Tourism attractions

The municipality also has a lot of tourist attractions of international repute and with the successful hosting of Emancipation Day in 1998, has been placed on the world Tourism Map. A major site is Assin Manso’s Slave River, where, it is believed, the slaves bathed for the last time before being taken to the castles.

Currently publicised on the Internet and featured in both the local and international media, Assin Manso’s Slave River receives between 60 and 75 tourists a week. Another tourist site which has gained international recognition is the Bamboo Orchestra at Mesomagar, 30 minutes’ drive off the Cape Coast – Kumasi road. The Bamboo Orchestra was established in 1994 and consists of 25 performers.

About 500 visitors are received a year, mostly from various international organizations and the group performs at the Kakum National Park every two weeks and also at the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles. Then there is Nana Sir Tsibu Darko’s Mausoleum at Nyankomasi Ahenkro. He was a famous chief knighted by the British Empire in the 19th century.

Other tourist sites include the colonial cemetery and the slave cemetery, both at Assin Praso, and the place where Osei Tutu, founder of the Ashanti Kingdom, was shot in his attempt to cross the river Pra during one of his many military campaigns. The growing tourism industry in Assin has also created opportunities to invest in hotel and restaurant facilities in Assin Foso, Assin Manso or Nyankomasi Ahenkro.