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Monday, June 3, 2019

Wa Municipal Profile

Wa Municipal ProfileCHAPTER THREECOMMUNITY PROFILE OF THE WA MUNICIPALITYLocation and SizeThe upper westward Region is located in the north-western part of Ghana and sh ars borders with the La Cote DIvoire to the north,-west, Burkina Faso to the north, Upper East to the East and the Northern Region to the south. The Wa Municipal assemblage was created out of the then Wa District in 2004 with legislative instrument (L1) 1800 in pursuant of the policy of decentralization started in 1988. The crowd is empowered as the highest political and administrative body in the Municipality charged with the responsibility of facilitating the implementation of case policies. Under section 10 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 426), the Assembly exercises deliberative, legislative and executive functions in the District. By this act, the Assembly is responsible for the overall maturation of the Municipality. The Wa Municipality is therefore tone of the eleven administrative commonwealths (D istrict Assemblies) that make up the Upper westbound Region (UWR) of Ghana. The Municipality sh ares administrative boundaries with Nadowli District to the north, the Wa East District to the east and the Wa west district to the west. The Municipality lies amid latitudes 950N to 1020N and between longitudes 940 W and 1015W. It has an area of approximately 234.74 km2, about 6.4% of the area of Upper West Region. The implication of the location of the municipality for development is, enhancing bilateral trade and commerce with Franco phone countries. The Wa town has the probable to grow and be upgraded into both an industrial and moneymaking(prenominal)-grade hub for the north-western corridor of Ghana. The Figure 1 (map) below shows the location of the Wa Municipality with some of the peri-urban communities that fall victim of the rapidly urbanizing process in the municipality.DemographyThe Upper West region is the youngest region in Ghana. In 2010, the population of the region s tood at 702,110 with a harvest-feast rate of 1.9% per annum. According to the 2010 population and Housing census, the Wa Municipality has a total population of 107,214. Currently, the total population of the municipality stands at 127,284 (male 61,826/female 65,458) with an urbanized population of 71,051 (GSS, 2012) representing 66.3% compared to the national urbanized share of 50.9% and the regional urbanized share of 16.3%. This likewise implies the Wa Municipality alone accounts for a 62% share of the regions urbanized population in the year 2010. The Municipality is also reported as having an urban population growth rate of 4% as compared to the national urban growth rate of 3.4% (Wa Municipal, 2012 GSS, 2005 GSS, 2012). The population structure of the Wa municipality revealed a preponderance of the spring chicken over the aged and females (51%) over males (49%). The youth pull in 49% of the total population with a potential working population of 47% and 4% aged. This agenc y a high dependency ratio since the economically active population is 47% compared to dependent population of 53%. The population density is 542 persons per square kilometers with its associated development implication in the areas of admit, education and health facilities, environmental sanitation, water supply, pressure on country and socio-economic infrastructure due to the rapidly urbanising township. This raises the issue of population management, specifically, housing, land use planning, streetism, conflict management, to secure the future of the municipality.The gender implication of the above includes programming for women, mother and children to provide for peculiar health, educational and economic makes and strengthen institutions for useful governance and protection of the vulnerable and excluded and also ensure human rights especially for women. A second implication is that the youthfulness of the population requires the provision of affectionate infrastructure espe cially schools, crches, day nursery, primary and junior secondary schools, healthcare services especially family planning, adolescent and reproductive health services. Thirdly, there is the need for skills development programmes that will provide the youth with employable skills to address current and future unemployment problems. These implications are linked to population management issues such as enhancing effective resource mobilization, human, financial and material resources for the provision of basic socio economic infrastructure and services in the educational and health domains. There is also the need for capability building and institutional strengthening for the staff of the municipal assembly and other sector departments and the need to embark upon vigorous population management programmes and employment earth for the youth. The inhabitence of educational facilities universities, Polytechnics, long distance learning centers, vocational and technical institutions, ava ilability of electricity, water, banking, tele dialogue and conveying facilities employment opportunities and availability of untaught fertile lands in the Wa town are responsible for the current rural exodus of populations into the city centre leading to the expansion of the urban centre towards the peri-urban communities in result to the influx of populations and developments.Relief, Drainage and TopographyThe Municipality lies in the Savannah high plains, which generally, is gently undulating with an average height between 160m and 300m above ocean level. The gentle rolling nature of the landscape implies that the topography is no barrier to agriculture and other physical development. The low lying areas are found in the following localities Charia, Zingu, Kperisi to the North and Piisi, Dapouha, Boli, Sing, Biihe and Busa to the South. These manifest in the form of valleys that collect and retain water during the rainy season and are therefore suitable for rice cultivation and livestock rearing. These low lying areas have save given rise to two main drainage systems, the Sing-Bakpong and its tributaries to the South and Billi and its tributaries to the North. The streams are seasonal and thus dry up during the long dry season thereby reducing available of water for agriculture, domestic, industrial and constructional uses. This implies the provision of dams, dugouts and rainwater harvesting in order to provide adequate water to meet the domestic and agricultural needs of the increasing population in the area.WeatherThe climate of the Wa Municipality is characterized by long, windy and hot dry season followed by the short and choppy wet season. The dry season occurs between November and April. The north eastern trade winds from the Sahara desert precipitates the cold harmattan winds between November and February which brings with it coughs, cold and other respiratory diseases and also bark diseases. The hot season records high temperatures with a pe ak of between 400C and 450C in March and April causing dehydration and incidence of cerebral meningitis. The effect of climate transport is becoming more manifest of late due to human activities in terms of bush burning, felling of trees, poor farming practices and infrastructural activities. The wet season lasts between April and October. The yearly mean rainfall volume of between 840 mm and 1400 mm is sparsely and poorly distributed over the months. The rainfall pattern is erratic and punctuated by spells of long droughts and sound downpours and floods. This affects humidity levels, soil moisture levels, crop growth and general agricultural productivity.Land useNotwithstanding the fact that the municipality is the commercial hub of the upper west region, agriculture remains main the economic activity. It remains the largest single contributor to the local preservation and employs about 70% of the active population. The main staple crops grown are millet, sorghum, maize, rice, c owpea and groundnuts cultivated on subsistence basis. However, soybeans, groundnuts, Bambara beans are produced as cash crops. Economic trees within the municipality are sheanuts, dawadawa, mango, baobab and teak.The vegetation cover of the area is guinea savanna woodland, which is made up of grasses and tree species such as Butylosternum Paradoxum (Shea tree), Parkia biglolosa (Dawadawa), Adansonia Digitata (baobab), Anarcadium occidentale (cashew), Acacia, Ebony, Neem and Mango among others. There is a marked change in the go under life of this vegetation zone during different seasons of the year. The vegetation in this area is thus open and dominated by short grasses. In the wet season, the area looks green and in the dry season, the grass dries and most of the trees shed their leaves and prone to bush fires. Human activities such as firewood harvesting, charcoal burning, farming, quarrying, construction etc. are all combined to modify the natural environment. The Municipality l ies in the Savanna high plains, which generally, is undulating with an average height between 160 and 300 m above sea level and has two main drainage systems, Sing-Bakpong and its tributaries to the South and Billi and its tributaries to the North. The streams dry up during the long dry season thereby reducing available water for agriculture, domestic, industrial and construction users. Apart from the Wa central-the capital of the municipality, there are eight peri-urban towns within the municipality. However, the study would focus on the four fast urbanizing communities (Busa, Kpongo, Charia/Loho and Kperisi) located or so equidistance from the municipality.Economy of the Wa MunicipalityThe structure of the economy of the municipality has not changed since 2009. It is still dominated by agriculture (about 70%), followed by commerce (about 9%) and industry (about 3%). Other key sectors of the economy are transport, tourism, communication and energy. Peoples sources of income for li velihood depend on the economic activities they undertake, the level of diversity and the technology or know-how used. Comparatively, the diversity of the economy of the municipality is very limited and dominated by agriculture, which is equally not diversified. Wa municipal falls within the Savannah Zone where poverty has been above the national average. Currently, nine (9) out of every ten is said to be poor. Average households incomes are very low and bread winners few. An analysis of households phthisis shows that about 80% of their income is spent on nutrition and 20% on rent, education, health, utility charges and funerals. The high level of poverty is attributed to underdeveloped social overhead capital. kind overhead capital, which supplies services (power, transport, fund, communication, education) that are indispensable to modern industry are under developed. The under development of this capital base is a constraint or bottleneck to economic growth and development in the Municipality.AgricultureThe agriculture sector provides more than 60% of the municipal population sources of jobs, livelihood and business. It is a sector crucial to the local economy, because it is currently the major provider of jobs. Despite its strategic role in fighting poverty, it is under modernized. Traditional technologies still dominates agriculture production, processing, storage and marketing. Programs are therefore required to enhance development of sustainable agriculture production systems e.g. irrigation systems, enhanced farmer education and training, enhanced technology transfer in agriculture production, storage and enhance corporate development for marketing. Agro-Industry is an immense potential waiting development. The investment potentials are many and varied.Cereals flour processing from Staple food crops like maize, millet and sorghum. About 5,581, 7,113and 5,180 MT of maize, millet and sorghum respectively are produced annually. About 70-80% of the prod uction is processed at grinding mills where the possibility of food defilement is very high.Pito Brewing A local beverage (Pito) produced from sorghum (Guinea Corn) which enjoys a lot patronage in the municipality and the region faces the challenges of maintaining the quality/standards beyond a day, clashing preferred taste and alcohol level of consumers, packaging and traditional brewing process. Yet it is one of the major sources of livelihoods and income for women. Modernizing pito brewing has a potential of not totally augmenting sorghum production but improving women income level.Processing/Packaging of dairy and meat products (cheese, yoghurt, sausages) for households, catering and hospitality industries Cattle herds are about 6,696 while atomic ruminants population is about 8,457. Livestock production is still basically open range, while a growing hospitality and catering industry lack the requisite meat product.Edible oil extraction Shea butter, Groundnut and Cotton ro otage oil are extracted using traditional methods. About 6,696, 5,154, and 5,303 MT of sheanuts, groundnuts and cotton seed respectively are produced annually in the Municipality.Fruit juice/jam extraction Yet another emerging business area with great growth potential is fruit juice extraction. Fruits of significant economic importance in the municipality include mango, cashew, shea, zumbringa.TourismTourism is one of the fast growing sectors in the Municipality of Wa and awaits a lot of investment. Apart from unique attractions (ranging from natural resources, culture and entertainment), a relative good basic infrastructure, transport and hospitality base promise the municipality a unique tourist destination. These potentials notwithstanding, lodging, food and beverages facilities, and support services are inadequate and substandard. Some of the notable tourists attractions include the Wa-Naa Palace (a symbol of authority of one of the third epical authorities of traditional Wa), a flat roofed magnificent traditional building with rumble stripped walls the Dzendzen Pool, George E. Ferguson Tomb (the first agent of the governor of the Gold Coast Colony to reach Wa, May 4th 1894), Western Sudanese style built mosques e.g. the Centenarian Mosque at Nakori, Chegli crocodile pond, indigenous traditions, buildings and culture, dance and music. outrageThe transport system in the Municipality is made up of road and very limited air transport. The road network is about 385km comprising 256km latitude roadstead and 129km, surfaced roads (trunk tarred roads). The Municipality has four (4) trunk road links to Kumasi and Tamale, Dorimon/Burkina Faso, Lawra-Hamile and Tumu/Leo. This is a strong advantage for enhanced trade and tourism. However, the conditions of these are bad and inhibit transport services between Wa and these locations. The absence of a by-pass road for traffic on direct route to neighbouring Burkina Faso, undeveloped arterial roads, poor drainage netwo rk, inadequate/substandard travelers and payload lorry parks, limited pedestrian cross walks, absence of bus stop pavements do retard the progress of the transport sector. Wa Municipality has over 300 commercial/ private vehicles population and experience over 200 Vehicles passage day the services providers are dominantly private operators GPRTU, Metro Mass transport, STC, OA, DKM, Diamond Winners, EMEKPA and Private union transport. Another most predominate means of transport is the use of motorcycle. This lessens traffic bits but however causes accidents in the town. It is incumbent that for the Municipality to tap the full benefits of all sectors, transportation requires a serious development intervention.Housing /Real Estate developmentAs a regional capital the municipality performs political, administrative and commercial services which take in appropriate housing for households, offices/institutions and business. However, compound housing which usual accommodate six to12 h ouseholds with poor municipal services still dominates the housing sector in the municipality. The housing challenge is aggravated by a floating students population which lack accommodation on campuses.Commercial Hub of the RegionThe Wa Municipality is currently the regional commercial/service centre with average trading/office facilities (infrastructure). It has over 800 SME in tourism, agro business/ processing, Commerce, metal fabrication, construction, banking Finance. The presence of some market facilities (shops), do attract bulk from all corners of the region to trade in the municipality. A few Modern shopping facilities are also present to ease the congested shopping situation in the municipality. The relatively large number of SMEs opens up opportunities for Partnerships/Joint Ventures The industries in the Municipality are small scale and are categorized into Agro processing, wood, Textile, metal glass, leather hide, clay/sand/stone, art craft. There is a high level o f agro-based industries in the Municipality. To finance these industries there are about 15 financial institutions (Banking and Non-banking) in the Municipality. This congeal the municipality in a better position to assist small and medium scale businesses to grow.Light Industrial AreaThe Local Authority, Wa Municipal Assembly, has acquired 20 acres of land for light industries. Utilities like electricity and water have been provided. This creates an impetus for a total transformation of the economy. The Municipal Assembly is seeking potential investors to do business with. Beside the Municipal Assembly is ready to front/assist any potential investor to access land for any investment in the municipality.Banking and fiscal InstitutionsThe municipality can boost of over 15 banking/non-banking institutions ADB, SGSSB, Barclays, Stanbic, APEX Bank, GCB, NIB , 1st National bank, Lawra Area Rural Bank and Sonzelle Rural Bank. There also exist Five (5) non-banking financial institutions. There are Two Credit Unions Ghana Financial Services, Comforter, DKM, Line Paradise and Sinapi Aba. They provide the necessary financial services. themeInfrastructure comprises water systems, communication networks, electricity (power), health care facilities, roads, streets security system among others. The available infrastructure in the Municipality is averagely adequate to promote the growth of other sectors in the region. There is the availability of water systems, communication networks, electricity (power), health care facilities, roads, streets security system that will facilitate development in the municipality.Key beguile Areas to do Business in the Wa MunicipalityExpanding production and value addition in agriculture, industry, tourism and transportEnhancing institutional competitivenessEffective and efficient and communication systemEngaging diversified forms of partnershipsDeveloping and retaining the necessary human capital for hiring and self-employmentFacilitating a ccess to financial and non-financial support service

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