Kumasi, dubbed the garden city of West Africa, is also the second largest city in Ghana and the capital of the Ashanti region of Ghana. This is a city you will want to call home like the current over 1.4 million residents who live there. You will find it difficult to leave once you move there as there are so many things to do, places to see, people to meet and elements of culture and history to study. Whatever your field of interest, Kumasi has a whole wealth of it for you to indulge in. Here are a few we’ve tried to summarise in this article.
Culture, History, Heritage: If you are in the mood for some culture and heritage, Kumasi has a wide variety of places you could visit to immerse yourself in the nation’s history. You could visit the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, Manhyia Palace Museum, National Cultural Centre, and the Ghana Armed Forces Museum (one of the oldest buildings in the city). You’ll get to know the history of the people, and also, key personalities who helped bring about change in Ashanti society and played key roles in the fight against colonial rule, like Yaa Asantewaa, Queenmother of Ejisu; Okomfo Anokye, etc.
Education: The Ashanti region, of which Kumasi is the capital, is far from deficient in this regard. Living here, your educational needs and those of your children are more than covered. There are numerous schools, both public and private, covering all levels of education of great repute and renown. Schools like the Kumasi High School, St Louis Girls High School, T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School, KNUST High School and Ghana’s leading Technology University, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), can all be found in Kumasi, providing not only convenient but top quality education to students of all levels.
Market: Filled with very enterprising people, Kumasi is always abuzz with one business activity or the other. People from other parts of the country and the continent travel to Kumasi’s Central Market for some great deals on goods and services they require. If you chose to live here as a business owner, you’d have access to all these traders trooping in for business. Kumasi’s Kejetia market is enormous and you could easily get lost in the maze of intersecting aisles and corridors. You can find just about any item you can imagine, and some others you didn’t even know existed. You might need the services of a guide if you want to navigate with confidence and find everything of interest to you in a short space of time.
Fun and Recreation: Want a place to unwind, relax and take in natural and not-so-natural beauty? The Rattray park is near immaculate, like a fairly standard park in the Western world but unique for Ghana with its gardens, manicured lawns, benches, pathways, playground, etc. You should stay for the early evening light and music fountain show (Not on the same level as Las Vegas or Dubai but impressive all the same). The park is ideal for picnics, romantic dates with that special someone and play-dates for children. Parking could be a problem though, if you don’t arrive early. You could also visit the Green Ranch and experience a little nature with horses and vegetarian food: The farm life.
The things to do when you live in (or are visiting) Kumasi are endless and won’t all fit on here. You’re guaranteed a fabulous time all the same. The people have the signature Ghanaian reputation of being very open and welcoming. Industry seems a part of the culture and you’re sure to find yourself overwhelmed for choice of venue to do your shopping. One of the greatest perks of living in Kumasi? Prices of goods and services are very reasonable and affordable here, and you can be certain to find a house or apartment well within your budget to rent or buy when you come to the inevitable conclusion you want to put some roots down here for a while.
