Kumasi is the Ghanaian city that serves as the seat of the Asantehene and contains Manhyia Palace.
Kumasi is the historic capital of the Ashanti Region and the cultural heart of the Asante people. Manhyia Palace is the official residence and administrative seat of the Asantehene, the traditional ruler of the Asante kingdom. The palace complex includes the former palace, now a museum, and a newer residence nearby.
The palace’s history reflects Ghana’s colonial and Asante past. A British-built palace was completed in 1925 after earlier royal buildings had been destroyed during conflicts, including the War of the Golden Stool. The older building became a museum in 1995, preserving royal objects and historical accounts.
A common mix-up is to choose Accra because it is Ghana’s national capital. Accra is the country’s political capital, while Kumasi is the centre of Asante royal tradition. Cape Coast and Elmina are also major Ghanaian historical cities, but neither is the seat of the Ashanti king.