PROFILE AND SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

LOCATION AND SIZE

Upper West Akim District is located in the south western part of Eastern Region and has a total land size of about 342.3 km2. The district shared boundary with eight (8) districts thus, Ayensuano District, located on the east, West Akim Municipal to the north, Birim Central Municipal on the south-west, Agona East and Awutu-Senya West Districts on the west, Nsawam-Adoagyir Municipal, Ga West Municipal and Ga South Municipal on the south-east.

Adeiso is the administrative capital of the district and is located along the main Nsawam-Asamankese highway. The district's location is strategically unique and can promote local economic development because of its proximity and easy accessibility to both the national (Accra) and regional (Koforidua) capitals. The district is also a strategic location for investment opportunities like agriculture and agri-business, tourism and entertainment, real estate development, health and educational infrastructure development.

The development issues however, confronting the district with regards to its location is the poor road networks in the rural areas and also boundary disputes with neighbouring districts most especially West Akim Municipal Assembly which is always collecting revenues meant to be collected by Upper West Akim District. There is the need for the Assembly to solicit for support from other government agencies, development partners and philanthropists to have most of the feeder roads fixed so as to attract more investors, and also liaise with the E.R.C.C. and the MLGDRD to resolve the boundary issues.

 Figure 1 shows the district map of Upper West Akim.

Climate

The district lies within the wet-semi equatorial climatic zone which receives rainfall between 1238mm and 1660mm. This is characterized by a bi-modal rainy season which supports all-year round plant growth. The major rainy season is from March to June with the heaviest rainfall in June, and minor raining season from September to October.

The average temperature ranges between 25.20C (minimum) and 27.90C (maximum). Relative humidity is highest during the rainy season of about 80-95% and 55-80% during the dry season. The fair distribution of temperature and rainfall patterns supports the cultivation of many food and cash crops throughout the district. The serene atmosphere and the weather condition is also idle for the promotion of tourism in the district.

Vegetation

The District lies within the semi-deciduous forest zone. The vegetation is mainly characterized by tall trees with evergreen undergrowth and contains valuable economic trees like Odum, Wawa, Sapele, Obeche, Onyina, Emire and others. Most of the trees shed their leaves during the dry season.  The district has broken forest on most hill tops, secondary forest on slopes and valleys, shrubs and bushes along the motor roads and main footpaths, thickets on the range facing the Adeiso Township and forest reserves. There are two major forest reserves, forest patches and sacred groves scattered all over the district. Notable ones can be found in towns such as Adeiso-Alafia called Korklofa, Okainkrom-Tigara and Afarikrom.

There is however rapid increase in some human activities which is gradually depleting the economic value of the vegetation. Activities such as illegal sand-winning, bad farming practices, illegal chainsaw operations, and haphazard building/real estate activities are currently depleting some of these natural vegetation cover and it is affecting the sustainability of the green vegetation and contributing to climate change.   

Measures such as public sensitization/education on climate change issues, planting of more trees, enactment and enforcement of bye-laws to protect the vegetation would have to be undertaken seriously to address these problems.

Topography and Drainage

The topography of the District is generally undulating with heights ranging between 60 meters and 460 meters above sea level. The Atewa Range runs through the east of the district and serves as a boundary between Upper West Akim District and Ayensuano District.  Below the Atewa Range is the river Ayensu which is the main river that drains through from Ayensuano District in the eastern part of the district to join the Central Region in the west. The District is also well drained by River Adeiso and River Asuokaw.

These rivers are mostly perennial due to the double maxima rainfall which feeds them. The rivers help some farmers, especially vegetable farmers in the dry seasons hence encouraging all year-round cultivation. The district is also faced with development issues such as increased urbanization in the district capital, filling of existing waterways and low-lying areas, illegal construction of buildings in waterways and accumulation of solid waste in drains

Geology and Soil

The District is largely underlined with granite and Birimain rock formation. The district also has different types of the soils at different locations. The Kumasi-Asuansi/Nta-Ofin, Nsaba-Swedru/Nta-Ofin and Bekwai-Nzima/Oda Soil Association is a type of soil that develops over granite and constitute the largest group of soils. This type of soil is grayish brown loamy soil overlying red clay soils and grey alluvial sand of thin layers.  The areas largely covered by this type of soil are Abamkrom and Kumikrom. This type of soil supports the cultivation of cocoa, coffee, rubber, oil palm, ginger, maize, cassava, plantain, and cocoyam. The soil is able to support the cultivation of dry season vegetables, soya bean, sugar-cane, sweet potato and rice.

Yaya-Bedies/Bejua, Nyanoa-Tinkong/Opimo and Pimpimso-Sutawa/Bejua Soil Associations is another soil type found in the district. This type is gravelly with moderately shallow depths and mostly not suitable for the cultivation of many crops. It covers some parts of Sukrong Canaan, Odeng and Mepom.

The soil type that supports trees and arable crops in the district is Kakum and Amo-Tefle soils. It is characterized by a moderately permeable, slow internal flow that gives it good moisture retention capacity with medium surface run off. This soil has very pale brown or yellowish brown and fine sand and can be found distributed along flood plains of rivers and their major tributaries in the district. In addition to the above mentioned, the soil supports the cultivation of pepper, tomatoes, onion and garden eggs.

The soils found in the district are very fertile and support agriculture and constructions works. This is why most of the district population (more than 50%) are engaged in agricultural activities.

BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, GREEN ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT

The increasing rate of depletion of ecosystem has been of great concern hence the district through its departments and development partners are working towards achieving a green economy, where the activities of human are undertaken in such way that the environmentally friendly.

Sand-winning activities, logging of trees by chain saw operators, urbanization, sourcing of wood fuels/firewood and bush fire menaces are the main cause of biodiversity depletion in the district.

There is the need for a green economy in the district and collaboration between the District Assembly, Environmental Protection Agency, NADMO, other interest groups to embark on massive public education to sensitize the public on the need to protect the natural ecosystem and the use of the natural resources on a sustainable basis without exceeding their rate of regeneration. The district would also embark on a tree planting programme through its sub-district structures. Also laws protecting the environment should be enforced to help preserve the biodiversity of the district.