Akim Oda
Akim Oda
Akyem Oda | |
|---|---|
| Region | Eastern Region |
| District | Birim Central Municipal |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 60,604[1] |
| Time zone | GMT |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT |
Akim Oda is a town in south Ghana and is the capital of the Birim Central Municipal District, a district in the Eastern Region of south Ghana. Akim Oda is the capital of the Birim Central Municipal District. Akim Oda in 2013 has a settlement population of 60,604 people.[1]
Geography and climate
Akim Oda lies in hilly country of south Ghana with rain forest vegetation in the Birim River basin.[2]
The climate of Akim Oda is semi-equatorial and wet with significant precipitation during the rainy season from April to June and again in September to November. A dry period is experienced between December to February.
Economy
Agriculture
Cocoa is an important part of the Akim Oda economy, including plantations and casual plantings along roadsides. The crop is dried and stored in warehouses for shipment. There are several small palm oil farms to the north of the Birim river, covering about 6,000 hectares. Byproducts from the palm-oil mills are used in soap-making. Bamboo is another useful and fast-growing crop that grown in Akim Oda, and also a strong and inexpensive material used for furniture and construction.[2]
Mining
The Akim Oda Bank (geography) of the Birim river are rich in both gold and diamonds, extracted locally through artisanal mining processes.[2]
Forestry
The Akim Oda forests contain valuable trees, and there is some lumbering. The total forest area of Ghana (for which Akim Oda forms part) dropped from 8.2 million hectares around 1900 to 1.6 million hectares by the year 2000, and continues to decline rapidly due to demand both for exports and for construction by the growing Ghanaian economy. Forest plantations are being introduced near Akim Oda (and throughout the entire country under the National Forest Plantation Development Programme) and may help to reverse the decline.[3]
Tourism
Akim Oda has keenly developed tourism, with attractions that include dug-out boat tours to view the Akim Oda mining operations, traditional ceremonies usually including impressive drumming performances with the Akan drum, the biggest tree in West Africa at 12 meters in circumference (diameter = 3.8m) and 66.5 meters tall and a bustling outdoor market.[2] The exotic and tasty local Ghanaian food may also be an important attraction.[4]
Health care
The Akim Oda Government Hospital is the main health care provider in the town of Akim Oda.
References
- ^ a b "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com.
- ^ a b c d "Old Town, Akim Oda". University of Georgia. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ "Forest Plantation Development Workshop held at Oda". 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ "Local food festival ends at Akyem". 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
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