Population

Population refers to the total number of people living in a geographical defined area or location at a given point in time. Generally, demographers seek to know the levels and trends in population size and its components. This section of the report focuses on all issues relating to population and its characteristics that is the growth rate of the population. It also analyse population densities, dependency ratios, rural-urban split and the implications of these demographic characteristics to development planning.

Population Growth and Size

The population of the district in 2010, according to the Ghana Statistical Service was 56,882; out of these figure 29,556 are males and 27,326 are females representing 1.18% of Ashanti Region’s total population of 4,780,380. The current projected population of the district for 2018 is 70,394 using a growth rate of 2.7%.

Obuasi East District has an average of about 200.51 persons per square km as against 196.0 and 103.4 persons per square kilometer for Ashanti region and the nation respectively. (Source: 2010 PHC

Summary Report, GSS: May 2012).

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, Obuasi-July 2018

Population Density

Population density refers to the population per unit of land area. In this case the density refers to the population per square kilometer. Thus, the population divided by the total land area. The population density based on the land surface of 283.686 km² was 200.51 persons per square km in 2010. This really puts a lot of pressure on socio-economic facilities and land for both housing and other economic activities. Approximately four (4) houses are built on every acre. The implication for physical planning is that the district has already exhausted the required or ideal Housing Density of four (4) per acre. Invariably, the heart of the district is a built–up area and if further development is not directed at the peripherals it may pose security and environmental threat to a lot of people. The Total land area for the district is 283.686 square kilometers.

Using the 2010 population as the base, the projected population for the district is calculated using the geometric method. It is assumed that the growth of 2.7 % would be held constant throughout the plan period (2018-2021).

The Geometric method of calculating population growth was used.

The formula is indicated below:

P1 =P0 (1+r)t .

Where,

P1 is the population for planned year (future)
P0 is the present (base) population
1 = is constant factor
t = time period (years) between the present and the future r
= Rate of growth

Table 1.16: Population Density for Obuasi East District from 2018-2021


Source: OEDA–DPCU July, 2018

The need to increase productivity to tap the vast potential resources to contain the population cannot be overemphasized. A relatively low population density implies that land will be abundant in the district compared with other parts of the region. The acreage of agricultural land per head will therefore be bigger all things being equal except that the traditional land tenure system may put large tract of land in the hands of few families. Although the influx of people into the district is an opportunity to expand the production of food crops, the growth in population shall require rapid expansion in social services and infrastructure and undue pressure on the existing infrastructure. Reproductive health education is also required to bring the growing population to manageable limits.

Household Sizes and Characteristics

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census Report, a household is defined as person or group of persons, who lived together in the same house or compound and shared the same housekeeping arrangements. In general, a household consist of a man, his wife, children and some other relatives or a house help who may be living with them.

In the district, the male headed households constitute 34% and female heads 16.8% of the household population. The 2010 Population and Housing Census reveals that the district household headship is dominated by male. This implies that since the male are mostly the heads of households in the district, the views of females are less likely to be heard in the decision making process. Hence affirmative actions and interactions with identifiable women groups are needed to elicit the perspectives of women in the development processes. Vigorous educational campaign is also needed to abolish completely or mitigate the social effects of terrible traditional practices that violate the fundamental human rights and liberties of women. Children constitute the largest percentage of the household population forming 12.07%.

Age and Sex Composition

Population structure shows the age-sex distribution of the population. This will help identify the trends of population over the period based on the ages within the district. Below are the age-sex distribution and the population pyramid for the district. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, there are more males than females in the district. The structure of the district’s population indicates 52% males and 48% females. The report puts the sex ratio at 92.5.

The population pyramid for Obuasi East shows a broad base figure which gradually decreases with increasing age and finally narrows to a cone at the top. The shape of the pyramid depicts a youthful population. The data in the table further show that the population below 15 years constitutes 36.33% whiles those 15 to 64 years form 61.05% and the 65 years and older form 2.61%.

Table 1.17: Age and Sex Distribution in Obuasi East District

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, Obuasi-July 2018

Table 1.18: Broad Age-Sex Structure of Ashanti Region and Obuasi East District

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, Obuasi-July 2018

The age structure of the District is skewed towards the youth. The highest proportions of the population are in the age cohorts; 15-64 (61.04%). Cumulatively, 36.32% of the population in the District is below 15 years which is lower than the regional figure.

The implication for development planning is that there must be adequate provision of social amenities such as education, health, water and sanitation, recreational centres and other needs for these children. It also calls for increasing demand for social facilities such as schools and health. The youthful population promises potential labour force if properly managed. Another implication of the youthful population is its potential to grow rapidly. It is therefore recommended that employment opportunities should be available to utilize the youthful population.

Population Dependency Ratio

Dependency ratio refers to the ratio of the economically dependent part of the population to the productive part that is the ratio of the elderly (65 and above) plus the young (0-14) to the population in the “working ages” (15-64). Age dependency ratio refers to the ratio of the persons in the ages defined as dependent (0-14 and 65+) to the persons in the ages defined as economically active (15- 64) in a population. It is assessed to find the hypothetically ideal situation that should exist for finding the proportion of a population that is dependent. The dependent population conceptually, is made up of age groups 0-14 years (child dependency) and 65 years and older (older age dependency) divided by the working population (15-64). In the Obuasi East District about 61.04% of the population are in the economically active labour force (34,730), whilst 38.95% are classified as inactive.

The district has a total age dependency ratio of 50.8. This means that a hundred persons in the working age group (15-64) cater for about 50 persons in the dependent age groups (0-14 and 65 years and older). Age dependency ratio is lower in urban areas than in rural areas which means that the age dependency burden is heavier in the rural than urban localities.

This further raises the level of economic dependency which has a negative impact on the local economic development. The effect of this is the break of social cohesion and support for the family since the little income earned is not able to support nuclear family let alone the extended family. Within the planned period therefore measures like improving Agriculture and Service Sectors would be taken to address the problem of unemployment and underemployment.

The dependent population is the proportion of people catered for by the working population or those in the employable age bracket (15–64). The structure or composition of the broad age cohort above indicates that majority (61.04%) of the population are in the working age group, which is a resource potential for the district. Again,36.32% of the district’s population is children below 15years as shown in table above.

The dependency ratio for Obuasi East District is 50.68. This implies that 50.68 are dependent on one employable person with a dependency ratio of 0.5068:1. The real dependency burden may be higher since the employable ages include a greater proportion of the unemployed and those in school or acquiring some skills.

Measures are therefore required to increase employment avenues so as to be able to support and cater for the dependent population. There is therefore the need for the creation of employment opportunities so that the active working population could cater for their dependants. The youthful nature of the population (61.04%) is a good source of labour supply in the district. However, this also calls for increasing investments in education, skills development and other interventions geared towards improving the quality of life of the people and human development in the district. This also implies that alternative jobs must be created to absorb the youthful population while those with no skills are given suitable employable skills to make them productive to the local economy.

Rural-Urban Split

Many countries differ in their definitions of urban and rural areas, though it is fairly common for the urban population to consist of those living in towns and cities and the rural population refer to those living in villages and smaller settlements.

In Ghana rural areas have populations below 5000 persons. In addition to this, rural areas are usually characterized by poor housing, poor water and sanitation, poor road network, high poverty levels and predominant agricultural activity. Urban areas on the other hand, have a population of over 5000 persons and high utility services like electricity, water, waste management, better roads and telecommunication networks and the dominance of other sectors such as service, industry and commerce as opposed to agriculture. An understanding of the rate and status of rural-urban growth is important in spatial planning and development of a district.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, Obuasi East District is predominantly urban with 94.73% of the population living in urban communities. Given the present rural-urban split, a conscious effort should be made to provide the much needed development resources and facilities in the rural areas in order to avert potential rural-urban drift.

The table below shows the figures of Rural- Urban Split in Obuasi East District.

Table 1.19: Rural-Urban Split by both sexes in the district

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, Obuasi-July 2018

According to Ghana Statistical Service, there are 34 communities in the district. This implies that rural areas take 5.27% whereas urban areas take 94.73% of the total number of settlements in Obuasi East district giving a rural-urban split of 5.27% and 94.73% respectively. The urban settlements are as follows: Tutuka, Kwabenakwa, Wawase, Akaporiso etc.

In line with the pattern of population distribution, provision of social amenities and services are skewed in favour of the relatively larger settlements like Tutuka, Kwabenakwa, Wawase, Akaporiso etc. and others leaving many of the settlements with no or limited access to basic social facilities. Settlements with population less than 5000 inhabitants refers to rural community and are deprived of access to basic social amenities leaving the rural areas undeveloped. For this reason, the district’s development focus must be geared towards interventions that will accelerate rural development in order to bridge the gap or disparity between the urban and the rural deprived areas of the district.

Implication of Population Characteristics for Development

The Obuasi East District Assembly population characteristic, to a large extent influences the extent to which social and economic infrastructure in district economy could be provided. The increase in the size of the population creates a social burden to service providers such as the district Assembly, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs to channel their scarce resource to the provision of infrastructure such as schools, expansion of health infrastructure and recreational centres which will support the youth and the children.

Again, the need to adopt policies to create wealth and job opportunities for the unemployed and the underemployed youth must be tackled with all seriousness it deserves. Furthermore, as the aged population increases there is the need to come out with policies geared towards the improvement in the lives of the aged. Government policies such as exemption packages for the aged in the premium payment of the health insurance scheme support as care for the aged should be vigorously implemented. In the case of the women, the maternal delivery exemption package in the health sector would go a long way to improve the maternal health which is one of the Sustainable Development Goals which Ghana is investing towards its achievement by 2030.

Furthermore, population density and migration pattern will affect access and provision of housing in the district. There is therefore the need to encourage the use of local materials in the housing industry as well as enhance people’s access to facilities such as potable water, electricity, telecommunication facilities in the district.

Migration (Emigration and Immigration)

Migration is the geographic movement of people across a specified boundary for the purpose of establishing a new permanent or semi-permanent residence. The terms immigration and emigration are used to refer to movement across countries. Immigration refers to movement into a country while emigration refers to movement outside the country. In-migration and out-migration are used to locally describe internal movement between two or more areas within a country.

As an important factor to consider in development planning, migration is always an integral component of demography. Along with fertility and mortality, migration is also a component of population change.

Migration is a critical factor of population growth in the District.

The total number of migrants in the district is 61,558. Those born elsewhere in the region are 28,397 and the remaining 33,161 people were born elsewhere in another region and outside Ghana. 25.8 percent of the migrants have stayed in the district for more than 20 years while 24.5 percent of them have stayed from 10 to 19 years. Only 11.6 percent of the migrants have stayed in the district for less than a year. Most of migrants from outside Ghana 28.8 percent have stayed for 1-4 years.

Fertility

Fertility is an important component of population change and it is a determinant of the size and structure of the population. This section looks at the total fertility rate, general fertility rate, the Crude Birth rate and the number of births in the last 12 months of the district according to the 2010 population and housing census.

Women of the reproductive age group, 15-49 years constitute about 29.0 percent of the district’s population. The total fertility rate in the district is 2.7 which is lower than the regional figure of 3.3. The general fertility rate is 76.7 which is also lower than the regional rate of 96.4, and the Crude Birth rate is 22.2 compared with the regional figure of 25.7. The district also recorded 3,745 live births in the last 12 months before the 2010 census.

Mortality

The 2010 PHC captured information on age at death by sex in the district. Of the 784 deaths reported, about a quarter, (24 %) is under five years’ mortality. This depicts a high under five mortality rates. This is followed by deaths of people aged 70 years and above who recorded 13.8 percent while age group 10-14 has the lowest 1.6 percent mortality rate. Besides, the percentage of deaths recorded from ages 10 - 69 spans between 1.6 and 2.5 percent. This indicates that high mortality rates are recorded at extreme ages.

The age specific death rate is high for both males and females for the under-five age group. The least recorded for males is 0.0 for age group10-14 and that of females is 0.001 which is the same for age groups 5-9, 10-14 and 10-15. Number of female deaths is higher compared to male deaths in age groups 20-24 (18), 25-29 (20), 30-34 (39), 40-44 (31) and 45-49 (26). This implies high maternal mortality.

Gender Equality

Gender issues relate to how men and women in the society are given the chance to take part in decision making and power sharing. Gender equality is an important human right. It is central to economic and human development in a country and therefore very essential in the district where our traditional values have in a way marginalised women and does not easily give room for gender equality. Removing inequalities gives societies a better chance to develop and the district intends to do so with its available resources. Gender analysis refers to the relationship between the male and female sexes and how this relationship affects their rights, responsibilities, opportunities, power relations, access and control of resources as well as decision-making. Traditionally, the man is the head of the family who provides for the needs of the entire members of the family and takes final decisions in the households. The Gender Profile has been prepared primarily to focus on how the district Assembly can optimize benefits from its human resources through the creation of a level playing field for the sexes to contribute to the development of the district. It is also to help the district Assembly to achieve a number of purposes including the following;

To formulate policies through evidence based information and to demonstrate how the policies are achieving the gender expected effects, outcomes and are positively transforming the lives of beneficiaries.
Provide stakeholders and assembly authorities, development partners and government with systematic means of gender appreciation.
Improve service delivery and to influence resource allocation
When women and men have relative equality, economies grow faster, children's health improves and there is less corruption.

Men own most of the land resources in the district. This is because historically men had the strength to clear the virgin forest while the women did the cultivation of the crops. Women on the hand are traditionally responsible for the upkeep of the house by performing all the household chores and caring for the children. Issues of water and sanitation, education and health matters are of interest to women. Women are also mostly the victims of domestic violence due to their infirmity and physiological circumstance, as well as hateful cultural practices such as widowhood rights and inheritance.

While gains have been made, gender inequalities are still striking given that:

· Female population constitute 48.0% of the entire population of the district

· Women are not actually well involved as men in almost all issues relating to the development of the communities in the district. For example, the current membership of the District Assembly attests to this fact. The number of Assembly Members who represent the various electoral areas are nineteen (19) and the Government Appointees constitute eight (8) members. Women constitute three (3) of the total twenty-seven (27) Assembly Members representing 11.11% of the total Assembly Members. Furthermore, out of a total of 95-unit committee members of the Assembly only …. are found to be women.

· A number of women die each year from difficulties during pregnancy even though case of maternal are not reported to health facilities in the District (patients migrate to the higher order health facility – Obuasi Government hospital, but people testify that case of maternal mortality during child birth do occur in their various towns/communities).

In our quest to ensure gender equity in decision making of the assembly the following should be considered;

To bridge the gap between male and female and to ensure the speedy development of the district, it is very crucial that the Assembly promotes gender balance in the service which is currently skewed in favour of males by adopting gender sensitive pragmatic programmes like the need to promote girlchild education. Participation of women in decision making in the District is very low. However, there is the need to sensitise the women to participate in the decision making process since they are key stakeholders in the development planning process. In an effort to ensure gender equity in decision making in the District, women should be educated on the need to take part in decision making in their various communities. Other affirmative action should be put in place to encourage women to participate in the local decision making process by involving them in decision making bodies like WATSAN, Unit Committees, Area Councils and the Assembly. This is to ensure that larger numbers of the Assembly members are women; which will also help increase voting powers especially with issues affecting women in the District.

In addition to the above, women in the district need to be educated on their civil liberties and where they can seek early redress. Economic packages such as soft loans and skills training on income generating activities must also be given to identifiable women’s group to economically empower women in the district. The District’s goal for women is to help promote gender equality and empower women in towns/communities under its jurisdiction. Investments in women and girls’ education and health could lead to a reduced rate of maternal mortality, better educated and healthier children and increased household incomes.

The District’s approach to achieving gender equality extends beyond improving female health and education. It means access to economic resources, participation and leadership in decision making and respect for the human rights of women, including the right to a life free of violence.

Settlement Systems

The population of urban towns/communities in the district is growing progressively as compared to the population of the rural communities/settlements which are though growing but at a constant rate. Most of the urban towns of the district are relatively closer to the central business district of Obuasi. Land developers who come into the district as a result of comparative/competitive advantage in price of land for residential, commercial and other purposes have also resulted in population increase in these urban towns. Just a few populations who are interested and do not have numerous choice of economic activities and those who prefer the living conditions of the rural settings continue to dwell in the rural communities and that results in the constant rate of population increase.

The district has a nucleated settlement pattern with limited spaces in between houses. In the urban settlements especially Wawase, PTP, most of the long settled areas are well laid-out with defined access roads and other facilities like drains, open spaces and well-designed housing units. However, some parts of these urban settlements are not well planned and have the characteristics of slum development such areas include Tutuka and Akaporiso.

With large tract of land in the district (283.686 km²) about 75.1% concessions owned by Anglogold Ashanti (AGA), access to land for long term agricultural projects is limited in the peri urban areas. Available land for farming is concentrated at Gyimiso kakraba, Ayiase, Diawuoso, Domebra, Manpanwe etc. AGA releases land for prospective developers as and when it deems fit thereby affecting spatial development in the district.

This stage of the analysis deals with organization of human and economic activities in space with regard to Obuasi East District. This approach to Development Planning is concerned with the social and economic functions that settlements perform and how in combination they form a pattern or system that can influence economic and social development in the district as a whole. The approach uses a combination of methods to determine the spatial pattern or system of development. Those considered important for analysis of Obuasi East District’s Spatial Organization are:

· Scalogram Analysis

· Surface Accessibility Analysis

Settlement Systems and Linkages

The settlement system and spatial linkages have been analyzed using scalogram analysis. The services considered include both social and economic facilities in twenty (20) larger communities. In terms of services and infrastructure distribution these communities enjoy the concentration of health facilities, electricity supply, educational facilities, pipe borne water supply, agricultural extension services, banking, police stations etc.

Some of the settlements in the district are villages and towns. 94.73% of the total population lives in urban centre while the rest live in towns, villages, and hamlets. (Source: Ghana Statistical Service Obuasi).

Distribution of Facilities

There are 34 communities in the district. The major ones are Tutuka, Bossman, Wawase, Kwabrafoso, Boete, Brahabebome, Asonkore, Akaporiso, Pomposo, Kwabenakwa etc. 5.27% of the population lives in the rural area (Source: Ghana Statistical Service Report).

Service distribution is positively related to population. Obuasi East District has access to social amenities such as Hospital, Police Stations, Fire Stations, market, Financial institutions etc. Communities with higher population generally have higher number of services. Transport and communications, pipe borne water supply, electricity and sanitary facilities are complementary utilities that enhance the economic and social prosperity of the people.

The analysis of the current situation reveals that absence of these facilities in the rural areas is the main reasons for the migration of the youth to the urban centers. This phenomenon has a serious repercussion for the development of the district as it is deprived of labour that could have been engaged in productive work in the rural areas.

Spatial Distribution of Facilities

Services and facilities were considered under the broad sectors of Education, Governance, Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, Economy, and Health. This was done to know how services and facilities are spatially distributed in the district. The varieties and levels of each service and facility were also determined as well as the levels of function performed by each of the communities. With reference to the planning standards and the spatial distribution of population, it can be said that in Obuasi East district, the population distribution does not match the services and facilities distribution. The report looks at the infrastructural facilities and other services distributed in the district and the degree at which settlements depend on one another in terms of the provision of services and functions they perform.

Distribution of Roads

The main means of transport and other transactions in the district is through the use of road network. About 70 percent of this length of road network is classified as feeder roads. There are two (2) major roads to Kumasi in the district. There are two major roads from Kumasi linking the district capital; namely the 80km Kumasi-Bekwai-Adansi Asokwa road and the main 66km Kuamsi Obuasi road. The main Kuamsi Obuasi road is in a very deplorable state and need urgent attention.

Distribution of Water Supply Majority of the communities in the district depends on borehole and pipe borne as the may source of drinking water. Though much has been done by the District Assembly, the supply of potable water in the district is inadequate.

Distribution of Markets

The district has no major marketing days and operates on daily markets at various communities. Some settlements have daily markets whiles others have none. Examples of Communities where market operates on daily basis are at Tutuka market, Kwabenakwa etc. The district assemble is putting in measures to construct an ultra-modern market in the district.

Spatial Analysis of the Settlement System/Functional Matrix (Scalogram Analysis)

In an attempt to determine which settlement has what kind of services and facilities as distributed already, the scalogram was analysed. The scalogram is a planning tool used to show the sphere of influence (level of centrality) of selected facilities or services in a district, the relative functionality of each settlement within the district and also to ascertain the level of spatial imbalance of services and facilities distribution.

The scalogram is a graphic device that is illustrated in the form of matrix chart to show the distribution of functions of all selected settlements in a locality or district by their frequency of presence or absence. The scalogram gives a good impression about the functions that settlements perform in a particular locality or district. This assists in the determination of which settlements lack which services or facilities. It is very useful in categorizing settlements in the district into levels of functional complexity. In effect, scalogram can be used to make decision about appropriate investments for settlements in the district at different levels in the spatial hierarchy.

From a reconnaissance survey and responses received from base line data collected from the communities, the various services and facilities present at some towns in the district were identified. The selection of twenty (20) larger communities for the scalogram analysis was based on the population of 2010 Population and Housing Census as the base.

The following facilities: Senior High School, Technical School, Junior High School, Primary School, Financial Institution, Daily Market, Weekly Market, Electricity, Guest House/Hotel, Postal Services, District Administration Block, Town Council, Court, Police Station, Hospital, Health Centre, Clinic, CHPS Compound, Chemical Shop, Public Toilet, Borehole and Small Town Water were used in the scalogram analysis.

The frequency of facilities such as Primary, Junior High School, Electricity and Borehole were very high (this is present in all the 20 communities). However, facilities such as Senior High School and Hospital have limited frequencies. In the district, there are 34 communities but not all the communities are represented on the scalogram. Some AGA estates such as P.T.P Estate, MVSS estate, RHSS Estate have been excluded having unique characteristics as compared to that of the other communities with similar characteristics. The blank cells on the scalogram matrix imply that in the district’s future development, more facilities and services should be provided in communities which are least endowed to ensure a more balanced spatial development.

The Communities have been scaled in order of sphere of influence or centrality according to their centrality score as follows:

Table 1.20: Scalogram Analysis for Obuasi East District based on Twenty (20) Larger Communities as at 2018

Source: OEDA–DPCU, July 2018

Functional Hierarchy of Settlements

The analysis of the scalogram above was used to come out with the functional hierarchy of settlements in the District. The settlements were arranged in a hierarchical order based on the level of their functional complexity. The criteria for the ordering of settlements by functions are shown below. The settlements have been categorised in order of hierarchy in terms of the functions/facilities they provide to the outlying population/sphere of influence.

From the scalogram analysis, Tutuka the District capital stands out with a centrality score of 748.9. This is because Tutuka has 15 out of the 27 facilities used in the analysis. The following is the outcome of the analysis of the functional hierarchy of settlements.

· There is a weak correlation between population and service distribution.

· There is inadequate distribution of services and facilities and the distribution is also skewed.

· The most common services and facilities (example: Primary schools, Junior High Schools and Electricity) are high and need to be upgraded for other settlements around to assume central place status to serve their surrounding hinterlands.

 · Most of the settlements however have access to basic services and facilities such as primary school, Junior High Schools, KVIP, Water (standpipes, boreholes among others).

Implications for Future Interventions

The above analysis implies that in our future development efforts, more facilities and services should be sent to the less endowed areas/communities to ensure a balanced spatial distribution of facilities.

Development Nodes

The analysis of the scalogram above shows a very weak growth centres which provide little or no service to the outlying population. The functional hierarchy of settlements further revealed that Tutuka the district capital emerged as first (1st) order community with a centrality score of 748.9 and the second (2nd) order communities is Akaporiso, Boete. However, Kwabrafoso, Pomposo, Brahabebome, Asonkore, Wawasi and Aboagyekrom emerged as 3rd Order communities within the functional hierarchy.

The following findings were made:

· In order to speed up the pace of development of the District, the following 4th Order communities as per the scalogram analysis above have been proposed as development nodes/growth poles centers: Anyimadukrom, Jimiso Krakra, Sikafromanten, Ayease, Diawosu, Domeabra, Mampamhwe, Odumasi, Kwabenakwa, Bossman, Low Cost.
· There is the need to develop modern marketing centers as a development node to strengthen and extend the trickling down effects of the capital.
· The District Assembly should set up small scale industrial support fund and assist prospective small scale industrialists to set up business in these communities.
· Weekly markets should be developed and sustained in some selected communities in the district to make them economically viable.
· The communities must therefore be given the needed development support to enable them propel the development of the surrounding communities.

Surface Accessibility to Services

Economic and social development can be measured in terms of the ease at which one can move from one destination to another and enjoy a facility or facilities and come back. This is measured by the time one can use to travel (waiting time and travelling time). In the district, some locations are more accessible than others in terms of access to health, education, markets and police services. The acceptable travel time is the maximum time one has to travel to enjoy a particular facility for access to be considered adequate. Surface accessibility to services such as health, education, extension services and banking are based on observed vehicular speeds on the various types of roads (first and third class roads) in the district.

The accessibility analysis indicates that about 60% of the habitable area of the district falls within considerable aggregate accessibility. This implies that about 40% of the habitable area of the district is not within easy reach of any of the facilities studied as a result of some deplorable road network in the district. The bad road conditions make it very difficult and time consuming in assessing a facility in the district.

Aggregate Accessibility

About 65% of the communities enjoy at least one chosen facility within the acceptable time e.g education and health. The road network in the district also needs to be improved. It is equally important for the population threshold for most of the services to be reviewed to enable majority of the communities enjoy higher level services.

Optimum Accessibility

This is about the communities that have access to all/major facilities/services in the district. These communities are Tutuka, Akaporiso, Boete. The situation needs to be improved to ensure evenly distribution of facilities in the district.

Accessibility to Health Facilities

Accessibility to health facility implies either the ability to reach a health facility within a specific travel time or a location within kilometers of a facility. There is no District Hospital but rather other Hospitals, Clinic, Health Centers etc. which are established at selected communities provides health care to the people of the district. Various religious organizations have also assisted in the public–private partnership with the communities to provide Mission Hospitals and beneficiary areas are SDA Hospital at Brahabebome.

Accessibility to Banking Services

Banking and non-banking financial services are available in the district. Rural Banks such as National Investment Bank and Golden Pride Financial Institution at Wawasi, and other micro financial services operates in the district. These banks offer financial assistance to farmers, workers and businessmen in the district. The micro financial services are distributed in the district. Their activities are mostly in the market places, self-employed and the informal sector. Resource Mobilization could be enhanced, if these agencies are regularized and streamlined by the banking institutions of the Bank of Ghana.

Accessibility to Police Service

The security in the District is of prime importance as a peaceful atmosphere created promotes friendly environment for people to go about their duties without any intimidation and panic. There are currently two (2) Police Stations in the District located at Tutuka and Asonkore. The district is yet to get its Divisional Police Headquarters.

Accessibility to Education

Educational facilities are evenly distributed within the district. There are 70 Pre-schools, 76 primary schools, 37 Junior High Schools and 4 Senior High Schools in the district all being public and private schools. Basic Education in the district could therefore be seen and described as evenly distributed and accessible. The distribution of Senior High School is skewed towards Akaporiso, Pomposo of which much efforts is needed to increase the number to serve the ever increasing population in the district. This is woefully inadequate considering the growing population of the district.

Fig. 8 Map showing Day care centers and Primary Schools

Poverty Profiling Mapping

The district is divided into three (3) Town Councils. Due to the interrelated activities which are undertaken by the various Town Councils, poverty issues are synonymous. Poverty in the District is quite endemic. The problem is quite pronounced in the farming communities of the District. These poverty endemic areas lack access to potable water, poor arterial road network, limited access to health and education facilities, lack of market for farm produce, lack of toilet and sanitation facilities. About fifty-five percent (55%) of the communities in the District are classified based on their characteristics to be poor.

The main poverty pockets in the District have been classified and depicted below:

Table 1.21: Poverty Pockets in the Communities

Source: OEDA- DPCU, July 2018

The above analysis provides a criterion for resource allocation to enable the District correct development imbalances. This by implication would mean that the deprived areas should be given the needed attention in terms of provision of socio-economic infrastructure.

Poverty Characteristics

Community Level Poverty

One of the most serious social problems in the district is relatively high level of poverty. The human settlements perhaps depict clearest signs of rural poverty. Many poverty stricken communities in the district are characterized by incidence of low-level basic social amenities such as health, education, water, toilet and sanitation etc. It also manifests in the dilapidated buildings and general decay of the built up environment.

Personal Level Poverty

At the personal level, poverty is manifested by the inability on the part of individual or household to meet basic needs of life in terms of adequate food intake, clothing and shelter. Most of the poor people in the District live in smaller settlements, which are dominated by unacceptable level of social deprivation. Small hold subsistence farmers, among which women are in majority, form the bulk of the rural poor households.

In the peri-urban communities, personal level of poverty still exists as most people continuously lose access to land to developers. Even though the urban sprawl presents numerous opportunities, poor people, especially women are less able to take advantage of the new opportunities. Although, the land available for natural resource based activities declines with the rural urban-change, these activities remain important, particularly to the poorest people. This would mean that continued support for good natural resource management is therefore critical.