Nkoranza South District is one of the twenty-two (22) administrative districts in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. It is located in the middle portion of Brong Ahafo Region. It lies within longitudes 1o 10’W and 1o 55’W and latitudes 7o 20’N and 7o 55’N covering a total area of about 920km2. The district has about 105 settlements, which are mostly rural. It shares boundaries with Nkoranza North District to the North, Techiman Municipality to the West, all in the Brong Ahafo Region and Offinso North District to the South and Ejura-Sekyeredumase to the South-East, all in the Ashanti Region. The District has one political constituency, (Nkoranza South) and one traditional Paramount Authority.
Relief and Drainage
Generally, low lying and rising gradually from 153m to 305m above sea level. The district is well drained by several streams and rivers, notable among them are Pru, Tanko, Fanku, Abubre and Agyemfra. Most of the rivers and streams take their sources from the North–Eastern portion of the District, flowing South and Northwestwards.
Geological and Hydro-Geological Condition
Nkoranza District geology is of the Voltarian formations which consist of quartzite, shale, mudstones, sandstones and conglomerate of pebbly beds. Although there are areas of uniform lithology, inter-bedding of the different geological units is a common feature of the basing.
The shales and mudstones of the mudstone of the Obosum bed are essentially impermeable with very low groundwater potentials. However, shallow aquifers can be developed in areas of good surface water geology. Even though the groundwater potential is low, some boreholes drilled in the Voltaian areas have yielded up to 600, 1/min and above. Groundwater storage is expected to occur mainly as a result of jointing, and at a mean depth of about 70m. The mean death of weathering is about 10m.
Soils and their Suitability for Agriculture
The district is largely characterized by soils developed over voltaic sand stones. This geological feature together with vegetation influences, gives rise to two distinct soil categories in the district. One is the group of soil typed developed under forest vegetation and the other type developed under savanna vegetation.
The dominant occupation of people in the district is agriculture, the proportion of which is about 82 percent of the district’s labour force.
Main food crops cultivated are maize, yams, vegetables, cassava, groundnut, cowpea, cocoyam and plantain. Cotton and tobacco grow well in some parts of the district.
Climate
The District lies within the wet semi-equatorial region, having a mean annual rainfall level ranging between 800-1,200mm. It has its major rainy season from March to June, experiencing her minor rains in September to November. The month of August experiences a short dry season, with the prolonged one in the months of December to March. Though temperatures in the District are generally high, the average annual temperature is about 26oC.
Vegetation
The Nkoranza District forms part of the transitional zone between the savanna woodland of Northern Ghana and the forest belt of the South. Thus, the Eastern part of the District is largely characterized by Savanna woodland and fewer areas of Savanna re-growth. The Southern part of the district is largely marked by forest re-growth, made up of shrubs and grasses with few original tree species, especially silk cotton trees.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION
Conditions of the Natural Environment
The prevalent farming practice in the district is the slash and burn method of clearing the land. This does not only leave the farming land bare and exposed to erosion but it is gradually destroying the vegetation and changing the ecology of the district. In fact, the practice has changed the forest vegetation into savanna grassland. The crude farming method has a devastating effect on the environment.
Incidence of bushfires is also high in the area. The activities of farmers, charcoal producers, game hunters and other human factors cause this unfortunate bushfires. Charcoal production has been one of the major causes of environmental degradation in the district. The District Assembly has put in place stringent measures to overcome that problem. However, indications are that in certain parts of the district where accessibility is a problem charcoal production activities persist since enforcement agencies are not able to reach such places.
Streams and rivers in the district dry up during the dry season. This is due to increased human activities in and around watersheds and river banks. Poor farming practices along water bodies, for instance, have led to exposure of riverbanks. This has led to erosion and evaporation of streams, and dependant on rainfall.
As a result, the Assembly has embarked on forest regeneration activities to check the degradation.
Water and Sanitation Situation
Water Situation
There are about ninety-two (92) existing functioning facilities in the Nkoranza south distributed as follows:
Existing Water Facilities
| Type of Facility | No. Available | % |
| 1. Boreholes | 88 | 96.0 |
| 2. Small Town Piped Systems | 2 | 2.0 |
| 3. Hand-Dug Wells | 2 | 2.0 |
| TOTAL | 92 | 100 |
Source: District Water and Sanitation Team Secretariat
Other sources of water in the district include dams, rivers, streams and ponds. These other sources are accessed by about 44.5% of the population which is not covered by the three main potable sources listed above. About 54.5% of the total population in the district has access to potable water provided by Nkoranza District Assembly, Central Government, CWSA, ADRA, Catholic Relief Services and other donor agencies. Out of the boreholes available, about 8 of them are not functioning. The four existing hand-dug wells are also in use.
DEMOGRAPHIIC CHARACTERISTICS
Basic Population Statistics
The population of the District is estimated at 93,111 with a growth rate of about 3.6. Out of this population, 52% are males and 48% females. Age bracket between15-64 forms the majority of the district’s labour force comprising 52.1%; followed by children within the ages of (0-17) with 36.4% population whilst people aged 64+ forms the least of the population with 11.5%. The average household size in the district is 4.7.
Population by Settlement
In line with the national standards, any settlement with a population of 5,000 or more is classified as urban. Based on this definition, only four (4) towns out of 105 settlements in the district can be classified as urban. These towns are Nkoranza, Nkwabeng, Akumsa-Dumase, and Donkro-Nkwanta. Some of the relatively large settlements in the district and their population over the period can be seen below:
Major Settlements with Population of over 1000
Town |
2000 | 2006 | 2009 |
| 1. Nkoranza | 21,715 | 24,483 | 26,665 |
| 2. Nkwabeng | 5,127 | 5,601 | 6,296 |
| 3.Akumsa – Dumase | 4,374 | 4,779 | 5,371 |
| 4.Donkro Nkwanta | 4,194 | 4,582 | 5,150 |
| 5. Akuma | 3,030 | 3,310. | 3,721 |
| 6. Bonsu | 2,436 | 2,661 | 2,991 |
| 7. Dotobaa | 2,380 | 2,600 | 2,923 |
| 8. Brahoho | 2,028 | 2,216 | 2,490 |
| 9. Ayerede | 1,747 | 1,909 | 2,145 |
| 10. Ahyiaem | 1,4I2 | 1,752 | 1,734 |
| 11. Akropong | 1,138 | 1,252 | 1,397 |
Ethnic Composition
The district consists mainly of the Akan-Bonos with few Northern tribes and others. The Bonos form more than 90% with about 10% distributed among the other ethnic groups. Thus, the people could be described as homogenous, in that they have common socio-cultural practices and norms.
Religious Composition
In terms of religion, Christians are more than other faiths. Christians constitute 80.2% of the population. Muslim population is quite significant and represents about 12 percent possibly due to the in-movement of farmers from Muslim strongholds in the northern part of Ghana. Traditional religion still keeps its strength and influence in the district with 6.6% of the people. This is evidenced by fetish houses scattered over the district and local beliefs in spiritual forces which has impact on the use of natural resources such as forests and rivers. About 1.2% claim non-alliance with any religious sect.
Economic Activities/ Occupational Distribution
Nkoranza District economy is predominantly agricultural. The sector accounts for about 75% of the active labour force, followed by commerce (10.2%), Service (8.0%) and Industry (6.8%). The type of agriculture is mainly subsistence with low income levels of the people. The rural nature of the district coupled with limited employment opportunities explains why the occupational distribution is skewed to agriculture.
Agricultural Situation
Major Crops
Major crops cultivated include the following; maize, yam, cassava, cowpea, groundnut, watermelon, cashew, mango and tobacco. Farmers are also engaged in vegetable farming.
(a) Maize:-
The District is one of the major leading producers of maize in the country and particularly the first in the Brong-Ahafo Region. Average farm size is around two (2) hectares. Weekly movement of articulated truck loads of maize is estimated at thirty (30mt) during the peak season.
Comparative Production Figures (2009-2010)
| Crop | Area Cropped (Ha) | Average Yield (Mt/ha) | Production (Mt) | ||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | % Change | 2009 | 2010 | % Change | 2009 | 2010 | % Change | |
| Maize | 37,870 | 39,380 | 4.00 | 1.90 | 2.00 | 5.26 | 71,953 | 78,760 | 9.46 |
| Cassava | 7,130 | 6,920 | -3.00 | 17.01 | 18.19 | 6.92 | 121,299 | 125,875 | 3.77 |
| Yam | 8,410 | 9,760 | 16.00 | 19.29 | 18.23 | -5.52 | 162,267 | 177,925 | 9.65 |
| Cocoyam | 650 | 660 | 1.00 | 4.92 | 4.43 | -9.91 | 3,196 | 2,924 | -8.53 |
| Plantain | 520 | 530 | 1.00 | 7.23 | 6.87 | -5.00 | 3,760 | 3,641 | -3.17 |
| G’nut | – | 1,910 | – | – | 1.20 | – | 2,292 | – | |
| Cowpea | – | 2,810 | – | – | 0.90 | – | 2,529 | – | |
| Tomato | – | 2,310 | – | – | 4.0 | – | 9,240 | – | |
Programmes/Projects:-
| Project Name | Year Star | Year End | Remarks |
| Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) | 2010 | N/A | Promotion of hermatic storage facility for cowpea |
| CRI-Cowpea Project | 2010 | N/A | Production of improved cowpea varieties |
| Block Farming | 2009 | N/A | Maize grain production |
| Name of Programmes | Objective(s)/Major Activities |
|
(i).Involved in Farmer Field Fora (FFF)
(ii) Distribution of improved cassava planting materials |
|
(i). Ensured Food Security and Income for the Youth
(ii). Establishment of Block Farms in maize, soya bean etc |
Achievements
| Project Name | Achievements | Remarks |
| 1.Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS)
“Triple Bag Technology” |
(i) Trained six (6) MOFA staff and eight (8) farmers
(ii) Distributed ten (10) hermatic cowpea storage bags to farming communities. |
Sponsored by World Vision Ghana in collaboration with Purdue University of USA |
| 2. CRI-Cowpea Project | (i) Four (4) (1/2-acre) demonstrations established in four farming communities
(ii) Nine (9) (1/4-acre) trials established |
Future looks bright for cowpea production |
| 3. Block farming | (i) One thousand four (1,400 acres) of maize grain established since 2009
(ii) Two hundred and seventy-five (275) farmers were involved. |
Out-break of army worms, stem borers, and leaf rollers |
| Programme | Activities | Achievements |
| RTIMP | FFF | Established three (3) FFFs at Nkwabeng, Brahoho and Dandwan |
| Secondary | Established eighteen (18) acres of improved cassava fields | |
| Tertiary | Distributed improved cassava planting materials to two hundred and fourteen (214) farmers in 2010 |
Agro-chemical dealers:-
The use of agro-chemicals in the district is on the ascendency especially herbicides.
The total number of agro-chemical dealers/sellers now stands at twenty-seven (27).
School Feeding Programme:-
| Name of School | No. of Enrolment | |
| 1 | Nkwabeng Presby A and B ; Nkwabeng Saviour school | 773 |
| 2 | Akropong and Nkwabeng Roman Catholic | 655 |
| 3 | Nkwabeng SDA and Makyinmabre DA | 700 |
| Total | 2,128 | |
Major Challenges:-
- One major challenge to farming, especially in maize production is the outbreak of army worms.
This is followed closely by the infestation of stem borers and leaf rollers especially in the minor farming season.
- Inadequate tractor services during the peak farming season.
Contact Details:-
| CONTACT PERSON | POSITION | TELEPHONE NO. |
| M. K. Ahiadu | District Director Of Agric | 0248-305175 |
| B.B. Kuurdor | District Officer | 0243-389715 |
| James Amanor | District Officer | 020-8230550 |
| Augustus Addai | District Officer | 020-1965756 |
