Western Region (Ghana)

The Western Region is located in south Ghana, 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 23,921 sq. km, and had a population of 2,376,021 at the 2010 Census; the latest official projected population (as at 2019) is 3,093,201.[2]

Western Region
Region
Région Occidentale
Beach near Sekondi-Takoradi
CountryGhana
CapitalSekondi-Takoradi
Districts22
Government
 • Regional MinisterHon. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah[1]
Area
 • Total23,921 km2 (9,236 sq mi)
Area rankRanked 4th
Population
 (2019 Projection)[2]
 • Total3,093,201
 • RankRanked 4th
 • Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$2,500
Time zoneGMT
Area code(s)031
ISO 3166 codeGH-WP
HDI (2017) 0.622[3]
medium · 2nd

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 and village of Nzulezo, built entirely on stilts and platforms over water, and the Ankasa Protected Area. There is a series of imposing Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Brandenburgian forts along the coast, built from 1512 on.

Education

The Western region has many post-secondary schools, including teachers' and nursing colleges, and two universities one at Tarkwa, UMaT and Takoradi Technical University formerly known as Takoradi Polythecnic.

Districts
Districts of the Western Region

The original Western Region of Ghana contained 23 districts made up of 1 metropolitis, 22 Municipalities and ordinary districts as follows:[4]

However, following a reorganisation of Regions in 2018, the existing ten Regions were replaced by a new structure of sixteen Regions; as part of this reorganisation, nine districts (those asterisked below) were removed from the Western Region and formed into a new Western North Region with its new capital at Wiawso. The present Western Region is left with 14 districts.

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

References
  1. "Regional Ministers - Government of Ghana". ghana.gov.gh.
  2. Ghana Statistical Service
  3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  4. "Western". GhanaDistricts.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.

Sources

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