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Ghana Ashanti Uplands
Comprising the Southern Ashanti Uplands and the Kwahu Plateau,
the Ashanti Uplands lie just north of the Akan Lowlands and stretch
from the Côte d'Ivoire border in the west to the elevated edge of
the Volta Basin in the east. Stretching in a northwest-to-southeast
direction, the Kwahu Plateau extends 193 kilometers between
Koforidua in the east and Wenchi in the northwest. The average
elevation of the plateau is about 450 meters, rising to a maximum
of 762 meters. The relatively cool temperatures of the plateau were
attractive to Europeans, particularly missionaries, who founded
many well-known schools and colleges in this region.
The plateau forms one of the important physical divides in
Ghana. From its northeastern slopes, the Afram and Pru Rivers flow
into the Volta River, while from the opposite side, the Pra, Birim,
Ofin, Tano, and other rivers flow south toward the sea. The plateau
also marks the northernmost limit of the forest zone. Although
large areas of the forest cover have been destroyed through
farming, enough deciduous forest remains to shade the head waters
of the rivers that flow from the plateau.
The Southern Ashanti Uplands, extending from the foot of the
Kwahu Plateau in the north to the lowlands in the south, slope
gently from an elevation of about 300 meters in the north to about
150 meters in the south. The region, however, contains several
hills and ranges as well as several towns of historical and
economic importance, including Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city
and former capital of the Asante (also seen as
Ashanti--see Glossary) empire
(see The Precolonial Period
, ch. 1). Obuasi and
Konongo, two of the country's gold-mining centers, are also located
here. The region is the country's chief producer of cocoa, and its
tropical forests continue to be a vital source of timber for the
lumber industry.
Data as of November 1994
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