Obuasi

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Obuasi is a town situated in southern Ghana, nestled in a hilly region approximately 100 miles (160 km) away from Accra. The town’s development was spurred by the discovery of a substantial gold deposit in 1897 and the construction of a railway from Sekondi in 1902. The Asante gold mine in Obuasi maintained its position as the country’s primary gold producer, outlasting others that were depleted. Renowned for its high yield per ton of ore, it stands among the world’s most lucrative gold mines. By the close of the 20th century, it had become the 10th largest gold mine globally.

While mining plays a dominant role, Obuasi’s economy has diversified through commerce and cocoa production. The town’s population has grown due to migrant labour influx from northern Ghana and neighbouring countries. In the surrounding areas, agriculture revolves around cash crops, necessitating the importation of food and other essentials for the predominantly industrial workforce in the town. A mosque serves the Muslim community. As of 2000, the population was 115,564, increasing to 143,644 by 2010.

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More about this place

Obuasi is a gold mining community and town which is the capital of the Obuasi Municipal District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It lies in the southern part of the Obuasi Municipal, 39 miles (63 kilometres) south-west of Ashanti capital city Kumasi. Obuasi has a population of 175,043 people. Obuasi mining community has a mixture of the Ashanti people culture and the semi-island exclave Ashantiland.

Obuasi is home to the Obuasi Gold Mine, one of the largest known gold deposits on Earth. The Gold Coast region was named after the large amount of gold mined historically at Obuasi and the broader Ashanti Region.

Economy

Obuasi is known for the Obuasi Gold Mine, one of the largest underground gold mines in the world. Gold has been mined on the site since at least the seventeenth century.

The Obuasi Gold Mine is now being refurbished after being placed under care and maintenance in 2014. The mine was anticipated to reach full production in 2022, with a mine life of more than 20 years.

Transportation

Train and air

Obuasi train station is on the Ashanti railway line to and from Kumasi (39 miles or 59.4 kilometres or 1 hour 2 minutes south-west of Kumasi) and Obuasi also has an airstrip and airport.

Tourist attractions

Tourists can visit the town's mine by arranging with the Public Relations Directorate of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC). Operated by the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC), formerly the State-owned Ashanti company Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC), Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) was the largest mine until the AGC company merged in 2004 to create the world's second-largest gold producer, Anglo Gold Ashanti (AGA) with the merging of the South African company AngloGold.

Education

Obuasi is the site of the Obuasi Senior High Technical School, a coeducational second cycle public high school. Christ the King Catholic Senior High School, St. Margaret Senior High School, and the College of Integrated Health Care. Obuasi is the site for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)-Obuasi Campus.

Climate

Obuasi has a semi-equatorial tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with two rainy seasons. The main rainy season is from March to July, with May and June being typically the year's wettest months, whilst a lighter rainy season occurs from September to November. The average annual rainfall in Obuasi is around 1,270 millimetres or 50 inches and the average temperature 26.5 °C or 79.7 °F with highs of 30 °C or 86 °F and lows of 23 °C or 73.4 °F. Relative humidity is around 75% - 80% in the wet seasons.

Healthcare

Obuasi is also noted for its healthcare facilities, such as the AGA Hospital owned by the Anglo Gold corporation, and also for a private health facility, St. Jude Hospital, owned by Dr George Owusu-Asiedu. The facility is noted for many successful surgeries and numerous successful births at the maternity division of the hospital.