Accra Metropolitan District

This article is about the metropolitan district, which serves as the administrative boundaries of the City of Accra and capital of the Greater Accra Region. For the Accra Metropolitan Area, which serves as the capital of Ghana, see Accra.

Accra Metropolitan District City of Accra
City and Metropolitan District
Seal
Accra Metropolitan District City of Accra
Coordinates: 5°33′N 0°12′W
Sovereign state	Ghana
Region	Greater Accra Region
District	Accra Metropolitan District
Founded	1898 (Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462)) (Legislative Instrument 1615)
City Status	1961
Government
• Type	Metropolitan Assembly
• Metropolitan Chief Executive	Mohammed Adjei Sowah
Area
• Total	139.67 km2 (53.93 sq mi)
Elevation	61 m (200 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,665,086
Time zone	UTC
Post codes	GA
Area code	030
Website	http://www.ama.gov.gh/

The Accra Metropolitan District is one of the 216 Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts in Ghana, and among the 16 such districts in the Greater Accra Region with a population of 1,665,086 as of 2010. It spans an area of 139.67 km² (53.93 sq mi) and encompasses 10 sub-metropolitan councils: Ayawaso West, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso East, Okai-Koi North, Okai-Koi South, Ablekuma North, Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma South, Osu Klottey, and Ashiedu Keteke.

The district was established by the Local Government Act of 1993 (Act 462) and Legislative Instrument 1615. The local authority of the district, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, is currently headed by Mohammed Adjei Sowah, who was appointed by the President of the Republic of Ghana in 2017 as the Metropolitan Chief Executive and serves as the political head of the district and mayor of the City of Accra.

Since 1961, the district has been coterminous with the City of Accra, which also serves as its capital. Today, the Accra Metropolitan District is one of the three districts that make up the Accra Metropolitan Area, an area that serves as the capital of Ghana.

Administratively, the district is one of the 12 local authority districts of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, which include Tema Metropolitan District, Ga South Municipal District, Ga Central Municipal District, Ga West Municipal District, Ga East Municipal District, Adentan Municipal District, Ashaiman Municipal District, La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal District, La Dade Kotopon Municipal District, Kpone Katamanso District and Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal District.

History

Since its establishment, the Accra Metropolitan District has gone through numerous changes with respect to jurisdictional boundaries and number of sub-metropolitan district councils.

Under the local government arrangements when the Accra city council was created in 1953, six area councils were established namely Ablekuma, Ashiedu Keteke, Ayawaso, Okaikoi, Osu Klotey and Kpeshie (which comprised Teshie, Nungua and La). This system operated until 18th March, 1989 when Accra was elevated to metropolitan district status and the area councils became sub-metropolitan district councils under Legislative Instrument 1500 of the new Local Government System (PNDCL 207) Act 462.

In 2003, part of the first schedule of the Accra Metropolitan Legislative Instrument of 1995 (LI 161) was amended and replaced with Legislative Instrument 1722 of 2003 which led to the creation of 7 more sub-metropolitan district councils out of the existing 6. The Kpeshie sub-metropolitan district council was split into the Nungua, Teshie and La sub-metropolitan districts; the Ablekuma sub-metropolitan district council was split into the Ablekuma North, Ablekuma Central, and Ablekuma South sub-metropolitan districts; the Ayawaso sub-metropolitan district council was split into the Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso East, and Ayawaso West sub-metropolitan district council; and the Okaikoi sub-metropolitan district council was split into the Okaikoi North and Okaikoi South sub-metropolitan district council. This intervention was informed by the need to break up the district into smaller sectors to facilitate good governance.

In 2007, to promote efficiency in the administrative machinery and also meet the ever pressing demands for amenities and essential services, the Teshie and Nungua sub-metropolitan district councils were merged and upgraded to a Municipal Status in 2007 as the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal District under Legislative Instrument 1865. Later, in 2012, the La sub-metropolitan district council was carved out of the Accra Metropolitan District to form the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal District under Legislative Instrument 2038,

In 2017, the government laid before Parliament Legislative Instruments (LI) for the creation new districts. In the LI, the Ablekuma North, Ablekuma East, and Ablekuma West Municipal Districts are to be created out of the Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma East and Ablekuma West sub-metropolitan district councils of the Accra Metropolitan District. Additionally, the Ayawaso East, Ayawaso Central, and Ayawaso West sub-metropolitan district councils are to be carved out of the Accra Metropolitan District to create the Ayawaso North, Ayawaso East, and Ayawaso West Municipal Districts. The Okaikoi North and Okaikoi South sub-metropolitan district councils are to be merged as the Okaikoi Municipal District. Once assented into law, the Accra Metropolitan District will cover an area of approximately 6.56 km² (2.53 sq mi) and consist of the Ashiedu Keteke and Osu Klottey sub-metropolitan district councils.

Geography

File:Accra Metropolitan District borders.png

Communities within the Accra Metropolitan District

The district covers a total land area of 139.67 km² (53.93 sq mi). The Accra Metropolitan district is bounded to the north by the Ga West Municipal district, to the west by the Ga South Municipal district, to the east by La Dade Kotopon Municipal district, and to the south by the Gulf of Guinea.

Communities

Having gone through a number of changes in terms of size and number of sub-metropolitan district councils, the Accra Metropolitan District as it exists now consists of ten sub-metropolitan district councils made up of 72 communities and 76 Electoral Areas. The 20 largest communities by population are thus:

• Abeka
• Nima
• Mamobi
• Darkuman
• Osu
• New town
• Achimota
• Dansoman
• Russia
• Alajo
• West Abossey Okai
• Bubuashie
• South Odorkor
• Adedenkpo
• Adabraka
• Kokomlemle
• Lartebiokorshie
• Sukura
• Kotobabi
• Kaneshie

Electoral Areas

Constituency	Electoral Area
Ablekuma North	East Darkuman
Ablekuma North	West Darkuman
Ablekuma North	Kwashieman
Ablekuma North	Awoshie
Ablekuma North	Odorkor
Ablekuma North	Otaten
Ablekuma North	Sakaman
Ablekuma Central	Abossey Okai
Ablekuma Central	Mataheko
Ablekuma Central	Adwenbu
Ablekuma Central	Gbortsui
Ablekuma Central	Mambrouk
Ablekuma Central	Lartebiokorshie
Ablekuma Central	Nmenmeete
Ablekuma South	Korle Gonno
Ablekuma South	Korlebu Bu
Ablekuma South	Mamprobi
Ablekuma South	Chorkor
Ablekuma West	New Mamprobi
Ablekuma West	Gbebu
Ablekuma West	Shiabu
Ablekuma West	Opetekwei
Ablekuma West	Mampong Okai
Ablekuma West	Mansralor
Ayawaso Central	Kokomlemle East
Ayawaso Central	Kokomlemle West
Ayawaso Central	Aryee Diki
Ayawaso Central	Kotobabi
Ayawaso Central	Alajo
Ayawaso Central	Abelenkpe
Ayawaso Central	Roman Ridge/Airport Residential Area
Ayawaso East	Kanda
Ayawaso East	Nima East
Ayawaso East	Nima West
Ayawaso North	Mamprobi East
Ayawaso North	Mamprobi West
Ayawaso North	Kwaotsuru
Ayawaso West Wuogon	Dzorwulu
Ayawaso West Wuogon	Legon
Ayawaso West Wuogon	Okplongo
Ayawaso West Wuogon	East Legon
Klottey Korley	Official Town
Klottey Korley	Odawna/Sahara
Klottey Korley	North Adabraka
Klottey Korley	Tudu
Klottey Korley	Asylum Down
Klottey Korley	Kinkawe
Klottey Korley	Alata
Klottey Korley	Osu Doku
Klottey Korley	Ringway Estates
Odododiodioo	Ngleshie
Odododiodioo	Mudor
Odododiodioo	Kinka
Odododiodioo	Nmlitsagonno
Odododiodioo	Korle Wonkon
Odododiodioo	Amamomo
Odododiodioo	Korle Dudor
Okaikoi Central	Kantseian
Okaikoi Central	Apenkwa
Okaikoi Central	Wuoyeman
Okaikoi Central	Blema Gor
Okaikoi Central	Olengele Koona
Okaikoi Central	Gbemomo
Okaikoi North	Anorhuma
Okaikoi North	Nii Boiman
Okaikoi North	Akweteman
Okaikoi North	Achimota
Okaikoi North	Abofu
Okaikoi North	Anumle
Okaikoi South	Bubui
Okaikoi South	Kaneshie
Okaikoi South	Awudome
Okaikoi South	Avenor
Okaikoi South	Gonten
Okaikoi South	Mukose
Okaikoi South	Bubiashie

Demographics

At the 2010 census, there were 1,665,086 people residing in the district. Out of the total population, about 47% were migrants (born elsewhere in the Greater Accra Region or other regions in Ghana or outside Ghana), with people born in the Eastern Region but resident in the district constituting 27.8% of the migrant population.

The total number of households in the district stood at 501,903 households, out of which 450,794 households lived in the 149,789 houses within the district The average household size in the district is 3.7 persons per household and the population per house is estimated at 11.1, indicating that compound houses are the most common type of dwelling (67.7%) within the district.

38.4% of the population were under the age of 19, 12.4% between 20 and 24, 11.5% between 25 and 29, 21.5% between 30 and 44, 12.2% between 45 and 4% age 65 and over. For every 100 females, there were about 93 males.

Governance

AMA sub-metropolitan areas

The Accra Metropolitan district is administered by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, which is the political and administrative authority for the city of Accra. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has a general assembly which is constituted by about 102 members: two-thirds are elected representatives and one-third are government appointees.

Sub-Metropolitan District Councils

The district is made up of ten sub-metropolitan district councils which are subordinate to the general assembly.

Sub-Metro District Councils	Office Location
Ablekuma Central	Lartebiokorshie
Ablekuma North	Darkuman
Ablekuma South	Korle-Bu
Ashiedu Keteke	Jamestown
Ayawaso Central	Kotobabi
Ayawaso East	Kanda
Ayawaso West	Abelemkpe
Okaikoi North	Abeka
Okaikoi South	North Industrial Area
Osu Klottey	Kwame Nkrumah Circle

Climate

Accra
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     15     31 23     33     31 24     56     31 24     81     31 24     142     31 24     178     29 23     46     27 23     15     27 22     36     27 23     64     29 23     36     31 24     23     31 24 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: BBC Weather
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.6     87 73     1.3     88 75     2.2     88 76     3.2     88 76     5.6     87 75     7     84 74     1.8     81 74     0.6     80 71     1.4     81 73     2.5     85 74     1.4     87 75     0.9     88 75 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

The Accra Metropolitan district features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) that borders on a hot semi-arid climate (BSh). The average annual rainfall is about 730 mm, which falls primarily during Ghana's two rainy seasons. The chief rainy season begins in April and ends in mid-July, whilst a weaker second rainy season occurs in October. Rain usually falls in short intensive storms and causes local flooding in which drainage channels are obstructed.

Very little variation in temperature occurs throughout the year. The mean monthly temperature ranges from 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) in August (the coolest) to 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in March (the hottest), with an annual average of 27.6 °C (81.7 °F). The "cooler" months tend to be more humid than the warmer months. As a result, during the warmer months and particularly during the windy harmattan season, the city experiences a breezy "dry heat" that feels less warm than the "cooler" but more humid rainy season.

As a coastal city, Accra is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, with population growth putting increasing pressure on the coastal areas. Drainage infrastructure is particularly at risk, which has profound implications for people's livelihoods, especially in informal settlements. Inadequate planning regulation and law enforcement, as well as perceived corruption in government processes, lack of communication across government departments and lack of concern or government co-ordination with respect to building codes are major impediments to progressing the development of Accra's drainage infrastructure, according to the Climate & Development Knowledge Network.

As Accra is close to the equator, the daylight hours are practically uniform during the year. Relative humidity is generally high, varying from 65% in the midafternoon to 95% at night. The predominant wind direction in Accra is from the WSW to NNE sectors. Wind speeds normally range between 8 and 16 km/h. High wind gusts occur with thunderstorms, which generally pass in squalls along the coast.

The maximum wind speed record in Accra is 107.4 km/h (58 knots). Strong winds associated with thunderstorm activity often cause damage to property by removing roofing material. Several areas of Accra experience microclimatic effects. Low-profile drainage basins with a north-south orientation are not as well ventilated as those oriented east-west.

Air is often trapped in pockets over the city, and an insulation effect can give rise to a local increase in air temperature of several degrees. This occurs most notably in the Accra Newtown sports complex areas.