Upper West Region | |
|---|---|
) | |
) Location of Upper West Region in Ghana | |
| Country | Ghana |
| Capital | Wa |
| Districts | 11 |
| Government | |
| • Regional Minister | Hafiz Bin Salih[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18,476 km2 (7,134 sq mi) |
| Area rank | Ranked 7th |
| Population (2020)[3] | |
| • Total | 868,479 |
| • Density | 47/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2013 |
| • Per capita | $5,150 |
| GDP (Nominal) | |
| • Year | 2013 |
| • Per capita | $2,500 |
| Time zone | GMT |
| Area code(s) | 039 |
| ISO 3166 code | GH-UW |
| HDI (2017) | 0.518[4] low · 9th |
The Upper West Region of Ghana is located in the north-western corner of Ghana and is bordered by Upper East region to the east, Northern region to the south, and Burkina Faso to the west and north. The Upper West regional capital and largest settlement is Wa. Upper West is the youngest region, created in Ghana by the then Head of State, Flight-Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings in 1983 under the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). The area was carved out of the former Upper Region, which is now the Upper East Region.
Geography and climate
Location and size
The Upper West Region is one of the 16 regions of Ghana. It is located at the North Western corner of Ghana with latitude 9.8°- 11.O° North and longitude 1.6°- 3.0 West, bounded to Burkina Faso to the North. It covers a geographical area of 18,476 square kilometers, representing 12.7% of the total land area of Ghana. The northern Ghana-Burkina Faso is bordered on the east by the Upper East region and Northern regions, on the south by the Northern region, on the west by western Ghana-Burkina Faso, and the Upper West region on the north. It is the seventh largest region in Ghana in total area, and it is made up of 11 districts. By virtue of its location, the Upper West Region has the potential for international and inter-regional trade and other bi-lateral relations, but the overspill of criminal activities and disaster, such as bush fires, diseases and pestilence, armed robbery etc., from the region's neighbors also pose a threat.[5]
Tourism
The Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary is located southwest of Wa, along the Black Volta River in the Wa West District. The Gwollu Wall in the Sissala District serves as the hometown of one of Ghana's past presidents - Dr. Hilla Limann.[6]
Cuisine
A distinctive meal in the upper west region is sawu (touzafe T Z)
Economy
The major economic activity of the Upper West Region is agriculture. Crops grown include corn, millet, peanuts, okra, shea tree, and rice. Sheep, goats, chickens, pigs and guinea fowl are raised for meat and eggs. Because the region's dry season is long, extending roughly from October to May, many people leave the region to work in the southern part of Ghana for at least part of the year.
Sports
- All Stars FC, Premier League Football
Schools
Districts
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The Upper West Region of Ghana contains 11 districts consisting of 1 municipal and 10 ordinary districts as follows:[7]
| Districts in Upper West Region | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| # | District | Capital | Population |
| 1 | Daffiama Bussie Issa | Issa | |
| 2 | [[Jirapa/Lambussie District|Jirapa] | Jirapa | |
| 3 | Lambussie Karni | Lambussie | |
| 4 | Lawra | Lawra | |
| 5 | Nadowli | Nadowli | |
| 6 | Nandom | Nandom | |
| 7 | Sissala East | Tumu | |
| 8 | Sissala West | Gwollu | |
| 9 | Wa East | Funsi | |
| 10 | Wa Municipal | Wa | |
| 11 | Wa West | Wechiau | |
| Total | |||
Notable natives of Upper West Region
Prominent and famous citizens of Upper West Region include
- President Hilla Limann from Gwollu,
- Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery from Nandom,
- Peter Nanfuri from Jirapa,
- Kwesi Nyantakyi from Wa,
- Samini from Wa,
- Wiyaala from Funsi
- Benjamin Kunbuor from Nandom,
- Alban Bagbin from Sombo and
- Deputy Kale Cezario
- Lawyer Wahid Bampuori-Iddrisu from Wa
- Dr. Hilla Limann from Gwollu.
- Ambrose Dery from Nandom
- Simon Diedong Dombo from Jirapa
- Tuorimuo Elvis Philip from Takpo
- Justice Yonni Kulendi from Issa
Festivals of the Upper West Region[8]
- Gologo/Golib Festival
- Samanpiid Festival
- Fao Festival
- Kuure Festival
- Adaakoya Festival
- Feok Festival
- Boaram Festival
- Tengana Festival
- Damba Festival
References
- ^ http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/governance/regional-ministers
- ^ "Upper West Region". GhanaDistricts.com. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ^ "Ghana Statistical Services - Population by Regions, Upper West". statsghana.gov.gh. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ GOG(MLGRD)
- ^ ghanadistricts.com
- ^ "Upper West". GhanaDistricts.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ Editor (2016-02-24). "Upper West Region". touringghana.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
Sources
- "Districts of Ghana". Statoids.
- GhanaDistricts.com