Things to do in Kumasi
-
A
Manhyia Palace Museum
To get a feel for how a modern Ashanti ruler lives, visit Manhyia Palace and its museum off Antoa Rd, up the hill north from Kejetia Circle. The palace was built by the British in 1925 to receive Prempeh I when he returned from a quarter of a century of exile in the Seychelles to resume residence in Kumasi. It was used by the Ashanti kings until 1974.
On display is the original furniture, including Ashantiland's first TV, and various artefacts from the royals, including evocative photos of the time.More striking are the unnervingly lifelike, life-size wax models of the two kings and their mothers and of the most redoubtable queen mother, Yaa Asantewaa, who led the 1900…
reviewed
-
B
National Cultural Centre Complex
The National Cultural Centre Complex is set within spacious grounds and includes a model Ashanti village; craft workshops where you can see brassworking, woodcarving, pottery making, batik cloth dyeing and kente cloth weaving; a gallery and crafts shop; the regional library; the tourism office; and the small Prempeh II Jubilee Museum.
The craft workshops aren't always active, especially on Sunday, and it's all rather low-key, but the grounds are shady and it's an agreeable place to spend a few hours including lunch at the restaurant in the complex.
reviewed
-
C
Vic Baboo's Café
Vic Baboo's Café is where foreign travellers go for its extensive cocktail menu.
reviewed
-
D
Okomfo Anokye Sword
Okomfo Anokye Sword TheOkomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is the unlikely setting for this small museum housing the Okomfo Anokye Sword, an important Ashanti monument. The sword has been in the ground for three centuries and has never been pulled out. According to Ashanti legend, it marks the spot where the Golden Stool descended from the sky to indicate where the Ashanti people should settle.
The sword is a symbol of the unity and strength of the Ashanti people and if anyone ever pulls it out, their kingdom will collapse. It's housed in a small yellow building with red Ashanti symbols on the outside walls. If entering the hospital grounds from Bantama Rd, veer to the right…
reviewed
-
E
Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
Prempeh II Jubilee Museum may be small but the personalised tour included with admission is a fascinating introduction to Ashanti culture and history. Among the displays are artefacts relating to the Ashanti king Prempeh II including the king's war attire, ceremonial clothing, jewellery, protective amulets, personal equipment for bathing and dining, furniture, royal insignia and some fine brass weights for weighing gold.
Constructed to resemble an Ashanti chief's house, it has a courtyard in front and walls adorned with traditional carved symbols. Among the museum's intriguing photos is a rare one of the famous Golden Stool. The museum also contains the fake golden stool…
reviewed
-
F
Armed Forces Museum
Fort St George and its Armed Forces Museum on Stewart Ave deserve a visit for the extraordinary collection of booty amassed by the West Africa Frontier Force, forerunner of today's Ghanaian army, with items looted from the Germans in Togo during WWI and, in WWII, from the Italians in Eritrea and Ethiopia and from the Japanese in Burma.
The fort, originally constructed by the Ashanti in 1820, was razed by the British in 1873 during the Fourth Ashanti War, and then rebuilt by them in 1896. The most interesting section relates to the British-Ashanti war of 1900, when the Ashanti, led by their queen mother, Yaa Asantewaa, temporarily besieged the fort, starving the British…
reviewed
-
G
Kejetia Market
From afar, the Kejetia Market looks like an alien mothership landed in the centre of Kumasi. Closer up, the rusting tin roofs of this huge market, often cited as the largest in West Africa, look like a circular shantytown. But once you take a breath and step down into its interior, it's infinitely disorienting but also throbbing with life and commerce.
Watch your step, often over unused railroad tracks, in the narrow alleyways selling everything from foodstuffs, second-hand shoes, clothes and plastic knick-knacks to kente cloth, glass beads, Ashanti sandals, batik and bracelets. You may also see fetish items, such as vulture heads, parrot wings and dried chameleons.
reviewed
-
Magazine Area
Kumasi is made up of a collection of districts, each of which used to perform a specific role for the Ashanti king. The Magazine area in Suame district was originally where artillery was made; now, however, it's a vast used-car workshop where rusty old wrecks are miraculously brought back to life. Piles and piles of rusting engine parts line the sides of the roads and the air is filled with the chinking sound of metal hitting metal. It's worth a look as you pass through on your way north.
reviewed
-
H
Kumasi Hat Museum
The top floor of the Nurom Hotel on Ofinso Rd is a monument to one man's obsession with hats. The owner, Chief Nana Kofi Gyemfi II, has assembled an amazing personal collection of more than 2000 hats from all over the world. Beginning with his first headgear, back in 1928, he now has an astounding, if dusty, collection of fedoras, sombreros, boaters, bowlers and much more. To get to the hotel, take any tro-tro heading north from Kejetia Circle to Suame Roundabout or catch a taxi.
reviewed
-
I
Tiawaah Restaurant
You may catch the staff sleeping at this modern restaurant on the third floor of the Aseda Complex, a block from the VanefSTC station. It has a wide selection of Ghanaian, Chinese and continental cuisine. KPS World Enterprise Coffee Shop is on the second floor of the same complex.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Moti Mahal Restaurant
One of the most expensive restaurants in Kumasi, with a large selection of Indian cuisine; because everything is a la carte the bill can add up. It's off the Southern Bypass Rd - some taxi drivers know where it is.
reviewed
-
Sweet Bite
It's worth a trip out to Sweet Bite, several kilometres south of Ahodwo Circle, for good Lebanese food like shwarma, falafel, hummus and tabbouleh. Other options like burgers and seafood are on the menu.
reviewed
-
K
Funkees
This little place with outdoor seating is in the minimall across from the Alliance Française and is known for its woodfire pizza and kebabs. There's a good wine shop above the restaurant.
reviewed
-
L
Kentish Kitchen
Really only worth a visit if you're already at the National Cultural Centre complex, Kentish is a small outdoor eatery serving a small selection of basic Ghanaian fare.
reviewed
-
M
Chopsticks Restaurant
Looking like the remains of a restaurant, Chopsticks is only a few outdoor tables with plastic chairs serving standard Chinese dishes and delicious large pizzas.
reviewed
-
N
Café Maserati
The DJ at Café Maserati plays hip-hop and R&B on Wednesday and Friday nights, otherwise you can always get a drink at the outdoor tables.
reviewed
-
O
Roxy Theatre
For a real taste of local Kumasi head to the Roxy Theatre, an old cinema showing schlock near Zongo St in the Muslim section of the city.
reviewed
-
P
Bonwire Kente Cloth Shop
For high-quality locally produced textiles try the Bonwire Kente Cloth Shop, a little hole-in-the wall near Prempeh II Roundabout
reviewed
-
Q
Fox-Trap Nightclub
The Fox-Trap Nightclub, next to Prempeh Assembly Hall and attached to the studio of a local radio station, has a DJ and disco.
reviewed
-
R
Timber Gardens
Timber Gardens, at the junction of Lake Rd and Southern Bypass Rd, is a lively outdoor spot for a drink or a bite to eat.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
S
Woodin Boutique
For high-quality locally produced textiles try Woodin Boutique a block from the train tracks and Kejetia Market.
reviewed
-
T
Spice Nightclub
Spice Nightclub, just north of the Santasi Roundabout, is open Wednesday to Sunday nights
reviewed
-
U
Podium Nightclub
Podium Nightclub in the centre is a nightclub on Wednesday to Saturday evening.
reviewed
-
V
Vienna City Pub
Popular drinking spots include Vienna City Pub, especially on weekend nights.
reviewed
-
Jofel's Catering Services
Jofel's Catering Services has live music on Saturday evenings.
reviewed