Commerce 

Though the district lacks large-scale trading and commercial enterprises, nonetheless there exist a large volume of commercial activities especially in fish, yam and maize trading around Tuluwe, Mpaha, and Boachipe areas and beans and groundnuts in markets around Kusawgu and Yapei. 

Traders from within and outside the district attach a lot of importance to the markets at Buipe, Mpaha, Chama and Sankpala because of the diversity and variety of items traded in them. There is an outlet of the Kintampo Rural Bank in Buipe but large-scale banking transactions, especially by departments and agencies are 
conducted in Tamale. 

The annual average household income is estimated at ¢550,000 (an average per capita of ¢70,000). Over 80% of the population live below the national poverty line ¢900,000. Poverty manifests itself in most peoples’ inability to adequately provide for themselves and their families with their basic needs including food, health care, clothing and decent housing and also the maintenance of local infrastructure. 

Industry 

There are no major manufacturing industries in the district. Defunct large scale extractive industries  include Buipe Lime Company, and S V ACEM. The revival of these industries will go a long way to addressing youth unemployment in the district. Prospects for gold and diamond exist in F inbu and Digma respectively. 

Small-sale industrial activities that abound in the district include shea-butter processing, rice milling, gari processing and groundnut oil extraction. These are undertaken mostly by women and sold in the local markets as well as markets in outlying districts and regions. Sand winning activities also occur along the banks of the White and Black Volta but these tend to degrade the environment.