Discovering Kumasi: A Memorable Tour of the Ashanti Kingdom
My trip to Ghana was a long-awaited one, as I had been wanting to visit Kumasi, the largest city in the Ashanti region, for a long time. As a student at the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) for four years, I had always wanted to visit the parent institution, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), which is located in Kumasi. Additionally, I have always been fascinated by the rich history of the Ashanti people and their resistance to British colonization.
I arrived in Ghana on October 7th, 2022 and the next day, I headed to Kumasi to begin my tour of the Ashanti kingdom. Upon arriving, I was struck by the warm hospitality of the Ashanti people and was able to find a hotel in the city center with the help of a taxi driver. After settling in and taking a nap, I woke up at 10am for breakfast and then headed to the Kumasi Cultural Center for a guided tour of Prempeh II Museum.
The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared with us the history of the Ashanti royals, including the story of Prempeh II's exile to the Seychelles and the British search for the golden stool. I also learned about the Ashanti people's way of life, including the fact that material inheritance is passed down through the mother and spiritual inheritance through the father.
After the museum, we visited the Kumasi Zoological Gardens, which were very well-maintained. I saw animals I had never seen before, such as an Emo, and was also impressed by the healthy appearance of the lions and chimpanzees. In the evening, we went to the Manhyia Palace, the residence of the Ashanti king, which was an impressive building with beautiful gardens. We also visited Bonwire, the center of kente fabric production, and met with some of the fabric makers.
The next day, we visited the Asantehene's palace and the Okomfo Anokye Sword site, learning about the history of the Ashanti kingdom and the role of the Okomfo Anokye sword in uniting the Ashanti people. In the afternoon, we went to the Adum market where I purchased souvenirs for friends and family back home, and also tried some local delicacies like kelewele and waakye.
Overall, my trip to Kumasi was a fantastic experience and I learned so much about the Ashanti culture and history. I highly recommend a visit to anyone interested in learning more about Ghana.
After my trip to Kumasi, I enjoyed the rest of my time in Ghana. I visited the Starbites Signature restaurant, which was quite nice, although I had originally planned to go to the now-closed Honey Grill Coco Lounge at Airport City for a meeting with a friend and business associate. At Starbites, I enjoyed great customer service and some tasty cocktails and mocktails, and was there on a Friday evening for their Karaoke night. I was even selected to sing a song, which was a fun experience.
I also visited Labadi Beach and the Independence Square, both of which were beautiful and allowed me to take in the sights and sounds of Accra. Overall, my holiday in Ghana was a great success and I can't wait to visit again in the future.
