The Akan (/ˈækæn/) are a meta-ethnicity living in the countries of present-day Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
The Akan subgroups all have cultural attributes in common; most notably the tracing of matrilineal descent, inheritance of property, and succession to high political office.
Below are the List Of Akan Tribes In Ghana
Akan is the largest ethnic group in Ghana, making up 47.3% of the population of Ghana (Ghana Statistical Service 2013:61). They comprise the Bono, Asante, Adanse, Twifo, Asen, Fante, Akuapem, Akyem, Akwamu, Kwahu, Sehwi, Awowin, Nzima and Ahanta (Buah 1998:8).
Akan Ethnic Groups
Ashanti | Akuapim | Akyem | Fanti | Kwahu
| Population | 7,000,000 (1995 WA), 44% of the population (1990 WA). 1,170,000 Asante Twi, 4,300,000 Fante, 230,000 Akuapem Twi (1993 UBS). |
| Region | The Asante are south-central, Ashanti Province. The Akuapem are southeast, in areas north of Accra. The Fante are south-central, between Winneba, Takoradi, and Obuasi. |
| Dialects | FANTE (FANTI, MFANTSE), AKUAPEM (AKWAPEM TWI, TWI, AKUAPIM, AKWAPI), ASANTE (ASHANTE TWI, TWI, ASANTI, ASHANTI), AGONA, DANKYIRA, ASEN, AKYEM BOSOME, KWAWU, AHAFO. |
| Classification | Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan. |
| Comments | Dialects are largely inherently intelligible. The speech of the Asante and Akuapem is called ‘Twi.’ Dictionary. Grammar. SVO. Literacy rate in the first language: 30% to 60%. Literacy rate in the second language: 5% to 10%. Roman. Bible 1871-1964. |
How many Akan groups are in Ghana?
Certain other aspects of the Akan culture are determined patrilineally rather than matrilineally.
There are ancestrally 12 patrilineal Ntoro (spirit) groups, and everyone belongs to his or her father’s Ntoro group, but not to his family lineage and abusua.
How many clans do Akans have?
Source: Martha Erlich, 1995 Shaping for the Fire. Lineage Structures.
The Akan have a multitiered segmentary structure consisting of matrilineal clans, major matrilineage, and minor lineage segments.
The clans number eight in total and are not localized, including members throughout all the kingdoms.