Social Infrastructure/Service Infrastructure
Trade and Commerce

About 12% of the working population in the district is engaged in trading/commercial activities (buying and selling).

Types of trading/commercial activities found in the district include trading in :
•    Foodstuffs
•    Provisions
•    Spare parts
•    Alcoholic and soft drinks
•    Building Materials
•    Cooked foods
•    Wood and Wood products
•    Plastic products
•    Chemicals
•    Fuel Products  and lubricants
•    Etc.

Most of the traders are small size retailers, and apart from a few who trade in defined market places, most trading activities in the district are located along roads, water ways and residential neighborhoods, thus creating a lot of environmental sanitation problems.   

There are 3 main markets in the district. These are located at Barekese, Abuakwa and Nkawie. The Abuakwa market operates daily, whiles the Nkawie and Barekese markets operates both daily and weekly. There are other relatively smaller markets in the district. These include Atwima Koforidua, Akropong, Asuafua, Achiase, Maakro, Sepaase, Besease, Fufuo and Agogo markets.There are lorry parks attached to the Abuakwa, Asufua, Barekese and Nkawie markets

The infrastructure at the markets and lorry parks are not only inadequate, but are also poor. There is also no effective market management system in place for the proper management of the markets.Measures are required to improve the infrastructure at all the markets and lorry parks and also to put in place proper market management system and structures for the effective management of the markets to enable them serve the needs of the people.

Informal Services Sector 

The District has a number of businesses engaged in the provision of different services to people within and outside the District. Important services available in the District include: Hairdressing Barbering, Traditional catering (chop bar), Automobile repairs, Radio / TV repairs, Hotel / Restaurant services, Fridge / Air-condition repairs, Mobile phone repairs

The Abuakwa Area Council has the highest number of businesses in the service sector. About 37.2% of businesses in the service sector can be found within the Abuakwa Area council, this is followed by Akrropong Area Council with about 23.9%. Nkwaie-Toase and Adankwame Area Councils occupy the third and fourth positions respectively. Afari Area council has the least number of businesses in the service sector in the District.

The service sector is dominated by businesses that are into hairdressing (52%).  The Abuakwa Area Council has the highest number of hairdressers and the Akropong Area Council follows it with about 23.9%. Abuakwa, Old Boaso and Atwima Koforidua are the towns where the business is highly concentrated. The Nkawie-Toase Area Council has the third largest number of hairdressers and it is followed by the Adankwame Area Council. Afari Area Council has the least number of hairdressers in the District.

Traditional catering or chop bars occupy about 16.8% of businesses in the service sector within the District. The Akropong Area Council has the highest number of chop bars in the District with a total number of about 34 and it is followed by the Abuakwa Area Council with a total of about 32. The traditional catering (chop bar) business is a very viable sector that if supported would be of immense economic benefit to the District.

Barbering is the third most important service available in the District. About 14.8% of businesses in the service sector can be found in the barbering business. The business is concentrated within the Abuakwa and Akropong Area Councils.

Radio / TV repairs are also another business that is emerging in the District. About 7.1% of businesses in the service sector are engaged in the trade. The business is concentrated in the Akropong and Abuakwa Area councils.

Vehicle repairs (Auto mechanic) occupy about 4.2% of businesses in the service sector within the District. The Abuakwa Area Council has the highest number of vehicle repairs. Unfortunately, the Abuakwa Area Council has no properly demarcated site where the trade can be carried out successfully. This has compelled most of the businesses to be located on roadsides, on water ways and in residential areas where they face a lot of inconveniences. The District must endeavor to find a suitable site where most of these businesses could be located.

The Hotel / Restaurant business is not well developed in the District. The business occupies only about 1.4% of businesses in the service sector.  The district must take advantage of its proximity to Kumasi to facilitate private sector investment in the hotel and restaurant industry to create employment.

Generally, the quality of products and services of the Micro and Small Scale Manufacturing and Services Enterprises in the district are low. There is also, low level of managerial and record management competence. Also, most of the enterprises do not have adequate access to credit. There is the need to seriously address these bottle-necks to enable the MSMEs in the district improve upon their activities.

ICT

With the growth and development of ICT globally, the district has positioned itself to benefit fully from it. We recognize the numerous benefits that ICT offers and all possible measures are being taken to establish it within the district. The district in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications has set up Community Information Centre (CIC). Equipped with computers and internet facility, this ICT centre is meant to bridge the digital divide between rural/semi rural areas and the world. It is also meant to spearhead the growth and development of ICT across the district.

The CIC offers computer training workshops for students, civil servants and other individuals. The center also intends to encourage the concept of e-governance with the district assembly.

Signals from all the mobile telecommunication networks such as MTN, Tigo, Vodafone Ghana, Glo, Zain and Kasapa can be received in the district. Towns with direct telephones lines are Nkawie, Toase, Abuakwa, Akropong, Barekese and Asuofua.

The major television stations, GTV, TV3, Metro TV, Viasat 1, and TV Africa reach the district. Radio station signals can also be received from Kumasi.

Although the district is making efforts to improve ICT, usage by both public sector institutions and private sector operators is generally very low.  There is the need to increase ICT infrastructure and skills training in the district to facilitate and increase the quality of services of the public and private sectors.

Due to the high cost of ICT equipment, assistance is needed in the area of ICT to boost its usage and acceptance within the district.