Location and Size

The district is located on Latitude 6o 42’’N, 7. 10’’ N and longitude 1o 45’N and 2o 20’’W.  It is located on the North-Western part of the region, bounded in the North by Tano District (Brong Ahafo Region), in the South by Atwima District, in the West by Ahafo Ano North District and in the East by the Offinso District all in Ashanti Region.
(refer to map 2)

The District covers a total Surface area of about 1241km, representing 5.8% of the region’s total Surface area.   With the above description of location, the district can be said to fall within the forest belt of Ghana.

The District Capital, Mankranso, is located 34km North-West of Kumasi on the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway.  Other major settlements include Sabronum, Kunsu, Mpasaso I & II, Adugyama, Wioso, Ahwerewam, Pokukrom, Domiabra, and Abesewa.  The district is divided into10 Area Councils and sub divided into 42 Electoral areas.

Vegetation

The district lies within the green belt.   The over-bearing vegetation is moisture  laden semi-deciduous.   The typical vegetation is basically determined by rainfall and ground water supplies. The forest is rich in tropical hardwoods like Wawa, Esa, Kyenkyen, Odum, Kokrodua and Fruntum. The natural vegetation cover has been degraded into secondary forest in areas like Attakrom, Adugyama, Wioso and Mpasaso. Few areas outside the forest reserves have natural vegetation.   The causes of the deforestation are:

• Excessive and indiscriminate felling of trees especially by illegal chain saw operators.
• Systems of farming particularly shifting cultivation
•  Uncontrolled bush fires.

Ahafo Ano South has six (6) main forest reserves.   These are:
1.    Tinte Forest Reserve
2.    Tano Forest Reserve
3.    Opuro River Forest Reserve
4.    Kwamisa Forest Reserve
5.    Part of Asufufu Shelter Basin
6.    Offin-North Forest Reserves.

Most of these reserves lie between latitude 6.53’ and 7.03’ North and latitude 1.55’ and 2.06’. They cover an area of 300 sq.km representing 28 percent of the land area. The main forest reserves are located along the highlands. (refer to map 3) There have not been any significant encroachments in the reserves in terms of human settlements. Bush fires have devastated some areas especially during the 1982/83 droughts. Such areas include Attakrom, Wioso, Mpasaso and Adugyama and some parts of the forest reserves. There is the need to undertake reafforestation in such areas to replenish tree stock and enhance the general  ecological balance.

Soil

The main type of soils in the district is the forest ochrosols. These are reddish brown and well drained. They have high humus content and are very fertile.  On the basis of geology, the soil associations encountered in the district are:

• Soils developed over granite rocks, these are:

• Kumasi-Offin compound association

• Adugyama-Bechemso association
  
  

Soils developed over Briminian rocks.  These include

• Bekwai-Oda compound association
•  Bekwai-Akumadan compound association
• Mim-Oda compound association
• Kobeda-Eschiem-Sobenso-Oda association
• Susan simple association
  
  

Generally, the various types of soils in the district are fertile. The district is endowed with abundant arable land which is favourable for the cultivation of a wide range of crops including cocoa, citrus, oil palm, plantain, cassava, maize, cocoyam and vegetables.