Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti region in Ghana, earned the name “Garden City” due to it lush greenery and numerous parks and gardens. The city was home to a variety of trees and flowers, which not only added to its beauty but also served as windbreaks and provided natural shade.

   The city’s undulating land plateaus made it a sight to behold, with many residential areas perched on top of hills and meticulous layouts that included clean rivers and streams flowing through the low-lying areas.

   In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II visited Ghana and tour through Kumasi under the presidency of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah for the first time and was impressed by its beautiful and natural environment, leading her to describe it as the “Garden City” of West Africa.

Mcdovenews present some of the rare photos that captured her visit to the former colony. The queen again visited Ghana under the presidency of Jerry John Rawlings in the year 1999.

Kumasi had numerous parks and gardens, including the Prince Wales Park, Abbey’s Park, Jackson Park, Kotoko Park and the Adehyeman Garden among others. These are gardens served as entertainment spots for people of all ages and were also used for various activities such as sports.

   However, over the years most of these parks and gardens have been converted into commercial centers and the city’s natural beauty has been compromised. Efforts are being made to restore Kumasi to it formal glory including the Ashantehene’s initiatives to plant trees to restore the the city’s ecosystem.

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