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Western Region (Ghana)

Coordinates: 5°30′N 2°30′W / 5.500°N 2.500°W / 5.500; -2.500
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Western Region
Region
Beach near Sekondi-Takoradi
Beach near Sekondi-Takoradi
CountryGhana
CapitalSekondi-Takoradi
Districts22
Government
 • Regional MinisterHon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah[1]
Area
 • Total
13,842 km2 (5,344 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 4th
Population
 (2021 Census)[2]
 • Total
2,060,585
 • RankRanked 6th
 • Density150/km2 (390/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$2,500
Time zoneGMT
Area code031
ISO 3166 codeGH-WP
HDI (2017)Increase 0.622[3]
medium · 2nd

The Western Region is located in south Ghana,[4] spreads from the Ivory Coast (Comoé District) in the west to the Central region in the east, includes the capital and large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points, where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities in June 2007. The region covers an area of 13,842 km2, and had a population of 2,060,585 at the 2021 Census.[2]

The Western Region enjoys a long coastline that stretches from South Ghana's border with Ivory Coast to the Western region's boundary with the Central Region on the east.

The Western Region has the highest rainfall in Ghana, lush green hills, and fertile soils. There are numerous small and large-scale gold mines along with offshore oil platforms dominate the Western Region economy.

The culture is dominated by the Akans; the main languages are Akan, French and English.

Tourism

The largest rivers are the Ankobra River, the Bia River, and the Pra River in the east, with the Tano River partly forming the western national border. The area is known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village of Nzulezo built entirely on stilts and platforms over water[5] and the Ankasa Protected Area. There is a series of imposing Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Brandenburgian forts along the coast, built from 1512 on.

The Dialect/Ethnic group popularly known in the Western Region is Nzema, the beaches of Nzema have become a getaway/vacation/resort destination for a lot of tourists (local and foreign) to experience true Nzema Hospitality. Amongst the top resorts along the coast of Nzema are Venice View Beach Resort, Located in a small town called Baku (also sometimes known as Beku) about 8 minutes drive from Eikwe. Along these beaches are other destinations such as the Fort Apollonia located at Beyin.

Education

The Western region has many post-secondary schools, including teachers' and nursing colleges, and two universities--University of Mines and Technology (in Tarkwa) and Takoradi Technical University (formerly known as Takoradi Polythecnic.

Administrative divisions

Before the regional demarcation in December 2018,[6][7] the region had 23 MMDA's (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 11 Municipal and 11 Ordinary Assemblies). Therefore, as part of this reorganisation, nine MMDA's (those in bold and asterisks below, which were 3 Municipal and 6 Ordinary Assemblies) were removed from the Western Region and formed into a new Western North Region with its new capital at Wiawso.

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 14 MMDA's (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 8 Municipal and 5 Ordinary Assemblies). Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:

Districts of the Western Region
Districts of the Western Region[8]
# MMDA Name Capital MMDA Type Population
Census 2010[2] 		Population
Projection 2019[2]
1 Ahanta West Agona Nkwanta Municipal 106,215 139,188
- Aowin* Enchi Municipal 117,886 154,661
- Bia East* Adabokrom Ordinary 27,393 37,108
- Bia West* Essam Ordinary 88,939 111,355
- Bodi* Bodi Ordinary 53,314 68,055
2 Ellembelle Nkroful Ordinary 87,501 114,441
3 Jomoro Half Assini Municipal 150,107 194,808
- Juabeso* Juaboso Ordinary 58,435 77,678
4 Mpohor Mpohor Ordinary 42,923 55,678
5 Nzema East Axim Municipal 60,828 80,480
6 Prestea-Huni Valley Bogoso Municipal 159,304 207,237
- Sefwi-Akontombra* Sefwi Akontombra Ordinary 82,467 108,266
- Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai* Bibiani Municipal 123,272 160,844
- Sefwi-Wiawso* Wiawso Municipal 139,200 182,510
7 Sekondi-Takoradi Sekondi Metropolitan 559,548 726,905
8 Effia-Kwesimintsim Kwesimintsim Ordinary N/A N/A
9 Shama Shama Ordinary 81,966 105,173
- Suaman* Dadieso Ordinary 20,529 27,832
10 Tarkwa-Nsuaem Tarkwa Municipal 90,477 117,550
11 Wassa Amenfi Central Manso Amenfi Ordinary 69,014 89,703
12 Wassa Amenfi East Wassa-Akropong Municipal 83,478 108,272
13 Wassa Amenfi West Asankragua Municipal 92,152 120,643
14 Wassa East Daboase Ordinary 81,073 105,163
Total 2,376,021 3,093,201

Famous native citizens

Famous native citizens of Western region
# Citizen Settlement
1 Samuel Inkoom Sekondi-Takoradi
2 Nadia Buari Sekondi-Takoradi
3 Boris Kodjoe Sekondi-Takoradi
4 John Atta Mills Tarkwa
5 Kwame Nkrumah Nkroful
6 Anton Wilhelm Amo Axim
7 Joseph Boahen Aidoo Wassa Afransie
8 Kofi Kinaata Takoradi
9 Gyedu-Blay Ambolley Sekondi-Takoradi
10 Godfried Gambrah Sekondi-Takoradi
11 Kwame Nkrumah Nkroful (Nzema people)

References

  1. ^ "Management And Administration – Western Regional Co-Ordinating Council". wrcc.gov.gh.
  2. ^ a b c d Ghana Statistical Service
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  4. ^ "Betway extends support to Volleyball Teams in the Western and Western North Regions". Citi Sports Online. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  5. ^ "UNESCO Listed World Heritage Properties". Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  6. ^ Kaledzi, Isaac (26 June 2019). "Ghana: Six new regions created after a referendum". Africa Needs. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Western". GhanaDistricts.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  8. ^ "geohive.com". www42.geohive.com. Retrieved 2023-01-11.

Sources

5°30′N 2°30′W / 5.500°N 2.500°W / 5.500; -2.500

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