of King Prempeh I, first to El-Mina Castle and eventually to the
Seychelles.
Not even the last stalwart stand by the
great warrior Queen Yaa Asantewaa could revive the fame, fortune and
power of Ashanti. However, the culture, kinship and social structure of
Ashanti, like many of the other Akan groups, has been preserved and
maintained to the present day, and underlines the cultural heritage,
not only of the Asante, but of the entire Akan ethnic group. The
present Asanti King (Asantehene) Osei Tutu II, is a direct matrilineal
descendant of Osei Tutu I.