The Ketu North District is one of the 18 Districts in the Volta Region of Ghana. The District was known as the Ketu District until the year 2008 when the Ketu North District was carved out of it. The following represent key geo-physical features of the District:

The District covers a land area of 754km2 with an estimated population of 83,161 as at the year 2000. This has been projected to be 98,571 in 2010. The District’s population is currently growing at a rate of 1.9% which is lower than the national rate of 2.6%. The population is dominated by females (53.7%).

The District has a large labour force constituting 52.5% of the population. Though the dependent population is quite high (45.2%), their effect on the active population could be lower since most of those in the senile age group could still be engaged in one form of agricultural production  or the  other.

There are four Traditional Paramount Chiefs in the District ruling from Dzodze, Penyi, Afife and Weta. These Paramount Chiefs however collaborate in the implementation of most development projects.

The voltain rock formation which underlies the District has underground water resources. Consequently, this has affected the underground water exploitation in the District and so, most boreholes get dried up in the dry season.

The Drainage of the District is towards the South and is dominated by several seasonal streams that flow in wide valleys between Ohawu and Ehie to end in the swampy lands of Afife. The major rivers include Kplikpa and Tsiyi.

The District falls within the Savannah woodland made up of short grassland with small clumps of bush and trees as well as Mangrove forests in the marshlands are found in the District.  The locally known trees are Agorti, Adzido, Atortsi and Atsitotsi.

Soils in the District range from Tropical Grey and Black Earths, the Regosolic Groundwater Laterites, the Recent Deposits of the littoral consisting of marine sands and the Tertiary formation comprising Savannah Ochrosols for its soil type. These soil types are suitable for the cultivation of different types of crops.

In general, the physical environment in which man finds himself, to a large extent determines and affects the socio-economic conditions of the population who dwell in it.  This section aims at describing the location and size, geology, relief and drainage, climate and soils of the Ketu North district as well as their implications for the development of the district.

Location and Size

The Ketu North District is one of the 18 districts in the Volta Region of Ghana.  It is located between latitudes 6o 03”N and 6o 20”N and longitudes 0o 49’E and 1o 05’E. It shares boundaries with the Akatsi District to the North and the Republic of Togo to the East.  To the South, it is bounded by Ketu South district. The district capital (Dzodze) is about 80km from Ho the regional capital. The district has a surface area of about 754 square kilometers.  Figures 1.1 and 1.2 show the district within the national context and its administrative divisions respectively

Geology and Soil

The area of the district is underlain by 3 main geological formations. Viz the Dahomenyan formation to the North made up of soils such as Tropical Grey and Black Earths, the Regosolic Groundwater Laterites, the Recent Deposits of the littoral consisting of marine sands and the Tertiary formation comprising Savannah Ochrosols for its soil type. These soil types are suitable for the cultivation of different types of crops.

Relief and Drainage

In terms of relief, Ketu North District is relatively low lying with altitudes around 66 metres.  The plain nature of the terrain makes movement within the district easy.  The Drainage of the district is towards the South and is dominated by several seasonal streams that flow in wide valleys between Ohawu and Ehie to end in the swamplands of Afife. The major rivers include Kplikpa and Tsiyi. There are about 6 large fresh water reservoirs (dams) -Ohawu, Kporkuve, Dzodze, Tadzewu, Dekpor-Adzotsi and Larve as well as a few small community dugouts in the district.

Climate

The District experiences the dry Equatorial type of climate.  The average monthly temperatures vary between 24? and 30?, which are generally high for plant growth throughout the year. The mean annual rainfall for the District is around 1,270mm.  The rainfall is of double maxima type occurring from April to July and September to October.  The dry season, which is mainly dominated by the dry harmattan winds, extends from December to February in the district. Generally rainfall in the District is considered low and erratic particularly during the minor season

Vegetation

The original vegetation of the District is Savannah woodland made up of short grassland with small clumps of bush and trees as well as Mangrove forests in the marshlands are found in the District. However, the extensive farming activities in the district have, over the years, reduced the natural vegetation.  Amid these are cultivated  holdings of cassava, maize, coconut, oil palm, and black berry trees and the occasional baobab and fan palm.  The decimation of the  vegetation by population pressure may have adversely affected rainfall in the district.

Implications for Development

The physical characteristics of the Ketu North District contain a basket of potentials that can be tapped for the socio-economic development of the area.

In terms of relief and drainage, the vast expanse of flat land is a potential for large scale mechanized farming. Road construction and other activities are also relatively less costly. 

The water resources in the district could also be harnessed for irrigation purposes, especially for rice cultivation and dry season gardening aside its current use for the supply of potable water for some communities in the district. The high intensity of the sun in the area provides abundant solar energy, which is already being used by farmers for preservation and storage purposes. 

The district’s population derives a lot of benefits from the savanna woodlands, including housing and energy.  However, these often lead to overexploitation of the vegetation, which consequently results in environmental degradation.  The soils, vegetation and climate of the district constitute suitable ecological conditions for both arable farming and livestock rearing. However, the excessive rainfall experienced sometimes could cause flooding, rendering feeder roads unmotorable