The District occupies an area of 1,257.1 square kilometres with a population density (crude) of approximately 98 persons per square kilometres. The District is located at the north-eastern corner of the Northern Region of Ghana. It shares boundaries in the North with the Garu-Tempane, to the East with Togo, West with East Mamprusi and to the South with Gushiegu and Chereponi Districts.

Location and Size

The district is located to the north-eastern corner of Northern Region.  It shares boundaries with Garu-Timpani district in the Upper East Region to the North and the Republic of Togo to the east.  It is bordered to the west by East Mamprusi and to the South by Gushegu and Saboba/Chereponi Districts. It is on longitude.... and latitude 0?. The district has an estimated total land size of 1,257.1 square kilometres which is 2% of the land size of northern

Relief and Climate

The District lies about 1850 above sea level on hilly grounds with isolated rocky areas that are not arable. It is situated in the tropical continental belt western margin and experiences a single rainfall regime in April to October after which, it comes under the influence of the tropical continental air masses.  (CT). The mean annual rainfall is about 100cm to 115cm.  The annual range of temperature is about 390C as the highest and as low as 250 C.

Climate

The District lies in the tropical continental belt western margin and experiences a single rainfall regime in April to October after which it comes under the influence of the tropical continental air masses. The mean annual rainfall is between 100mm to 115mm. The annual range of temperature is between 300C to 400C.

Drainage and Vegetation

The White Volta enters the District from the north-east and more or less serve as the boundary between the District and the Garu/Tempane District. The Nawonga and Moba rivers also drain through the south – western part. The District lies in the interior woodland savannah belt and has common grass vegetation with trees such as sheanut trees, baobab, and acacia. Grasses grow in tussocks and can reach a height of 3 meters or more. The landscape is generally gently rolling with the Nakpanduri (formerly, Gambaga) escarpment marking the northern limits of the Volta in sandstone Basin. Apart from the mountainous areas bordering the escarpment, there are very little run-offs when it rains. This implies that for a greater part of the District rainwater seeps into the ground.

Topography and Geology

The topography is generally gently rolling with the Nakpanduri (formerly, Gambaga) escarpment marking the Northern limits of the Volta in Sandstone Basin. Apart from the mountainous areas boarding the escarpment there is little runoffs when it rains.  This implies that for a greater part of the District rainwater seeps into the ground. 

Soil

Two main types of soils are found in the district.  These are the Savannah Onchrosols and the ground water literates.  The Savannah Ochrosols, which covers almost the entire district, is moderately well drained up land solids developed mainly on Voltain Sandstone. The texture of the surface soil is loamy sand to with good water retention. Savannah Ochrosols has high potential for wide range of crops.  Some areas do not appear to be fully utilized although they are under considerable pressure in the district.  In farming on this land, good farming practices focusing on soil conservation are imperative. 

The groundwater Laterites, which covers a smaller portion of the district, is found mainly in the Southern parts.  These are concretionary soils developed mainly in voltain shale, mudstone and argillaceous sandstone materials.  The soil is highly concretionary with frequent exposures of iron pan and boulders. 

The soil is perfectly drained during the wet season and perched water tables may develop.  It becomes extremely dry in the dry season.  Also exposure enhances formation of ironstone resulting in soil degradation. The build-up of any amount of organic matter is constrained by regular burning of crop residues and/or competitive use of these residues for fuel, animal feed or building purposes.  The low vegetative cover during the dry season also renders most of the soils susceptible to erosion during the rainy season.  This, in turn, exacerbates the low fertility problem.  The sustainability of good crop yields is therefore closely linked with careful management of the soils with the objective of preventing and controlling erosion, increasing their organic matter content (compost, crop residues, farmyard manure, etc) and replacing and increasing plant nutrients lost through erosion, leaching and crop uptake.