Obuasi

Gold and history

Gold has been pulled from these hills since the days of Ashanti Goldfields in the late 19th century, and the Obuasi mine, now operated by AngloGold Ashanti, remains one of the great names in world gold mining. The industry's cycles of boom, retrenchment and revival are written into the town's streets and stories.

You will not tour the working mine as a casual visitor, but the mining heritage is everywhere: in the company town layout, in the bars where miners unwind, and in the pride locals take in the town's place in Ghana's economic story.

Getting to Obuasi

Obuasi is about an hour by road from Kumasi, with trotros and shared cars running through the day. The road is good, which makes the town an easy day trip from the Ashanti capital or a stop on the way south.

The town itself is walkable in the center, with taxis for the outlying neighborhoods and mine area viewpoints.

Food in Obuasi

Ashanti cooking rules the table: fufu with light soup or palm nut soup, ampesi with kontomire stew, and waakye mornings done properly. The chop bars cater to working appetites, which means generous portions at honest prices.

Check our restaurant listings for what is currently listed in Obuasi, and read Ghanaian foods for the dishes worth seeking out.

Practical tips

Football matters here: the Len Clay Stadium is home turf and match days bring the town alive. Beyond that, Obuasi rewards the curious traveler who likes places with a strong sense of themselves, Adansi traditions, mining town bars and markets with real local character.

Pair a visit with Kumasi for the full Ashanti picture. And if you run a business in Obuasi, add your free listing so visitors can find you.

Frequently asked questions