Ahafo Region

The Ahafo Region is a newly created region in Ghana with Goaso as its capital.[3][4] The region has administrative and governmental legislature like all the ten already existing regions in Ghana. The region was carved out of the south-eastern part of the Brong Ahafo Region and was in fulfillment of a campaign promise made by New Patriotic Party. Prior to the 2016 Ghanaian general election, the then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo declared that when elected, he would explore the possibility of creating new regions out of some of the existing regions in Ghana in order to bring government closer to citizens.

Ahafo
Region
Ahafo Region
The Tano River
The Tano River
Location of Ahafo in Ghana
Location of Ahafo in Ghana
CountryGhana
CapitalGoaso
Government
 • Largest TownMim, Ahafo
 • Regional MinisterGeorge Yaw Boakye[1]
Area
 • Total5,193 km2 (2,005 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total564,536[2]
 • RankRanked 16th
GDP (PPP)
GDP (Nominal)
Time zoneGMT
Area code035

The execution of plans for the creation of the regions was assigned to the newly created Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development[5] which is under the leadership of Hon. Dan Botwe. Government of Ghana ministry charged with the responsibility of supervising the creation of new regions in Ghana.[5] In March 2017, the ministry sent the blue print for the creation of the region along with others to the Council of State. The council met over 36 times from the time of submission to August 2017.[6] The final stage for the creation of the region was decided through a referendum by the people within the catchment of the new region on 27 December 2018.[7]

Major Towns
Major Towns of Ahafo Region.
No. Settlement Population Population year
1 Mim, Ahafo 30,753 2017
2 Goaso 24,846 2017
3 Bechem 17,677 2013
4 Duayaw Nkwanta 16,541 2013
5 Techimantia
6 Kenyasi

Administrative divisions

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into six MMDA's (made up of 0 Metropolitan, 3 Municipal and 3 Ordinary Assemblies).[8] Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:

Districts of the Ahafo Region[9]
# MMDA Name Capital MMDA Type Chief Executive Member of Parliament Party
1 Asunafo North Goaso Municipal Osei Yaw Boahen Evans Bobie Opoku NPP
2 Asunafo South Kukuom Ordinary Frank Aduse Poku Eric Opoku NDC
3 Asutifi North Kenyasi Ordinary Anthony Mensah Patrick Banor NPP
4 Asutifi South Hwidiem Ordinary Robert Mensah Dwomoh Collins Dauda NDC
5 Tano North Duayaw Nkwanta Municipal Ernest Kwarteng Freda Prempeh NPP
6 Tano South Bechem Municipal Collins Takyi Offinam Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere NPP

History

A referendum on 27 December 2018[10] approved the creation of Ahafo Region. Out of a total of 307,108 registered votes, 277.663 took part in the referendum with 276,763 (99.68 per cent) voting in favour of the creation of the new region. 675 (0.24 per cent) rejected the motion and 225 rejected ballots representing 0.08% of total votes cast.[11][12][13] The region was created on the 13th of February 2019 by Constitutional Instrument 114.[8] Goaso was announced as the capital of the new region.

Economy

Ahafo is endowed with rich natural resources such as Gold, Diamonds, Timber etc. Gold deposit abounds in large quantities in the Mim, Ahafo, Kenyasi and Yamfo Areas. Newmont Gold Ghana Limited which is one of the biggest mining companies in the world, currently have their mining operations in the Kenyasi and Yamfo Areas.

Ahafo being one of the forest belts in Ghana, has a lot of forest reserves. Timber industry is the second highest employer in the Region. There are large and medium timber companies scattered across the Region. Notable among the timber companies in the region are Ayum Forest Products Co. Ltd,[14] Exbo wood Co. Ltd, Ocean-wood Co. Ltd,[15] Supremo-wood processing Co LTD, all in Mim, Ahafo.[16]

Ahafo Region is known to be the bread basket of Ghana. The soil type in the region supports the production of both food and cash crops. The region is known for its large cocoa and cashew productions.[17] The major agro-processing company in the region is the Mim Cashew & Agric Products company LTD located at Mim, Ahafo.[18]

Tourism

Tourist Attractions in the Ahafo Region are:

Geography and climate

Location and size

The Ahafo Region is bordered on the north by the Bono region, the east by Ashanti Region, the west by the Bono region, the south by the Western North Region and is made up of 6 districts.

Climate and vegetation

The Ahafo Region is part of the forest belt of Ghana and has a vegetation consists predominantly of fertile soil, grassland, especially savanna with clusters of drought-resistant trees such as baobabs or acacias. Between December and April is the dry season. The wet season is between about July and November with an average annual rainfall of 750 to 1050 mm (30 to 40 inches). The highest temperatures are reached at the end of the dry season, the lowest in December and January. However, the hot Harmattan wind from the Sahara blows frequently between December and the beginning of February. The temperatures can vary between 14 °C (59 °F) at night and 40 °C (104 °F) during the day.

References
  1. "Newly Appointed Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. George Yaw Boakye Paid a Courtesy Call to Nana Sankoremanhene – Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council".
  2. "Ghana Statistical Services".
  3. "Commission of enquiry on creation of new regions commences work - Ghana News". Ghana News. 2017-11-21. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  4. "CREATION OF NEW ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS—COUNCIL OF STATE RECOMMENDS COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY - Government of Ghana". www.ghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  5. "2nd Ministerial list out: Akufo-Addo creates new ministries, re-aligns old". myjoyonline.com. myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. "Council of State met 36 times on new Regions - Nana Otuo Siriboe II". GhanaCrusader.com - Latest News in Ghana and Beyond. 2017-08-16. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  7. ""Creation Of New Region In Your Hands" – President Akufo-Addo To Nayiri – The Presidency, Republic of Ghana". presidency.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
  8. "Ghana Districts - Ahafo". GhanaDistricts.com. Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  9. Brong-Ahafo Region. Geohive.com.
  10. "Referendum: Massive YES votes for 6 new regions | General News 2018-12-28". www.ghanaweb.com. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  11. "Referendum: 6 new regions get massive 'YES' votes". www.pulse.com.gh. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  12. "All six proposed regions meet constitutional threshold requirements – EC". Ghana Business News. 29 December 2018.
  13. Zurek, Kweku. "CONFIRMED: Results of the 2018 Referendum on new regions". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  14. "Trade Minister inaugurates 5-member-board of revitalised Ayum Forest Product Ltd - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  15. "Ocean Wood Ghana Company Limited is an Exporter in Ghana | Bill of Lading Data of Ocean Wood Ghana Company Limited". www.exportgenius.in. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  16. Nartey, Laud (24 November 2020). "Rising youth population means more job opportunities should be created – Bawumia". 3news. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  17. Segbefia, Sedem (2021-08-02). "GCX targets 20,000MT raw cashew for auction next season". The Business & Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  18. "Mim Cashew implementing new strategies to revamp operations". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  19. Ghana, Destination (2022-12-29). "Top 10 Tourist Sites in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana". Destination Ghana. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  20. "Tourist Sites & Attractions in Ghana by Region - Myshsrank". myshsrank.com. Retrieved 2023-10-06.

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