administrative region, central Ghana. The population of the region is predominantly Ashanti; the capital and largest city is Kumasi. Products include cacao, timber, and bauxite.

The Ashanti tribes, confederated into a kingdom early in the 18th century, sought to extend their dominion over the Fanti tribes. From 1807 to 1826 their intrusions involved them in wars with Great Britain, which had established forts along the coast in Fanti territory. Traditional enmity with the Fanti and the refusal of the British to yield up a fugitive slave led to the Ashanti-British war of 1873–74, during which Kumasi was burned. Prempeh I (1872–1931), chosen king, or paramount chief, in 1888, was defeated and captured in 1896 after a series of wars against Great Britain and later was exiled to the Seychelles Islands. Ashanti was annexed to the Gold Coast Colony in 1901. Great Britain continued to rule through tribal chiefs, however, and Prempeh was finally restored to the position of paramount chief in 1926 in recognition of the loyalty of the Ashanti people to the Allies in World War I. From 1934, when the government of the Gold Coast Colony was reorganized, until 1957, when Ashanti was included in the newly formed country of Ghana, Ashanti was administered by a chief commissioner. Area, 25,123 sq km (9700 sq mi); pop. (1984) 2,090,100.