Originally built in 1820 by Asantehene Osei Tutu Kwamina to mirror coastal forts. Kumasi Fort was destroyed by British forces in 1874; and rebuilt in 1897 using granite and brown soil brought from Cape Coast.

In March 1900, during the Anglo-Asante War, Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa led the siege of this fort, imprisoning 29 British officials inside. Though they survived, Yaa Asantewaa was later exiled to the Seychelles

Converted into the Armed Forces Museum in 1952–53, the museum displays Ghana’s military evolution from the colonial-era Gold Coast Regiment to present-day Ghana Armed Forces.

Exhibits include:

·       World War II weapons, medals, maps

·       Artifacts from the Anglo-Asante Wars

·       Armored vehicles, anti-aircraft guns, aircraft displays

·       Portraits of Yaa Asantewaa, Prempeh I & II, and other military leaders

·       A rear‑tower exhibit containing rifle stocks and remains from colonial construction projects.

The fort stands as an artifact of Ashanti architectural ingenuity, modeled after European structures but deeply rooted in local sovereignty and resistance efforts.

The rebellion of Yaa Asantewaa, a pioneering female leader in African history, elevated the fort’s status in Ghanaian national memory.

Today, it serves as an educational monument, reflecting both colonial exploitation and the resilience of Ghana’s armed forces throughout transitions in leadership and nationhood