Physical Features

Location and Size

The Nanumba North District is one of the twenty-six districts in the Northern Region of Ghana. It was created as a separate district in 2004 under LI 1754 when the then Nanumba District was split into two, North and South, with an area of 2260.8 sq/km. It is found in the eastern part of the Northern Region and lies between latitudes 8.5º N and 9.25º N and longitudes 0.57º E and 0.5ºE.

The district shares boundaries with East Gonja to the west, Yendi Municipal to the north. To the east, it shares its boundary with Zabzugu, the south with Kpandai and to the south east the Nanumba South Districts. The administrative district capital is Bimbilla.

Topography and Drainage

Two major rivers (the Oti and Daka) and numerous streams drain the District. About 145 km of the length of the Daka River lies in the District and it forms the western boundary with East Gonja District. The Oti River on the other hand, meanders north-south across the eastern part of the District for about 85 km. Other notable rivers are the Kumar and Kumbo and their tributaries which occasionally break into series of pools during the long dry seasons.

These water bodies are potential sources of drinking water, transportation, irrigation development and fishing. The River Oti, one of the major tributaries of the Volta has tourism potentials. Other drainage features include Kumbo and Kumar streams, dams and dug-outs, and Jual Gorge designated as a hydroelectric site on the Oti River.

Climate and Vegetation

The District lies entirely in the Tropical Continental climatic zone, characterized by high temperatures throughout the year. Temperatures range from 29º C to 41ºC. Just like any other part of West Africa, the influence of the wet South West Monsoon and the dry North East trade winds blow over the district. During the harmattan, temperatures can fall as low as 16ºC during the night and mornings.

Annual rainfall averages 1268 mm with most of it falling within six months– April to September. This is the busiest periods for farmers in the district. During this period too, streams overflow their banks and cause wide spread flooding of settlements and farmlands. The rest of the year is virtually a dry and fallow period for most farmers. This is the period of wild bushfires, sometimes set usually by the youth to flush out animals from their habitat so that they cab hunt them.

the vegetation type of the district is the Guinea Savannah with tall grass interspersed with drought and fire-resistant trees. The main tree species found here include dawadawa, sheanut, baobab and other fire-resistant trees.