Population

The population of the Ketu North District has its own unique features. It has always experienced growth in numbers over the years and has a large youthful population which is male dominant. The population of the district is not evenly distributed, and the number of persons per square kilometer is also on the increase.

Population Size and Growth Rates

The population size, growth rate, structure and distribution of the Ketu North District have been estimated from various census figures of the Ketu District which has now been split into the Ketu South and Ketu North Districts. Based on estimates from the 2000 population census, the Ketu North District has a projected population of 98,512 as at 2009. The population of the District has always been experiencing growth over the years. From 1970 to 1984, the District experienced a population growth rate of 1.9%. This growth rate remained unchanged for the1984 – 2000 censal year (See Table 1.1).

Age - Sex Structure

According to the 2000 population census, the district has a relatively large Female population compared to that of Male (See Table 1.6). This structure is not different from that of the Volta Region where the district is located.

In terms of age structure, the district has a large youthful population. The two cohort that contains most of the people are the 0-14 group and 15 –64 group (See Table 1.8).

Another significant feature of the district population is its large labour force. The cohort that falls within the active labour force constitutes 52.5% of the district population. This is a bit lower than the national active labour force of 55.2% and higher than that of the regional figure of 52.2%. This large active labour force could be positioned to harness and maximize the vast agricultural potentials of the district.

Population Density

The population density of the district has never been stable nor has it experienced any decline over time.  The increase in population over time is reflected in the high population densities recorded for the period 1970, 1984 and 2000 (See Table 1.9) The number of persons per square kilometer (density) as at each of the population censuses has increased from 60.2 persons in 1970 to 81.6 persons in 1984 and to 110.4 persons in the 2000. The increasing density in time shows the increasing pressure of the district’s population on the land and its resources. This may be an indication of growing pressure on the district’s fragile environment which may gradually result in environmental degradation.

There is high concentration of people in the two major towns of the district; Dzodze and Penyi. There are also pockets of concentration in the settlements in Afife, Ehi and Weta.

Rural/Urban Split

The population of the District is basically rural. About 70.7% of the people reside in the rural areas. The remaining 29.3% of the people can be found in the only two main towns of the District, Dzodze and Penyi. Apart from these two towns, the other settlements have their population figures below 5000 as at 2000 (2000 Population and Housing Census).

Migration Patterns

Out-migration is not very prominent in the District. This could be attributed to the fact that about 70% of the total populations are farmers who have access to fertile lands for farming. 

Environmental situation

The need to expand economic activities and to produce more food, fibres and other raw materials to feed, clothe, house and improve the living conditions of the rapidly expanding population of most agro-ecological area/zones has commonly led to the mismanagement of natural resources and to the degradation of the physical and biological environments, such that the long term, sustained yield use of renewable natural resources will be impossible. The physical environment of the District exhibits Savannah woodland made up of short grassland with small clumps of bush and trees as well as Mangrove forests in the marshlands.
   
Bush Fires

Bushfire has become a prominent annual ritual in all parts of the District. This is attributed to hunting of game, farming and the natural habit of setting fire to the bush. Bush fire in particular has contributed greatly to the reduction of the forest cover in the District. In addition to its effect on vegetation, the rampant bush burning in the area is causing air pollution. Although the degree and effect of air pollution cannot easily be ascertained, there is the need to show concern for its potential damage to the environment.

Aquatic Eco-system

The drying up and siltation of rivers is another environmental challenge to the aquatic eco-system of the District. The scanty tree cover causes most of the river bodies to dry up easily in the dry season. Inappropriate farming practices often result in the siltation of river bodies. This affects the amount of water available for human use during the dry season.

Farming Practices and Sand Winning

Farming also causes a great deal of destruction to the environment. Though the traditional farming system of bush-fallowing allows lands once cultivated to regain its fertility after some time, the rate of recovery could be slow. The bush fallow system also causes destruction to the forest cover as trees are cut down to make way for new farms.

Sand winning is another major activity that is fast destroying. The use of land Crete and sand Crete in housing construction makes sand winning a household activity. Another activity that promotes sand winning in the District is feeder road construction. These activities are fast reducing the quantity and quality of the environment through unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. Sustainable development in such a situation becomes impossible.

Removal of the forest cover decreases the land’s ability to retain water during the rainy season. The alteration in the hydrological cycle resulting from deforestation can hinder crop production in the District in the not too distant future.

Household characteristics

Besides food, health and clothing, adequate shelter is perhaps a major problem of concern to mankind in the District alongside the facilities that go with it. The issue of meeting the housing requirement has been a topical one, which has engaged the attention of the District authorities.  This has taken a more serious and wider dimension, given the increase in the District’s population.  According to the provisional figures of the 2000 population census released by the statistical services it indicates that over the years, the District’s population has increased by 58.2 percent over that of 1984.

Major Households characteristics

For people in the District, especially in the major towns of the District, the rapid population growth has become a great source of worry.  This is because population growth far exceeds the rate of increase in the provision of shelter.  Opening up of the District in recent years is making the problem of meeting quality-housing requirements more acute in the District.  It should be noted however that the housing problem in the District is not of quantity but of quality. Major household’s characteristics are presented in the table below.

The existing housing stock of 6,571 rose from the original stock of 6,029 in 2008. The high increase in the housing stock in a matter of two years can be attributed to the springing up of industrial and other economic activities in the newly created District.

An average household per house of 2.6 is more as compared to the national figure of 1.7. The implication is that there is a long social tie in the District.

Also, population per house of 15.0 is high as compared to the national figure of 8.7. This implies that there is high pressure on existing housing facilities.

A simple computation revealed 2.6 room occupancy rates in the District. This as compared to the national figure where majority (49.9%) live in one room and about 21.5% living in two rooms (2000 population census) can imply that there is loss of privacy in the District.

Building Materials used in Construction

A socio-economic study conducted shows that the types of houses found in the District based on the material used in putting them up could be categorized into four (4) main groups as shown in the figure below.

In general, 49.0 percent of houses in the District are built from Sancrete with only 44.0 percent from Lancet. Majority of the houses (84.5%) are roofed with roofing sheets with the remaining 13.0 percent and 2.0 percent being roofed with thatch and asbestos respectively.

Types and State of Houses

The various houses in the District can be categorized into detached (19.0%), compound houses 58.0% and semi-detached houses 21.5%.  In most of these compound houses, which are ubiquitous in the District, as much as 65% of them have between 3-4 households and 28% have 5-6 households. Also about 61.0% of the houses are leaking whereas 1.5% has their roofs ripped off.  Houses with cracked walls constitute 53.0% with 11.5% completely dilapidated.  It is regrettable to note that due to erosion activities in the District, 39.5% of the houses have their foundations exposed. Devastatingly, a total of 5.5% of the houses are exposed and were hanging.

The reason for those poor housing conditions can be attributed to the fact that landlords find it extremely difficult to raise funds especially from their houses for rehabilitation and maintenance.  For example about 85.0 percent of the households are free occupants who do not pay rent. Another reason is the high cost of building materials. 

Housing Facilities

Most of the houses in the District lack basic housing facilities like toilets, electricity and water. About 39.5% of the households make use of public toilets (KVIP) and as much as 22.0% and 37.5% respectively patronize bush and pit latrine as a place of convenience.  Only 2 of the households (1.0%) in the District use WC in their homes.

It is hoped that the current building regulation that requires an individual to obtain building permit which has allocation for latrine will help improve on sanitary situation in the District.

Apart from the major towns of the District and those along the main Ho-Aflao and Accra-Aflao trunk road, most of the houses in other parts of the District do not have electricity connected to them resulting in the population still depending on Kerosene lamp as a source of light.

Household income

As an agro based District, Chunk of the household’s income is derived from agriculture (58. %), basically crop farming and livestock rearing. 17.0% of the household’s derive their income from trading activities, while others derive it from other economic activities such as tailoring, sign writing, handicraft and services. Remittances accounted for 2.0 percent of the household’s income.

Household’s Expenditure Patten

Analysis of expenditure patterns of household’s in the District shows that an average person in District spends 18.5 percent of his income monthly on food and the least which is 0.8 percent is spent on dues. The table below summarizes the expenditure pattern of the people of the District.

Developmental issues and Prospects

Majority of the families living in almost all the communities in the District, fall within the lower income bracket, and below the poverty line by Ghanaian standards.  The people are mostly subsistent farmers with few engaged in petty trading.  The people have little access to credit facilities and production levels are quite low to sustain the family and manage domestic needs.

In order to provide shelter for themselves, families have to collect clay mud, demarcate a place and construct a house with poor ventilation, no proper design or planned layouts. Due to poor maintenance culture, there are large cracks, broken walls and dilapidated structures.