POPULATION

Population Size and Growth Rates

The District has an estimated population of 73,508 (estimated 2018) with a relatively high growth rate of 3.0% which is higher than the regional and national growth rates of 2.5% and 2.7% respectively. Out of this population figure, males accounted for 38,224(52%) and females 35,284 (48%). The entire population of the district constituted about 3.0% of the regional estimated population of about 2,787,048.

The high population growth rate of the district can be attributed to a number of factors including the large influx of settler farmers and fishermen from the three (3) Northern Regions, Volta, Accra, the opening up of the area by the Kumasi-Ejura-Atebubu High way and the natural increase resulting from high birth rate and low infant mortality rate.

This trend of population growth have a negative effect on environment since Agric arable lands are being reduced and degraded for settlements, which when not given necessary attention is likely to result in desertification and environmental degradation in the District. The Forestry Department and other stakeholders therefore need to be supported to effectively monitor and sensitize the people to protect our natural resources from the ravages of population pressure.

Age and Sex Composition

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the district has a relatively large male population compared to that of female. This structure is not different from that of the Brong Ahafo Region where the district is located. It however differs from that of the national sex structure which shows a female dominance. The sex ratio, male to female is 103.8 compared to the regional of 105.1. The large male population trend in the district is partly due to the continuous influx of settler farmers and fishermen who come into the district to tap the districts

agricultural and economic potentials. It has been observed that most of these settler farmers if not all are males.

Source: DPCU, PWDA, 2018

The District has a large youthful population. The two cohorts that contain most of the people are the 0 – 14 group which constitute 42.9 and the 15 – 64 group which also forms 51.3% 65+ forms only 4.3%. The age structure depicts that the district has a large labour force (51.3%) while the regional and national active labour force are 52.4% and 55.2% respectively. This large active labour force could be positioned to harness and maximize the vast agricultural potentials and motivated groups to grow more trees to improve the vegetation of the district.

Household Composition

The composition and structure of the households reflects the general social structure of the society. According to extracts from the 2010 PHC, the average household size is 5.6 compared to the regional average of 4.6.

Dependency Ratio

Statistics from the 2010 PHC shows the district has a relatively high dependency ration. The total age dependency ratio (dependent population to population in the working age) for the District is 92.04, the age dependency ratio for males is higher (96.27) than that of females (87.84). This means that approximately 100 persons in the productive ages have 92 persons to care for in the dependent population. The district has child dependency ratio of 85.5 while that of the aged ones

Female 52%

Male 48%

Sex Distribution

is 6.5. The child dependency ratio is high because there is a high proportion of the population 14 years or less, who are still dependent on the productive age group. The dependency ratio for the urban area is 77.37 whiles that of the rural areas is101.82.

Population Density

The increase in population over time is reflected in the high population densities for the period 1970, 1984 2000 and 2010. In 2010, the population density stood at 40.1 per km sq. With a static land size of 2,093kmsq and ever dynamic population, this means there is great pressure on the district?s fragile environment and other resources, which if care or pragmatic measures are not taken May gradually result in environmental degradation.

Settlements such as Prang, Zabrama, Komfourkrom, Abease, Buom, Adjaraja/Beposo, Cherembo, among others are growth points which continue to accommodate relatively higher population densities with corresponding pressure exerted on existing limited infrastructure facilities. This trend has led to the development of slums in the urban town (Prang) with its attendant socio-economic effects. Table 1.1 below shows the population trends from 1970 to 2010.

 

Rural/Urban Split

The population of the district is basically rural, with about 63% of the people residing in rural areas. The remaining of the population can be found in major towns of the district like Prang, Zabrama, Abease and Komfourkrom. Table 1.2 below illustrates the population of the district, by type of locality and sex.

Population distribution is uneven with the only urban and other most populous localities in the district constituting about 58.11% of the total population of the district. Prang the district capital, alone constituted about 14.31% of the population.

Spatial Distribution of Population

The district contains a total of 88 localities; most of the populated localities are located along the main roads from Prang to Kintampo through Abease. Prang is the only urban locality according to the 2010 PHC with a population of 10,248. This may be partly due to the concentration of most of the social amenities in the area at the expense of the less populated ones. Therefore, there is the need to evenly distribute socio-economic facilities to other smaller communities to help them grow.

The Abease Area Council holds about two thirds of the total land area in the district and contains most of the rural population.

MIGRATION (EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION)

Migration trend in Pru West District shows that 26.70 percent migrated into the district. The high rate of immigration is attributed to the vast and arable land of the district, agricultural activities continues to serve as pull factor for settler and migrant populations mostly from northern part of Ghana. The survey revealed that, 60% of the total migrant population is from the three Northern regions of Ghana (Northern, Upper West, Ashanti and Volta Regions). However, Northern Region leads in terms of percentage with 27.2% followed by Upper West Region 18.8% of the total migrant population.

The high in-migration has made labour cost cheaper and promoted economic activities, especially farming, fishing and trading. However, the outcome is much to be desired since the district?s limited resources, social amenities, especially sanitation are under pressure. They also have implication for security, health and environment.

Key Development Issues

1. High Rural Urban migration

2. High population growth rate

3. High immigration

SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS

Introduction

This section discusses the spatial organization of the settlement system in the district. It provides a summary of the socio-economic profile, access within a spatial context and further shows the type, number, destination of facilities and services and how these factors ultimately shape the hierarchy of settlements in the district.

Functional Hierarchy of Settlements

Analysis of the distribution of facilities and service using some combined settlement systems techniques show that facilities and services are not evenly distributed within the district. The tools used are the Scalogram and the settlement distance matrix. The distance matrix depicts the travel distance in terms of kilometers between the major settlements in the District. However, the Scalogram indicates the services within some major communities in the District. The analysis is based on the assumption that people would access the nearest service.

For instance the analysis indicates that people of Kamampa travel to Cherembo to access education because it the nearest in terms of physical distance. Again the analysis established that Prang offers the most number of functions in the district and can thus be termed first order settlement. Second order settlements would include Zabrama and Abease. Third order settlements, for the purpose of this analysis include Komfourkrom and others which have been classified as no order settlements.