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Economy of Ashanti

Gold mining in Ashanti (Ashanti Region): Gold bars, manganese, bauxite, timber and cocoa are a few of Ashanti's leading export commodities
Currency	Ghanaian Cedi
Statistics
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The economy of the Ashanti Region in southern Ghana is largely self-sufficient, being driven by its service sector as well as by natural resources. The region is also known for its production of manganese, bauxite and agricultural commodities such as cocoa and yam, with the region having low levels of taxation and without much need for foreign direct investment. The Ashanti Region spans an area of 24,389 km, and according to the 2000 census, the region had a population of 3,612,950, most of whom (94.2%) were ethnic Akans, of whom 82.9% were ethnic Ashanti. The capital of the region is Kumasi, which with a population of 2,069,350 as of 2013 represents a high level of urbanisation within the state.

Structure

Overview

The Ashanti Region's economy is largely driven by the extraction and processing of a various industrial mineral and agricultural commodities. The economy is closely linked to the abundance of natural resources found in Ashanti region, providing a comparative advantage in resource extraction and processing. As a consequence:

• Kumasi metropolis's main occupations are professional ones, such as services and manufacturing, which account as much as 92.5% of Ashanti region's real estate activities, 90.2% of financial and insurance activities, 85.8% of air conditioning supply; and 85.7% of professional scientific and technical activities are concentrated in the area. It is predominantly a commerce/trade service economy inclusive with an employment level of 71% and this being followed by industry with an employment level of 24% and agriculture with an employment level of 5%.
• Gross regional product increased from ₵172 billion ($47.7 billion) in 2007–2008 to ₵1.06 trillion ($296.1 billion) in 2014–15 with a nominal gross domestic product per person of $26,922 (₵97,005).

Ashanti 4 state-owned indigenous banks
Institution		Location(s)
	GN Bank	Adum, Subin sub-metro, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
	Capital Bank	Adum, Subin sub-metro, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
	UniBank	Adum, Subin sub-metro, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
	The Royal Bank	Adum, Subin sub-metro, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly

The Ashanti ethnic group is wealthy due to large gold deposits that are mined within the international borders of the Ashanti Region. The Kumasi metropolis' major processing and exports for Ashanti region are gold bullion, and is considered to be one of the top gold producers on Earth. Other industrial mineral deposits of economic value found in the Ashanti region include manganese, bauxite with a high content of aluminium and silica, iron, clay and limestone with traces of copper, platinum, lithium, tin, arsenic and mica. The majority (58.7%) of the Ashanti Region's workforce are self-employed without employees. The region produces 96% industrial minerals specifically gold solely for Ashanti's 4 indigenous banks.

The Ashanti inland valley and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly is responsible for much of Ashanti's domestic food production and for the international trade foreign exchange the Ashanti ethnarch earns from cocoa, industrial agriculture cash crops, gold bar bullion, bauxite, manganese, various other industrial minerals, and timber.

Resources and industrial minerals

The Ashanti Region's major exports include gold bars and manganese—there are manganese ores deposits estimated at over 1.7 million metric tonnes at Odumase near Konongo, containing a manganese content of 19.7%, and bauxite in which Ashanti region's bauxite ores reserves are estimated at over 600 million metric tonnes, over half of which are in Nyinahim, estimated at over 350 million metric tonnes with a high content of aluminium and silica.

The mining sector of the Ashanti Region is predominated by gold mining with Ashanti region possessing an array of gold mines concessions and vast gold deposits as the Ashanti region private gold mining revenues, including galamsey, is estimated to be ₵4.3 trillion annually from gold mining with over 90% of the countries gold mining-output coming. However, an increasing portion of Ashanti region's remaining 10% of gold mining-output is from small-scale miners as means of self-employment in Ashanti region as the majority (58.7%) of the Ashanti region workforce are self-employed without employees. After galemsey was legalized, there has been a large increase in the number of small-scale mining operations as a means of self-employment, many of which do not extract gold in environmentally-friendly ways. The legislation was enacted to prevent illegal gold extraction which it claimed constituted 20% of the Ashanti Region's total gold mining-output and thus a major decrease in the Ashanti region's potential revenues from gold mining.

Industrial agriculture

Industrial agricultural production is mainly undertaken for household consumption in the Ashanti Region, despite the huge demand for food by the large and relatively affluent Ashanti capital Kumasi metropolis urban populace. The region's centrality helped define its role as a major market for agricultural produce. The Ashanti Region main foods include cooking plantain, rice, maize, wheat, cassava, taro-cocoyam, pineapple, yam, vegetables and other cereals and legumes. Irish potatoes also thrive well in Nsuta near Mampong. Ashanti Region industrial crops include cocoa, palm oil, tobacco, bast fibre, cotton, citrus and cashew, sweet potatoes, millet, beans, onions, peanuts and tomatoes.·The region has a large number of poultry farming industries.

Aquaculture and fishing

Products for local consumption and export include Western cuttlefish, tilapia, rock lobsters, prawns, crabs, smoked catfish and tuna. Processing is conducted along the Crater Lake of Lake Bosumtwi and Ashanti region's eastern Lake Volta coast. The main fish species cultivated in Ashanti region are Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Tilapia species represent over 90 percent of farmed fish production. Pond aquaculture is the main production system in terms of number of farms, and is mainly small scale and semi-intensive. However, in the last five to seven years the dominant culture system for tilapia production has changed, and the vast majority of tilapia is now farmed intensively in cages in Lake Volta. Aquaculture production increased from 950 metric tons in 2004 to over 27,000 metric tons in 2012. This growth is due mainly to increased production from a small number of large-scale cage farms (battery cages).

Manufacturing

Ashanti region with Kumasi metropolis has 99% of the timber industry of Ghana, and the Kaasai Industrial Area in Kumasi metropolis plays an important role in the Ashanti region and Kumasi metropolis industry with the Kumasi metropolis submetro Suame's renowned Suame Magazine amiable indigenous automobile and light industrial hub where small engineering based industries are sited is recognised as an efficient mechanical and electrical and car body building workshop, and Suame Magazine contributes immensely to the engineering based industries economy of Kumasi metropolis as Suame Magazine is the largest industrial area in Kumasi metropolis. Ashanti region capital Kumasi is renowned for its local enterprise and artisan skills, particularly in the areas of furniture-making and vehicle engineering. Woodwork, leatherwork and textile production (especially the traditional 'kente' cloth) are established skills amongst the Ashanti region local population. Significant non-traditional skills are also present in Ashanti region capital Kumasi's workforce, for example the broad range of metalworking shops within the 'Suame Magazine'. Ashanti automobile company Kantanka cars mass-manufactures various brands of Kantanka zero-carbon electric cars contributing to Kumasi metropolis as a zero-carbon city with a zero-carbon economy at the Ashanti automobile company Kantanka major automobile assembly plant situated in Kumasi which mass-manufactures the various brands of Kantanka vehicles as well as Kantanka robots (robotics) and mass media diversified media technologies including various major appliances for Kumasi metropolis consumers and Ashanti region consumers.

Energy production

Ashanti region's capital Kumasi metropolis has 5 electric power transmission bulk supply points with 231 kilometers of overhead lines and 140.6 kilometers underground cables as the status of electrical grid supply from the Kumasi metropolis grid to the 10 submetros of the Kumasi metropolis is generally good. Ashanti region's electricity generation is fueled by biomass from Ashanti regions vast timber deposits and solar panels and zero-carbon housing are prevalent in Kumasi metropolis and Ashanti region as solar energy technology is a major energy source to zero-carbon housing in Kumasi metropolis and Ashanti region with solar energy being a major contributor of electricity generation in Kumasi metropolis and Ashanti region contributing to Kumasi metropolis as a zero-carbon city with a zero-carbon economy.

Commerce

Much of the shopping and trading activity in Ashanti region takes place at capital Subin sub-metro Kumasi's Palace Stores Hypermarket and Adum. Ashanti region's capital Subin sub-metro Kumasi metropolis Palace Stores hypermarkets fully occupied by retailers dealing in every conceivable product with Kumasi metropolis consumers and additional Palace Stores hypermarkets in modern shopping malls and hypermarkets.

Economic history

Foundation (1670 to 1957)

The lands within the Ashanti Region are also rich in both land-soil gold and river-gold, cocoa and kola nuts, and the Ashanti were soon trading with the Portuguese at coastal fort Sao Jorge da Mina. The Ashanti people prepared the fields by burning before the onset of the rainy season and cultivated with an iron hoe. Fields are left fallow for a couple years, usually after two to four years of cultivation. Plants cultivated include plantains, yams, manioc, corn, wheat, sweet potatoes, millet, beans, onions, peanuts, tomatoes, and many fruits. Manioc and corn are New World transplants introduced during the Atlantic European trade. Many of these vegetable crops could be harvested twice a year and the cassava (manioc), after a two-year growth, provides a starchy root. The Ashanti transformed palm wine, maize and millet into beer, a favorite drink; and made use of the oil from palm for many culinary and domestic uses. Infrastructure such as road transport and communication throughout the Ashanti Kingdom was maintained via a network of well-kept roads from the Ashanti Kingdom to the Niger river and linking together other trade cities. The Ashanti people invented the Fontomfrom, an Asante talking drum, and the Ashanti also invented the Akan Drum. The Ashanti people drummed messages to the extents of over 200 miles (321.8 kilometers), as rapidly as a telegraph. Ashanti Language (Twi) the language of the Ashanti people is tonal and more meaning is generated by tone. The drums reproduced these tones, punctuations, and the accents of a phrase so that the cultivated ear hears the entirety of the phrase itself. The Ashanti people readily heard and understood the phrases produced by these "talking drums". Standard phrases called for meetings of the chiefs or to arms, warned of danger, and broadcast announcements of the death of important figures. Some drums were used for proverbs and ceremonial presentations.

Post War era (1957 to present)

The Post-War Period saw sustained growth in the Ashanti region economy. Ashanti region has abundant food supplies to feed its Ashanti population. These food supplies include plantain, maize, cassava, cocoa, yam, vegetables and other cereals and legumes. Irish potatoes also thrive well in Nsuta near Mampong. The industrial crops grown include cocoa, oil palm, tobacco, bast fibre, cotton, citrus and cashew.·Ashanti region has a large number of poultry industries including Darko Farms, Mfum Farms, Asamoah Yamoah Farms, Asare Farms and many others and Ashanti region also has large poultry feedmills. Ashanti region is the second-largest yam (vegetable) producer on Earth and Ashanti region is the second-largest producer on Earth. The Ashanti automobile company Kantanka cars mass-manufactures various brands of Kantanka zero-carbon electric cars at the Ashanti automobile company Kantanka major automobile assembly plant in Kumasi mass-manufactures the various brands of Kantanka vehicles as well as Kantanka robots (robotics) and mass media diversified media technologies including various major appliances for Ashanti region consumers. Ashanti capital Kumasi has an ongoing proposed large-scale skyscraper real estate development project to house the entire 1 million Ashanti population of 11 million. Thus, as much as 92.5 percent of real estate activities, 90.2 percent of financial and insurance activities, 85.8 percent of air conditioning supply; and 85.7 percent of professional scientific and technical activities are concentrated in Adum of capital city Subin sub-metro in Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

Ashanti region and capital Kumasi metropolis is served by Kumasi military airport which the airstrips caters mostly only for private jets and military aircraft to and from Ashanti region and capital Subin sub-metro of Kumasi metropolis. As of May 2014 authorize indigenous domestic regional airlines that serviced Kumasi military airport included Africa World Airlines, Antrak Air and Starbow Airlines. Kumasi military airport has completed undergoing construction to allow for night operations and access to and from the Kumasi military airport is excellent.

The predominant means of travel within Ashanti region and Kumasi metropolis is by use of the road. Ashanti capital Kumasi metropolis has been planned with arterial roads and collector roads the roads that link the arterial road network and local roads in which are the roads that link residences to the collector roads and within the ten submetros of Kumasi metropolis. Ashanti region capital Kumasi metropolis has a 1700 km of road network infrastructure which include a few Ashanti regional highways such as the  R52  and  R106 . Ashanti capital Kumasi metropolis road transportation has been dominant in Kumasi since road transport accounts for the majority of the daily movements of goods and persons within Ashanti region and capital Kumasi metropolis. Ashanti region capital Kumasi metropolis road network is radial with Kejetia and Adum being the hub of the network. All the Kumasi metropolis major arterial roads radiate from the Kejetia/Adum area, which forms the core of the Ashanti region capital Kumasi metropolis central business district (CBD).

Ashanti region capital Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly's BZhRK Barguzin railway lines and train service has been suspended for several years because of damaged track, bridges and locomotives. Currently, no train is running from and to Ashanti capital Kumasi due to the collapse of the Railway Corporation some years back. A$6 billion project to upgrade the railways, was due to get underway in 2011 as the project is yet to be completed. The construction of the Boankra Inland Port in Ashanti region, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) away from the Ashanti region Subin submetro of Kumasi metropolis is expected to be completed in 2015.

References

1. ^ "Kumasi Metropolis Economy". Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
2. "Ashanti Region CEPS targets 172 billion cedis in revenue this year". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
3. ^ "Ghandgold Case". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
4. ^ "Meet-the-Press: Ashanti Region". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
5. "The Historic And Present Importance of Asante- Its Culture And Economy". asantekingdom.org. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
6. ^ "Mineral exploration & Mining industry". drabeny.com. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
7. ^ "Overview: Agricultural Sector in the Ashanti region". investinkumasi.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
8. ^ "Kumasi Metropolis Agricultural Extension". Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
9. "Tilapia Farming" (PDF). pdacrsp.oregonstate.edu (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
10. ^ "Profitability Analysis of all-male Tilapia Farming in Sekyere South and Bosomtwe Districts of Ashanti Region". researchgate.net (PDF). Retrieved 1 August 2015.
11. "Ashanti Academic Showcase". nd.digication.com.
12. ^ "Updates on Kwadwo Safo's Works". kumatoo.com. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
13. Asante empire
14. ^ Davidson (1991), p. 240.
15. ^ Collins and Burns (2007), pp. 140–141.
16. "Signing of railway contract". 30 November 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
17. "Baonkra Inland Port Project, stuck?". Kapital News. Kapital Radio 97.1 FM. 7 February 2011. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2015.

v t e Ashanti/Asante articles
History	Chronology Asante Empire Ashanti protectorate Ashanti Region Ashanti independentism Major conflicts Battle of Nsamankow Komenda Wars Battle of Feyiase 1733 slave insurrection on St. John Tacky's War First Maroon War Second Maroon War Battle of Atakpamé Anglo-Ashanti wars War of the Golden Stool
Geography	Climate Geography Districts and Municipalities Settlements Lake Bosumtwi Lake Volta Bobiri Forest Butterfly Sanctuary Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve Owabi Forest Reserve and Bird Sanctuary Kumasi Metropolis
Politics	Ashanti Asantehene Emperor-King Osei Tutu II Manhyia Palace Ashanti parliamentary constituencies Governance and politics
Economy	Economy of Ashanti Boankra Inland Port Kumasi International Airport Economy of the Asante Empire
Society	Asante people Asante names Asante dialect Twi language Demographics Education KNUST Health care Akrafena Alkayida Adowa Dwa Kente clothing Anansi the spider Oware Music Aburukuwa Atenteben Prempensua Seperewa Mythology Symbols Yen Ara Asaase Ni (Ghana National Anthem) Golden Stool

• Economy of Ashanti Region
• Ashanti Region