Background

The Government of Ghana as far back as 1969, recognized that the “population of Ghana is the nation?s greatest resource. It is both the instrument and objective of national development. The protection and enhancement of its welfare is the Government?s first responsibility” (Government of Ghana, 1969). Government also explicitly recognized the reciprocal relationship between population and development (i.e. population affects development even as development affects population). An understanding of the population, its characteristics and dynamics is, therefore, crucial for realistic development planning.

The Government of Ghana has operated the decentralized system of development since 1988 with the District Assembly as the planning authority, expected to initiate and coordinate the processes of planning, programming, budgeting and implementation of District plans, programmes and projects. The District assemblies and the various organs are expected to carry out medium and long-term planning, including integration of population policies and issues as they pertain to the needs of particular Districts and communities.

The overall level of development and the demographic structure of the country conceal differences between and within regions, Districts, urban and rural localities. As such, there are bound to be differences in the population and development needs and priorities between and within Districts, urban and rural localities.

The report is with reference to the North Gonja District. Its objective is to make available to the general public analysis of data, the results of the 2010 Population and Housing Census and their full implications for policy and planning in the District.

The North Gonja District Assembly was established by legislative instrument (LI) 2065 (2012). The district was inaugurated on Thursday, 28th June 2012 in Daboya, the capital town. The district was carved out of the West Gonja District in 2012 following the 2010 Population and Housing Census as part of the efforts to deepen decentralization processes in the country. There are about sixty-eight communities in the district. These include Lingbinsi, Tari, Singa, Disah, Kagbal, Lukula, Wawato, Bawena, Mankarigu and Daboya as the major localities.