Discover 8 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Kumasi (Ghana). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: St Peter's Cathedral Basilica, Asafo market, and Manhyia Palace. Also, be sure to include Wesley Methodist Cathedral in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Kumasi (Ashanti).
Table of Contents
St Peter's Cathedral Basilica
Cathedral in Kumasi, Ghana. The St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica is a Roman Catholic cathedral and basilica dedicated to Saint Peter located in Kumasi, Ghana. The church is the seat of the Archdiocese of Kumasi. The church was dedicated on 2 June 2004.[1]
Address: Roman Hill, Kumasi, Kumasi
Asafo market
Asafo Market is a trading centre in Asafo, Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti, Ghana, to the western side of the Asafo interchange. Asafo Market was formerly called Nkrumah Market, which was named after the first Prime Minister of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, but the name was changed to Asafo Market when Nkrumah was overthrown.[2]
Manhyia Palace
Museum in Kumasi, Ghana. The Manhyia Palace is the seat of the Asantehene of Asanteman, as well as his official residence. It is located at Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom and Ashanti Region. The first palace is now a museum. Otumfuor Opoku Ware II built the new palace, which is close to the old one and is used by the current Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II.[3]
Wesley Methodist Cathedral
Cathedral in Kumasi, Ghana. Wesley Methodist Cathedral is the name of several cathedrals of the Methodist Church Ghana:
- Wesley Methodist Cathedral (Accra)
- Wesley Methodist Cathedral (Cape Coast)
- Wesley Methodist Cathedral (Kumasi)
- Wesley Methodist Cathedral (Sekondi)
Rattray Park Kumasi City
Park, Relax in park
Address: Victoria Opoku-Ware Road, Kumasi
Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary
Park in Ghana. Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary, located in Kumasi, Ghana. It is home to many butterflies, over 140 species of birds, monkeys and the more reclusive bushpig, bushbuck and antelope.
The region is rich with indigenous birds and some migrants. There are about 161 kinds of birds. The sanctuary is also the only inland Ramsar Convention site in the country of Ghana. Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumasi can also be suitable for arranging picnics and bird watching.[5]
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Public university in Kumasi, Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is a public University of Ghana that focuses on science and technology. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is the public university established in the country, as well as the largest university in the Kumasi Metropolis and in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.KNUST has its roots in the plans of Agyeman Prempeh I, a ruler of the Ashanti Kingdom, to establish a university in Kumasi as part of his drive towards modernization of his Ashanti kingdom. This plan never came to fruition due to the clash between British empire expansion and the desire for King Prempeh I to preserve his Ashanti kingdom's independence.
However, his younger brother and successor, King Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh II, upon ascending to the Golden Stool in 1935, continued with this vision. Events in the Gold Coast in the 1940s played into his hands. First there was the establishment of the University College of the Gold Coast. Secondly, there were the 1948 Accra riots and the consequent Watson Commission report which recommended that a university of sciences be established in Kumasi. Thus, in 1949, the dream of the Prempehs became a reality when building started on what was to be called the Kumasi College of Technology.
The Kumasi College of Technology offered admission to its first students to the engineering faculty in 1951 (however, those students started academic work in 1952), and an Act of Parliament gave the university its legal basis as the Kumasi College of Technology in 1952. The nucleus of the college was formed from 200 teacher training students transferred from Achimota College in the Greater Accra Region. The college was affiliated to the University of London. In 1961, the college was granted full university status.
The university covers a total land area of 2512.96 acres. The main campus which is about seven square miles in area, is about eight miles (13 km) to the east of Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
In November 2019, KNUST was ranked as the best university in Ghana and West Africa by U.S. News & World Report. It was also ranked 14th in Africa and 706th in the world, with a global score of 42.4. In November 2020 it was ranked the best for the second time by U.S. News & World Report. This time it climbed 2 positions to be 12th best in Africa.[6]
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
Municipality in Ghana. Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly is one of the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ghana and forms part of the forty-three districts in Ashanti Region, Ghana with Kumasi being its administrative capital. The metropolis is located in the central part of Ashanti Region and has Kumasi as its capital city.[7]