Background

The development of any country is largely influenced by accurate data for policy planning and programs that transform the lives of the population. Information about population growth, its movements and structures, living conditions, spatial distribution and natural resources of a country's population is vital for relevant policy formulation, planning and implementation, and for monitoring and evaluation (UNFAP). Hence, gathering and analysing data on population and development-related issues play fundamental roles in policymaking. Population and Housing Census (PHC) data provides information for such purposes.

This report presents the 2010 Population and Housing Census for the Bekwai Municipality in the Ashanti Region. The report which is the first to be published for the Municipality by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) aims to provide data for the Municipal Assembly and its Decentralised Departments (DA) for their planning purposes. It is also to provide data for researchers, Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) that intends to work or are currently working in the Municipality.

This chapter summarises the physical features in the Bekwai Municipality including its location and size, topography, drainage, climatic conditions and the vegetation cover in the Municipality. It further reports on the administrative setup in the Municipality, the social and cultural environments and the economy in the Bekwai Municipality. The organisation of the report and the concepts and definitions used in the 2010 Population and Housing Census are also presented.