Upper West Region (Ghana)

Upper West Region, Dagbon
region

Location of Upper West Region in Ghana

Districts of Upper West region, Dagbon
Country Ghana
Capital Wa
Districts 11
Government
 • Regional Minister Amin Amidu Sulemani
Area[1]
 • Total 18,476 km2 (7,134 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 7th
Population (2010 Census)[2]
 • Total 702,110
 • Rank Ranked 10th
 • Density 38/km2 (98/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year 2013
 • Per capita $5,150
GDP (Nominal)
 • Year 2013
 • Per capita $2,500
Time zone GMT
Area code(s) 039
ISO 3166 code GH-UW

The Upper West Region of Ghana is located in the northwestern corner of Ghana, precisely located in the Kingdom of Dagbon, and is bordered by Upper East region to the east, Northern region to the south, and Burkina Faso to the west and north. The Upper West regional capital and largest settlement is Wa. Upper West is the youngest region to have been created in Ghana by the then former Head of State, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings in 1983 under the Provisional National Defense Council. The area was carved out of the then Upper Region which is now the Upper East Region.

Geography and climate

Location and size

The Upper West Region is one of the ten regions of Ghana. It is located at the North Western corner of Ghana with latitude 9.8°- 11.O° North and longitude 1.6°- 3.0 West, bounded to Burkina Faso to the North.It covers a geographical area of 18,476 square kilometres which represents 12.7% of the total land area of Ghana. The northern Ghana-Burkina Faso border, on the east by the Upper East region and Northern region, on the south by the Northern region, and on the west by the western Ghana-Burkina Faso border borders the Upper West region on the north. It is the seventh largest region in Ghana in total area, and it is made up of eleven (11) districts. By virtue of its location, it has the potential for international and inter-regional trade and other bi-lateral relations, but the overspill of criminal activities and disaster, such as bush fires, diseases and pestilence, armed robbery etc., from our neighbours also pose a threat to the region.[3]

Tourism

The Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary is located South West of Wa, along the Black Volta River in the Wa West District. There is also the Gwollu Wall in the Sissala District which also serves as the hometown of one of Ghana's past presidents - Dr. Hilla Limann.[4]

Cuisine

A distinctive feature of the Upper West region's culture is the brewing of pito (pronounced PEE-toe) a sweet, mildly alcoholic beverage derived from sorghum (Sorghum spp.). Pito is sold by the brewers in open-air bars and drunk from calabashes.

Economy

The major economic activity of the region is agriculture. Crops grown include corn, millet, peanuts, okra, shea tree, and rice. Sheep, goats, chickens, pigs and guinea fowl are raised for meat and eggs. Because the region's dry season is long, extending roughly from October to May, many people leave the region to work in the southern part of Ghana for at least part of the year.

Sports

Districts

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into nine districts.[1] Each District, or Municipal Area, 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.

Districts in Upper West Region
# District Capital Population
1 Jirapa/Lambussie Jirapa
2 Lambussie Karni Lambussie
3 Lawra Lawra
4 Nadowli Nadowli
5 Sissala East Tumu
6 Sissala West Gwollu
7 Wa East Funsi
8 Wa Municipal Wa
9 Wa West Wechiau
10 Nandom Nandom
11 Issa Issa
Total

Notable natives of Upper west region

Prominent and famous citizens of Upper West Region include President Hilla Limann from Gwollu, Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery from Nandom, Peter Nanfuri from Jirapa, Kwesi Nyantakyi from Wa, Samini from Wa, wiyaala from Wa, Benjamin Kunbuor from Nandom, Ambrose P. Dery from Nandom, Alban Bagbin from Sombo and Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo from Wa.

References

  1. 1 2 "Upper West Region". GhanaDistricts.com. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Upper West Region – Population" (PDF). statsghana.gov.gh. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  3. ↑ GOG(MLGRD)
  4. ↑ ghanadistricts.com

Sources

  Burkina Faso  Burkina Faso Upper East
 Burkina Faso Upper East
   Upper West  
Northern Northern Northern

Coordinates: 10°20′N 2°15′W / 10.333°N 2.250°W / 10.333; -2.250

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