Kasoa
 | It has been suggested that Oduponkpehe be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2014. |
Kasoa
(Odupongkpehe) | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Ghana |
| Region | Central Region |
| District | Accra Metropolitan District |
| Elevation | 80 m (260 ft) |
| 60,000 | |
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
Kasoa, formarly known as Odupongkpehe, is a peri-urban city in Ghana.[1]
Location
Kasoa that has territory in 3 of the 20 Metropolitan, Municipalities and Districts (MMADs) in the Central Region of Ghana: the Awutu Senya district, Ewutu Municipal, and Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (ASEMA).[1] It is the second largest town in the Awutu/Effutu/Senya District of the capital to Winneba. [2] The town is situated along the Accra-Cape Coast Road, approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi), by road, west of Kotoka International Airport, the International Airport that serves Ghana's capital city of Accra.[3] This location lies approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi), by road, west of the central business district of the city of Accra.[4] The coordinates of the town are:05 31 12N, 00 28 48W (Latitude:5.5200; Longitude:-0.4800).
Population
English is the official language of Kasoa and Akan and English are the most commonly spoken languages.[5] Kasoa is traditionally home to the Guan ethnic group. Today, it is home to a large number of ethnic groups such as the Gas, Akans, Ewes, Walas/Dagarts, Mostries, Basares and other smaller tribes.[6] As of 2010, Kasoa’s population was estimated to be 69,384 people.[7] Ghana has experienced rapid population growth in the past three decades.[1] The population growth directly affects Kasoa, and other peri-urban areas.[1] Kasoa is reported to be one of the fastest growing communities in West Africa.[8] This growth is revealed by an examination and comparison of Kasoa’s population in 1970, 1984, 200, and 2010. In 1970, Kasoa had a population of 863. In 1984 the population was 2,597. In 2000 the population was 34,719. In 2010 the population grew to 69,384. Clearly, there has been an increase in the population size over the past 40 years. Comparing the change in population between the aforementioned dates proves the fact that the population is increasing at an increasing rate. From 1970-1984 the population increased by 1,734 people. Between 1884-2000, the population increased by 32,122 people. Lastly, from 2000-2010, the population increased by 34,665.[7] The net population growth between 1970 and 2010 is 68,521. This means that in the past 40 years, Kasoa has multiplied by more than 79 times what it was in 1970. This close consideration of the population reported by the National Analytical Report quantitatively indicates just how fast the population of Kasoa has been and is continuing to grow. Approximately 4 decades ago, Kasoa was a rural community; it is now very rapidly urbanizing.[7] Since 2000, the “spill-over effect” of the growing populations of large urban settlements into smaller towns around the edges of the large urban areas has contributed greatly to the rapid increase in the populations of towns, like Kasoa, that reside at the fringes of the large urban settlements such as Accra.[7] Challenges associated with living in the overly crowded urban centers such as transportation and safe/affordable housing have influenced individuals working in the Urban centers to have their place of residence be in a nearby settlement—often peri-urban areas like Kasoa—and commute into the urban center for work.[9] One of the many effects of the continual increase in Kasoa’s population is an increasing demand for residential land to accommodate the population that increases daily.[1] This demand has resulted in the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land. This conversion deeply effects the livelihoods of a large number of Kasoa’s farmers.[1]
Politics
Until 2007, Kasoa was fully encompassed by a single district, the Awutu Effutu Senya District.[6] In 2007, district split into the Awutu Senya district to the north and Effutu Municipal to the south.[6] Soon after the split, the Kasoa Urban Council became one of the two urban councils in the Awutu Senya district.[1] In 2012, the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly was formed in an effort to support the government’s decentralization programs and to strengthen local governments.[8] Kasoa is the administrative capital of ASEMA.[10]
Economy
Kasoa is home to some of the most prominent markets in the Awutu-Senya district. Agro-processed products are popular items at these markets. One of these products is cassava that is processed into popular food items called ‘agbelima’ and ‘gari’.[6] Agriculture and business associated with agriculture is one of the leading economic activities for Kasoa’s working population.[6] Farming and fishing are very popular in the lowlands near the coast. In 2013, construction of an Abattoir—a slaughter house—was begun in order to enable Kasoa to provide more food for its rapidly growing population.[6] In response to the growing need for peri-urban transport, private enterprises have been developed in the form of privately owned trotro and shared taxis which provide transportation for passengers, goods, and animals.[6] Ghana Rural Action Support Program (GRASP) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has initiated micro-finance loans for women in order to empower women and boost female economic activity in Kasoa.[11] An article in the Journal of Global Gender Studies, reports that studies conducted by Eunice Adjei-Bosompem in 2013 suggested that the initial loan amounts were insufficient for women to successfully start and sustain on-going income generating activities (IGAs).[6] The resulting suggestions for improving the short-term and long-term effectiveness of micro-finance loans were to increase loan amounts and loan return time, in addition to encouraging the development and utilization of technologies that will increase productivity.[6]
Physical characteristics
The average elevation of Kasoa is 75 km above sea level.[12] Kasoa experiences a five month dry season lasting from November through March. During the dry season, the northeast trade winds are most prominent. The dry season is followed by a seven-month rainy season that lasts from April through October. During this rainy season, the southwest monsoon winds are most common. The rainy season is usually characterized by flooding, low crop yield, and financial strain for a large portion of Kasoa’s population.[6]
External links
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Nyasulu, Tapiwa Uchizi (2012). Governance and customary land tenure in per-urban Kasoa in Ghana.
- ^ "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com.
- ^ Road Distance Between Accra International Airport And Kasoa With Map
- ^ Map Showing Accra And Kasoa (Odupongkpehe) With Distance Marker
- ^ "The composite budget of the awutu senya east municipal assembly for the 2014 Fiscal Year" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Awutu/Senya". Ministry of Food and Agricullture Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Nyarko, Dr. Philomena (May, 2013). "2010 Population & Housing Census". National Analytical Report. Ghana Statistical Service.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "The composite budget of the awutu senya east municipal assembly for the 2014 fiscal year" (pdf).
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Yankson, P.W.K, (2012). Landlordism and housing production in Greater Accra Metropolitan Accra. In: Ardayfio-Schandorf, Yankson, PWK & Bertrand, M. (Eds.). The mobile city of Accra: urban families, housing and residential practices. Daker, Senegal, CODESRIA.
- ^ "Autut-Senya-East (New)". Ghanadistricts.com. A Public - Private Partnership Programme between Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Maks Publications & Media Services. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ Adjei-Bosompem, Eunice (2013). Journal of Global Gender Studies. 1 (1).
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Poulation of Kasoa, Ghana. Montigabay.com http://population.mongabay.com/population/ghana/2296458/kasoa. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
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