Ghana Ashanti Region

21/03/2022, 16:04 Ghana Ashanti region
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Ghana Ashanti region

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Demographic characteristics
The population of the region is concentrated in a few districts. The Kumasi

metropolis alone accounts for nearly one-third of the region’s population.
Slightly over half, 51.5 per cent, of the population of the region is in four
districts. While more than half of the population in the region resides in urban
areas, in 15 of the 18 districts, over half the population live in rural areas. The
high level of urbanization in the region is due mainly to the high
concentration of the population in the Kumasi metropolis (which has almost
about a third of the region’s population).
Males outnumber females in eleven districts. The age structure of the population in the districts is skewed
towards the youth. The dependent population in the districts is high, ranging from 42.2 per cent in the Kumasi
metropolis to 57.3 per cent in the Ahafo Ano South District. Total Fertility Rates (TFRs) are high in most of the
districts, except in the following four: Adansi West, Asante Akim South, Kumasi metropolis and Afigya
Sekyere, where TFRs are lower than the regional average of 4.7. The TFR in the Ahafo Ano South District (9.4)
is particularly high.
https://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/regions/ashanti.asp 1/34
Social characteristics
All the districts in the region have more than a quarter of households headed by females with the lowest
(26.9%) in Ejura Sekyedumase, and the highest (40.1%) in the Ejisu-Juaben, Districts. Children constitute the
greater proportion of household members in most of the districts, except in three: Kwabre, Sekyere East, and
Ahafo Ano South, where “other relatives” outnumber children. In each district, children and other relatives
account for more than 50.0 per cent of household members.
Information on the levels of educational attainment and literacy show that between 40.0 and 50.0 per cent of
the population in the districts, particulary, females either have no formal education or have only pre-school
education. The proportions of the population with basic education vary from 67.7 per cent in the Kumasi
metropolis to 86.9 per cent in the Amansie West District. Between 51.3 per cent (Kumasi metropolis) and 73.0
per cent (Amansie West) of the population currently in school are in the primary school. The proportions in JSS
are low, ranging from 16.1 per cent to 22.4 percent, tapering down further to lower proportions at higher levels
of education.
Illiteracy levels are high in the districts and higher for females than the males; the level is also higher in rural
areas than in urban areas. Illiteracy rates vary from 26.0 per cent in Kumasi metropolis to 64.7 per cent in the
Ejura Sekyedumase District. Only three Districts, Kumasi metropolis, Adansi West and Ejisu-Juaben, have
illiteracy levels lower than the regional average of 40.4 percent.
Economic characteristics
The proportion of the economically active population varies from 71.4 in the Kumasi metropolis to 85.2 per
cent in the Amansie West District. Only five districts have proportions lower than 80.0 percent. The major
occupation in all the districts is Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Forestry, except in the Kumasi metropolis,
where Sales workers predominate. The proportion of females in Sales is higher than that of males in all the
districts.
The proportion of females in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Forestry is also higher than that of males for the
region as a whole and for the following three districts: Kumasi, Ejura Sekyedumase, and Offinso. Residents in
the rural areas are mostly in Agriculture whereas those in urban areas are mainly in Sales and Production
work. Majority of the economically active population are self-employed, mainly in the private informal sector,
which provides job opportunities, particularly for females with little or no formal education.
Housing characteristics
The population per house is high, between seven and 10 people in 13 districts and exceeds the regional
average of 11 people in four other districts. Compound and separate houses are predominant in all the
districts. While a high proportion of the population in the districts, particularly those in rural areas, own the
dwelling units they live in, the proportion of households living in rented dwelling units is also relatively high, in
districts with a high urban population.
Apart from the Kumasi metropolis, a high proportion, over 30.0 percent, of households in the districts, do not
have access to potable water. Public toilets and pit latrines are commonly used. Between 66.6 and 87.1 per
cent of households dispose of solid waste using public dumps. Solid waste is also disposed of by either
throwing it on the street (14.2%to 62.6%) on the compound (18.0% to 45.9%) or into the gutter (59-58.7%).
Wood and charcoal are the two main sources of fuel for cooking, used by over 70.0 per cent of households in
the districts.
Kerosene is the main source of fuel used for lighting in 15 of the 18 districts. The other three districts, Kumasi
metropolis (88.4%), Adansi West (61.3%) and Kwabre (53.1%), use mainly electricity. Kumasi is the regional
and district capital, Adansi West has Obuasi, the home of Ashanti Goldfelds and the adjourning urban centres,
and Kwabre is initially a spillover district of the Kumasi metropolis.
Community facilities
Apart from traditional healers, community facilities such as schools, hospitals/clinics and telephones, all of
which contribute to the improvement in the living conditions of people, are scarcely found in all the districts,
except the Kumasi metropolis. In most of the localities in the districts, the nearest facility is located more than
10 kilometres away. Traditional healing is the only facility that is mostly found in the localities or within a short
distance.
Policy implications
In many of the districts, the main occupation of a very high proportion of the predominantly rural population is
Agriculture. The Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Government should therefore be focused on Agriculture in
order to achieve the desired impact. In particular, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture needs to collaborate
with the District Assemblies to develop schemes that will assist those engaged in agricultural and related
activities.
Fertility is very high in all the districts in the region. The National Population Council, the Ministry of Education,
Youth and Sports and the District Assemblies need to collaborate with the relevant agencies to intensify
education on the benefits, to the family and the nation, of having smaller numbers of children. Family Planning
awareness campaigns have to be intensified, particularly in the following Districts: Ahafo Ano South, Sekyere
East, Ejura Sekyedumase, Kwabre, Atwima and Bosomtwe/Atwima/Kwanwoma, where the TFR is particularly
high.
Illiteracy levels are high in all the districts with differences between males and females in educational
attainment. The Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) programme has to be fully implemented,
particularly targeting females in order to expand access to educational opportunities for the large youthful
population. The District Assemblies, the Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant organizations
should educate the population to desist from the indiscriminate throwing of waste materials and the use of
charcoal and wood for cooking.
As a means of improving on the environmental situation in the urban areas, waste disposal containers should
be placed at vantage points so that people can drop waste materials in them. Serious efforts should be made
by the regional and district administrations to increase the number of Health Education and Communication
facilities in the districts to improve upon the living conditions of the people. Appropriately effective punitive
measures should be enforced to ensure that waste material is not disposed of indiscriminately.
Background of the region
Briefly discussed as background to the Ashanti Region, among others, are the history, location and physical
features, modern political and traditional administration, cultural and social structure, religion, tourist
attractions, demographic characteristics and the major economic activities.
Location
The Ashanti Region is centrally located in the middle belt of Ghana. I t lies between longitudes 0.15W and
2.25W, and latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N. The region shares boundaries with four of the ten political regions,
Brong-Ahafo in the north, Eastern region in the east, Central region in the south and Western region in the
South west.
Physical features
The region occupies a total land area of 24,389 square kilometres representing 10.2 per cent of the total land
area of Ghana. It is the third largest region after Northern (70,384 sq. kms) and Brong Ahafo (39,557 sq. kms)
regions. The region has a population density of 148.1 persons per square kilometre, the third after Greater
Accra and Central Regions. More than half of the region lies within the wet, semi-equatorial forest zone.
Due to human activities and bushfires, the forest vegetation of parts of the region, particularly the north-
eastern part, has been reduced to savanna. The region has an average annual rainfall of 1270mm and two
rainy seasons. The major rainy season starts in March, with a major pick in May. There is a slight dip in July
and a pick in August, tapering off in November. December to February is dry, hot, and dusty.
The average daily temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius. Much of the region is situated between 150 and
300 metres above sea level. The region is endowed with a spectacular geography-lakes, scarps, forest
reserves, waterfalls, national parks, birds and wildlife sanctuaries. Notable among them are the Owabi
Arboretum and Bomgobiri wildlife sanctuaries. The region is drained by Lake Bosomtwe, the largest natural
lake in the country, and Rivers Offin, Prah, Afram and Owabi. There are other smaller rivers and streams which
serve as sources of drinking water for residents of some localities in the region.
Brief history
The Asante (Ashantis) constitute the largest of the various subgroups of the Akan, who trace their origins
partly to Bono-Manso and Techiman, in present-day Brong Ahafo Region. They constitute 14.8 per cent of all
Ghanaians by birth, and 30.1 per cent of the total Akan population of 8,562,748 in the country. Various oral
traditions have it that the Ashantis migrated from various places through Bono-Manso/Takyiman (Techiman) to
present day Ashanti Region.
As a united people, they started with a nucleus of the Oyoko clan around Asantemanso. After several years of
subjugation by other empires, such as the Akwamu and the Denkyira, Asante eventually grew to be a very
powerful empire founded by King Osei-Tutu I (1695-1717), after defeating the Denkyira King Ntim Gyakari
during the battle of Feyiase (Buah, 1998).
Ironically, King Osei Tutu I had spent his childhood days in the court of the Denkyira King, according to
custom, and had escaped from there to Akwamu where he met his lifelong friend and spiritual mentor, the
legendary Okomfo Anokye. It is believed that it was through Okomfo Anokye’s extraordinary supernatural
powers that King Osei Tutu founded the Ashanti Empire; as he is said to have commanded the Golden Stool
to fall from “the heavens”, the stool which, to this day, serves as the symbol of the spirit, unity and strength of
the Ashantis.
At the height of its glory, the influence and culture of the Asante Kingdom stretched beyond the borders of the
present day Ghana. The Ashanti were able to preserve what was best in Akan culture, including the use of
gold dust as currency and gold weights as a measure, which system was actually originated by the great
Bono (Brong) King Akumfi Ameyaw I (1328-1363) (Buah, 1998).
The Asante fought many successful wars against the Denkyira and their allies including the Wassa, the British,
the Fante, and even the Bonos (Brongs). Indeed it was the Ashanti King Opoku Ware I who defeated the
Bonos in 1723 and destroyed Bono-Manso, forcing the Bono Empire to move its capital from Manso to
present day Techiman. The Ashanti Empire eventually collapsed with the defeat and exile of King Prempeh I,
first to El-Mina Castle and eventually to the Seychelles.
Not even the last stalwart stand by the great warrior Queen Yaa Asantewaa could revive the fame, fortune and
power of Ashanti. However, the culture, kinship and social structure of Ashanti, like many of the other Akan
groups, has been preserved and maintained to the present day, and underlines the cultural heritage, not only
of the Asante, but of the entire Akan ethnic group. The present Asanti King (Asantehene) Osei Tutu II, is a
direct matrilineal descendant of Osei Tutu I.
Political administration
There are 18 administrative districts in the Ashanti Region including the Kumasi metropolis The region also has
33 constituencies and 840 electoral areas, the highest in the country. A Member of Parliament represents each
of the 33 constituencies at the nation’s 200- member legislature.
The Regional Minister is the political Head of the region, and the Chairman of the Regional Co-ordinating
Council. Other members of the Regional Co-ordinating Council include the Regional Co-ordinating Director
(Secretary), all the 18 District Chief Executives and Presiding members, as well as two representatives from
the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs. All Regional heads of department are ex-officio members of the
Regional Co-ordinating Council.
The District/Metropolitan Assemblies are headed by Metropolitan/District Chief Executives. The District and
Metropolitan Chief Executives are nominated by the President of the Republic and approved by two-thirds
majority of the respective Metropolitan/District Assemblies. The Chief Executives, like the Regional Minister,
are assisted by District Co-ordinating Directors. For effective administration, the Kumasi Metropolitan
Assembly (KMA) has been sub-divided into four sub-metros, namely Asokwa, Subin, Bantama and Manhyia.
The following three additional districts have been created, to bring the total number in the region to twenty-
one (21).
Nationality and ethnicity
Majority of the region’s population are Ghanaians by birth (87.3%) with about five per cent naturalized
Ghanaians. A smaller proportion (5.8%) of the population originate from outside Ghana, made up of 3.7 per
cent mainly from the five Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and 2.1 per cent from other
African countries.
The non-African population living in the region is 1.8 per cent of the total population. Akans are the
predominant ethnic group in the region, representing 77.9 per cent of Ghanaians by birth. A high proportion
(78.9%) of the Akan population is Asante. The non-Akan population in the region comprises the Mole- Dagbon
(9.0%), the Ewe (3.2%), the Grusi (2.4%), the Mande-Busanga (1.8%) and the Ga- Dangme (1.4%). The other
smaller ethnic groups form about 1.3 per cent of the population of the region.
Cultural and social structure
The region has 36 Traditional Councils, each headed by a Paramount Chief. The Traditional Councils are the
decentralized units of administration by traditional rulers and are used to mobilize the people at the local and
community levels for development. The spiritual head of the region is the Asante King, the Otumfuo
Asantehene. All the Paramount Chiefs in the region are members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs,
with the Asantehene as the President of the house. The main language spoken in the region is Twi. Several
festivals are celebrated in the region, the major ones being the Akwasidae and AdaeKese. These are religious
festivals celebrated by some members of the Akan ethnic group of which the Ashantis belong.
The festivals are celebrated to remember past leaders and heroes. Though they are dead, their spirits are
supposed to be alive and taking interest in the affairs of the living, watching their doings and consulting with
them at Adae.
Literacy of population
It reveals that 35.0 per cent of the population, 15 years and older in the region are not literate. A little under
half (48.1%) are literate in both English and a Ghanaian language. Only 3.2 per cent are literate in a Ghanaian
language only, while less than 1.0 per cent are able to read and write in other languages.
There are differences between the sexes in terms of literacy. More than half (55.8%) of the males are literate in
English and a Ghanaian language compared with two fifth (40.4%) of the females. On the whole, the illiteracy
level for the region (35.0%) is lower than that of the national average (42.1%).
Religion
The dominant religion in the region is Christianity (77.5%) followed by Islam (13.2%). The proportion of
Christians is higher than the national average (68.8%), while that of Moslems is lower than the national
average (15.9%). All other religious groups constitute insignificant proportions of the population. The
proportion with no religion is however relatively high (7.3%).
Population characteristics
The region is the most populous and one of the most rapidly growing regions in the country. The region’s
population is 3,612,950, representing 19.1 per cent of the country’s population. The region’s share of the
national population increased steadily from 16.5 per cent in 1960 to 17.3 per cent in 1970 but remained almost
the same (17.0%) in 1984 before increasing to its current level (19.1%).
The region’s population growth rate was 2.9 per cent per annum in 1970, dropped to 2.5 per cent per annum
in 1984 and increased to 3.4 per cent in 2000, 1.3 times higher than the national average growth rate of 2.7
percent. The population growth rate of the region in 2000 is the second highest in the country, after the
Greater Accra Region (4.4%). Although the region is the most populous, its density (148.1/sqkm) is lower than
those of the Greater Accra (895.5/sq km) and the Central (162.2/sq km) Regions.
A number of factors, particulary high fertility and migration, may account for the rapid population growth in the
region. The Total Fertility Rate, (TFR) which measures the number of children a woman, in her reproductive
age, would give birth to, is high (4.8), compared with the national average of 4.0. The completed fertility by
women 15-49 years (5.6) is lower than the TFR by 0.8; which implies a slightly lower current fertility schedule.
The other reason for the growth is the centrality of the region and its economic potentials in the cocoa and
mining industries, which attract people from other parts of the country to the region.
Age and sex structure
There are slightly more males (50.3%) than females (49.7%) in the region. This translates into a sex ratio of
101.3 males to 100 females in 2000. In 1960, the male population (51.2%) also exceeded that of females
(48.8%) but in 1970 and 1984, the female population exceeded that of males.
The region has a youthful population with about two-fifths (41.9%) below 15 years of age. This proportion has
declined consistently from 1970 (49.3%) and 1984 (45.3%), an indication of a decline in fertility. On the other
hand, the proportion of the population aged 65 years and older has increased from 2.5 per cent in 1960 to 3.0
per cent in 1970 and 3.6 per cent in1984 to the current level of 6.1 per cent in 2000.
Rural-urban population
The urban population (51.3%) in the region exceeds that of the rural population (48.7%). The region is
currently the second most urbanized in the country, after Greater Accra (87.7%). The growth of the mining
industry in Obuasi and the increase in commercial activities in Kumasi may account partly for the relatively
high urban population in the region.
One other factor that has also contributed to the high urban population in the region is the growth in some of
the localities which were hitherto considered as rural settlements, but have now attained urban status
(localities with population of 5000 and above).
For example, Atimatim in the Kawabre district, which had a population of 836 in 1970 and 1,123 in 1984,
increased to 14,017 in 2000. Ahwiaa also in Kwabre, has grown from 2,110 in 1970 to a large town of 19,729.
Both have grown mainly due to population spillover. Abuakwa in the Atwima district has grown from a small
village of 970 people in 1970 to the largest town in the district, with a population of 16,582 in 2000, mainly due
to to the establishment of industries such as the cocoa pesticide formulation plant and the Darko Farms. In
the Kumasi metropolis itself, areas such as Ayigya, Dikyemso (Dichemso) and Tarkwa Maakro, which were
small communities in 1960 and 1970, have grown into densely populated residential areas with 20- 40,000
people.
Migration
Migration is one of the three important factors of population change in a locality. Over the years, the region
has attracted migrants from within and outside the country because of its economic potentials and its
centrality as a nodal region. The non-migrant population of the region is 66.8 percent, having increased from
58.3 per cent in 1960, 56.8 per cent in 1970 and 63.8 per cent in 1984. Both the proportions of the intra-
regional and inter regional movements decreased almost steadily from 1960. The proportion of the intra-
regional migrants decreased from 21.4 per cent in 1960 to 13.1 per cent in 2000, while the proportion of the
interregional migrants also decreased from 20.3 per cent in 1960 to 11.1 per cent in 2000.
Place of birth of population
About four-fifth (79.9%) of the population in the region were born in the region. This is 3.5 percentage points
lower than in 1984. However, there are relatively more Ghanaians by birth and parenthood born in the locality
of enumeration in 2000 (66.8%) than in 1984 (63.7%).
Whereas the proportion of the population born in another locality in the same region decreased by 6.6
percentage points, between 1984 and 2000, the proportion born in other regions during the same period
increased by 1.9 percentage points. Ghanaians by birth in the region, born outside the country, increased for
those born in ECOWAS and other African countries.
Economic activity and employment
The economically active population in the region is engaged mainly in Agriculture (excluding Fishing), with 44.5
per cent of them employed in the branch of activity. This represents a decline from the 1984 level of 61.9
percent. The next highest proportion of the economically active population is employed in Wholesale and
Retail Trade (18.4%), followed by Manufacturing (12.2%) and Community, Social and Personal Services etc.,
(9.9%). These four major economic activities employ a total of 85.0 per cent of the economically active
population, which is lower than that of 1984 (94.4%).
The proportion of the economically active population engaged in other economic activities is less than 5.0 per
cent in each case. Water and Transport, Storage and Communications, Electricity, Gas and all the other
activities increased their proportions of the economically active population employed in 2000 compared with
1984, except Agriculture, Hunting and Forestry.
Housing stock
The housing stock in the region is 329,478, of which 37.1 per cent are in urban areas and 62.9 per cent in rural
areas. This is in constrast to the 17.4 per cent of houses in urban, and 82.6 per cent in rural, areas in 1970.
The total stock also represents an increase of 86.8 per cent over the stock in 1984. The relative increase in the
proportion of urban housing is a reflection of the increase in urbanisation. As a result, the region’s share of the
national housing stock has increased over the years from 14.6 per cent in 1970 to 15.1 per cent in 2000.
A measure of the quality of dwelling is its size relative to the number of occupants, measured in terms of
persons per room. There are more households per house in the region (2.1) than in the other regions. The
average household size in the region (5.3) is higher than the national average (5.1) but lower than the three
Northern Regions.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Sex structure
There are more males (1,818,216) in the region than females (1,794,734). This translates into a regional sex
ratio of 101.3, with very wide variations from 123.2 in the Ahafo Ano South, to 91.4 in the Ejusu Juaben,
Districts. The variation in the male to female ratio appears to be a factor of sex selectivity in migration to, or
from, cluster areas in the region. The sex ratio is almost balanced around 99.3-100.8 in four districts (Offinso,
Sekyere West, Kwabre and Kumasi metropolis).
In the eight districts in which the sex ratio is higher than the regional average, of 101.3, it is below 110.0
except the Ahafo- Ano South District where it is 123.2. On the other hand, in the six districts in which the sex
ratio is below 99.0, it is below 96.0 in only two districts adjoining the Kumasi metropolis, Afigya Sekyere (93.0)
and Ejisu-Juaben (91.4).
The particular components of migration and associated factors that account for the sex composition of the
population of the districts in the region appear to be complicated but related. For example, the rural cocoa-
growing and farming districts of Atwima, Ahafo-Ano North, Ahafo Ano South, Sekyere East and Ejura
Sekyedumase, are areas which attract migrants, particularly males.
More male migrants than female, tend to be involved in farming, especially cocoa growing. The relatively high
sex ratio in the Adansi East District (102.6) may be due to female out-migration to the nearby Adansi West and
the Amansie East, Districts to engage in commercial activities resulting from mining activities in the Adansi
West District.
Age structure
The age structure of the population in the region is skewed towards the youth in all the districts. The highest
proportions of the population are in the age groups 0-4 years (15.6%) and 5-9 years (15.2%). Cumulatively,
40.0 to 47.0 per cent of the population in the districts is below 15 years, except in the Kumasi metropolis,
where it is lower than 40.0 per cent.
Age groups 0-4 and 5-9 years are very close in size in each district, and together make up the largest age
groups, as expected of a young population age structure. The age group 0-4 years is however lower than 5-9
years in seven districts. This may be an indication of a slow, incipient decline in fertility.
The general pattern of the age sex structure of consistent decrease in the size of age groups with increasing
age, is observed for both sexes, for all districts, from age 10-14 the years and older. However, the most
striking aspect of the age sex structure, for the region, is that the general pattern of higher proportions of
females in each age group, at the older ages, particularly from age 65 years, is not always the case.
The observed age sex pattern raises a number of issues worth considering. Why the deviation in the age sex
pattern at older age groups. Although the clearer pattern of higher proportion of males in older age groups in
the Northern Regions of the country may in part, be explained by a patriarchal system, which results in older
males tending to exaggerate their ages, this can not necessarily be the case in the Ashanti Region. The other
issue is whether there has been an improvement in male mortality in the region such as to increase male life
expectancy to the extent of higher proportions of males in the older age groups. These require further
investigation.
Dependent population and dependency ratio
The dependent population, conceptually, is made up of age groups 0-14 years (child dependency) and 65
years and older (older age dependency). Those in the labour force ages tend to work to feed, support and
cater for the needs of those considered too young or too old to work.
The dependency ratio is therefore the proportion of the dependent population (0-14 years + 65 years and
older) divided by the working population, 15-64 years. A dependency ratio of 100.0 implies one dependent per
working person; a figure higher than 100.0 implies more dependents per worker while a figure lower than
100.0 indicates a lower than one dependent per worker. It is worth noting that the dependency ratio is only a
guide and therefore need to be interpreted with great caution.
Although for the region as a whole, the ratio (92.0) is under 100.0, meaning that a person in the working ages
has less than one dependent, it conceals important variations. It is only in six districts that the ratio is under
100.0 and out of these, only the Adansi West District (87.6) and the Kumasi metropolis (73.6) have a ratio
under 90.0. The highest dependency burdens are in the Ahafo Ano South (134.1), the Sekyere East (117.6) and
the Amansie East (112.9), Districts.
The generally high dependency ratios in the districts of the region create pressure on the standard of living of
the working population. The real dependency burden may be higher than indicated by the ratios, since the
working population age groups include a sizeable proportion of the unemployed, those in school or those in
jobs not lucrative enough to cater for others.
This may affect the possibility of saving and the standard of living in the districts. Older people, who should
not be working, may be compelled to continue working instead of retiring from active work. It is therefore
necessary to implement policies that ensure high levels of employment, high productivity and high incomes,
particularly in the agricultural sector.
Population distribution and composition
District share of population
The Kumasi metropolis is the most populous district in the region. It has a population of 1,170,270 which
accounts for just under a third (32.4%) of the region’s population. Kumasi has attracted such a large
population partly because it is the regional capital, and also the most commercialized town in the region.
Other reasons include the centrality of Kumasi as a nodal town with major road arteries to other parts of the
country and the increasing number of educational institutions; a polytechnic, three teachers training colleges
and a university. Kumasi is also the traditional seat of the Ashanti King.
This, coupled with the many historic and other attractions such as the cultural centre, the military museum, the
legendary Okomfo Anokye and the Manhyia Palace, among others, may account for this trend. Three districts,
Amansie East (6.2%), Atwima (6.3%) and Adansi West, all have around 6.2-6.3 per cent share of the regional
population while none of the remaing 14 districts exceeds 4.6 percent. The relatively higher share of the
Adansi West District may be due to the concentration of mining activities in the district. The Asante Akim
South, Ejura Sekyedumase, and Ahafo Ano North, Districts, have relatively low shares of the regional
population.
Population density
The region has a relatively high population density of 148 per sq. km, having increased steadily from 45
persons per sq km in 1960 to 61 persons per sq km in 1970 and to 86 persons per sq km in 1984. The
region’s density, which was around the fifth in the country up to 1984, rose to the third densely populated
region (148 sq km) after the Greater Accra (895 per sq km) and the Central (162 per sq km) Regions in 2000.
The high population density of the region may be explained by the fact that it has the second largest economy
in the country, after the Greater Accra Region, which tends to attract people to the region.
Four districts have a density between 100 and 127 and six others range between 59 and 97. Only one district,
Sekyere East, has as low a density as 35 in the region. While seven of the eighteen districts have a higher
density than the regional average (148.1), 14 districts are above the national average of 79.3.
There are wide variations in the population density of the districts in the region, with the Kumasi metropolis
and the Kwabre District in a category by themselves. The Kumasi metropolis (5319) has not only the second
highest population density in the country but is also only slightly lower than the Accra metropolis (5530). The
Kwabre District (659) also has not only the second highest density in the Ashanti region but is the eighth most
densely populated district in the country, ahead of the Tamale municipality (408). Three districts, Adansi West
(251), Bonsomtwi-Atwima-Kwanwoma (236) and Ahafo Ano South (234), however have densities
between 230 and 251; in addition, two other districts, Ejisu-Juaben (191) and Afigya Sekyere (150) have
densities higher than 150 but not exceeding 191. A number of problems relating to the provision of facilities at
the community level are raised by the wide divergence in the population densities of districts in the region.
These are particularly in relation to the Kumasi metropolis, the Kwabre Adansi West, Bonsomtwi-Atwima-
Kwawonma and the Ahafo Ano South, Districts, all with a density higher than 230 persons per sq km, on the
one hand, and the Sekyere East, Sekyere West, Ahafo Ano North and Ejura-Sekyedumase, Districts, all with a
density below the national average, (79.3) which itself, is below the regional average (148.1).
Rural-urban population
During the period 1960-2000, the region’s population distribution has been transformed from three fourth
(75.1%) rural in 1960 to a little over half (51.3%) urban in 2000. This transformation was fastest, during the
period 1984-200. The region is currently the second most urbanized in the country, after Greater Accra
(87.7%).
The large urban population in the region is mainly due to the fact that the Kumasi metropolis is not only
entirely urban but accounts for a third of the region’s population. The growth of the mining industry in Obuase
and the increase in commercial activities, in and around Kumasi, may account partly for the relatively high
urban population in the region.
In 14 districts however, the rural population exceeds the urban population. While the Amansie West District is
entirely rural, the proportion of the rural population exceeds 90.0 per cent in the Amansie East, Adansi East,
Bosomtwe /Atwima/Kwanwoma and Ahafo Ano South Districts. The proportion of the population urban on the
other hand exceeds 50.0 per cent only in three districts, the Kumasi Metropolis (100.0%) the Adansi West
(61.1%) and Asante Akim North District (55.9%).
Of the 56 urban localities in the region in 2000, less than half (46.4%) were urban in 1984 and around a fourth
(28.0%) were urban in 1970. This clearly reflects the contribution of the growth in some of the localities that
were hitherto considered as rural settlements, but have since attained urban status (localities with population
of 5,000 or more). These have added the urban growth in the region.
For example, Atimatim in the Kawabre District, which had a population of 836 in 1970 and 1,123 in 1984,
increased to 14,017 in 2000. Ahwiaa also in the Kwabre District has grown from 2,110 in 1970 to a large town
of 19,729 in 2000. Abuakwa in the Atwima district has grown from a small village of 970 people in 1970 to the
largest town in the district, with a population of 16,582 in 2000, mainly due to the establishment of industries
such as the cocoa pesticide formulation plant and the Darko Farms.
In the Kumasi metropolis itself, areas such as Ayigya, Dikyemso (Dichemso) and Tarkwa Maakro, which were
small communities in 1960 and 1970, have grown into densely populated residential areas with 20,000-40,000
people.
Migration
Migration, one of the three factors of population change, is discussed in terms of place of birth, place of
enumeration and the population born elsewhere (in or out of Ghana). About two-thirds (65.7%) of the
population in the region were born where they were enumerated, the remaining one third (34.3%) are in-
migrants to the region. In 6 of the 18 districts, at least seven out of every ten persons were enumerated in the
localities in which they were born, indicating that these districts have less in-migrants than other districts in
the region.
Apart from the Ahafo Ano North and South Districts, where the population born outside the locality of
enumeration exceeds 40.0 percent, the rest of the sixteen districts have more than 60.0 per cent of the
population born where they were enumerated. Although the trend is similar for both sexes, there are however
slightly higher proportions of females, born where they were enumerated, than males, in each district in the
rgion, except the Adansi East District.
Except the Ahafo-Ano South (84.1%) and the Sekyere East (87.7%), Districts, over 90.0 per cent of the
population in the other districts, who were born outside the districts in which they were enumerated, were
born in other districts in Ghana. A high proportion of the population in the districts, who were born outside
their locality of enumeration, were mostly born in the Ashanti Region (39.4 %) with a variation from 55.7 per
cent in the Amansie West, to 22.6 per cent in the Ejura Sekyedumase, Districts.
The proportion of the population born in the Central Region and enumerated in the Adansi West District is
17.2 percent. It is 31.1 per cent in the Adansi East District. There are 16.8 per cent of those born in the
Eastern Region who were enumerated in the Adansi East District, almost two fifths (39.8%) in the Asanti Akim
South, and one eighth (12.3%) in the Asante Akim North, Districts.
The proportion born in Brong Ahafo and enumerated in a district in the Ashanti Region is almost similar in the
districts, except the Amansie East (3.9%), Adansi West (3.6%), Ashante Akim South (2.6%) and Adansi East
(1.9%), Districts. A substantial proportion of those born outside the region, but enumerated in Ejura
Sekyedumase (54.6%), Offinso (43.4%), Sekyere West (42.3%), Sekyere East (32.8%) and Afigya Sekyere
(29.7%), Districts, originate from the three northern regions. Those born in the Volta Region but were
enumerated in one of the districts in Ashanti Region, form less than 10.0 per cent of those born outside;
except the Adansi East whith accounts for 11.0%.
The highest percentage born in the Western Region and enumerated in a district in the region exceeds 5.0 per
cent only in the Amansie West (5.6%) and the Adansi West (7.0%), Districts. The analysis suggests some
relation between the closeness of the district of enumeration and the region of birth. The pattern is similar for
both sexes, except that in each case, the proportion of males is slightly higher than that for females.
The Ahafo Ano South District has the highest proportion of the population in the region, (15.9%) born outside
Ghana. The Kumasi metropolis, (7.1%), which has relatively more industrial establishments and which is also
the most commercialized town in the region, rather ranks fourth, after the Kwabre, Sekyere East and Ahafo
Ano South, Districts in terms of the population born outside Ghana. This may in fact be due to the relatively
small sizes of these districts relative to the Kumasi metropolis, rather than the actual absolute number of the
in-migrants.
Fertility and child survival
Fertility
Fertility remains high in the region, with indications of sustained decline over the years. The region recorded
the second highest intercensal growth rate (3.4%), after Greater Accra (4.4%), for the period 1984-2000. The
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (4.8) which is only slightly lower than the Northern (4.9) and Upper West (4.9) Regions,
ranks among the three highest in the country, and is much higher than the national average (4.0).
There are indications of a sustained decline as reflected first, in the transformation of the population of the
region, from 67.5 per cent rural in 1984 to 51.3 per cent urban in 2000. Secondly the lower proportion of the
population in the age group 0-4 years, than in the age group 5-9 years, in seven of the 18 districts, on the one
hand, and the closeness of these two age groups in the remaining districts, on the other hand, is indicative of
a slow and incipient decline in fertility.
The strongest evidence of potential decline in fertility in the region is, however provided by the comparison of
the Total Fertility (TFR), the Completed Family Size (CFS) and the Children Ever Born (CEB).
The TFR is lower than the CFS in every district, indicating that current fertility is lower than the completed
fertility of women 45-49 years. The CEB is also half the CFS in every district, implying that, if current fertility
schedules prevail, women are likely to give birth, on the average, to half the number of children of the older
generation, 45 years and older.
In all the districts, the TFR is exactly half the CEB. However, the crude birth rate (CBR) of 32.3 per 1000
population remains very high. The disturbing aspect of the fertility levels in the region is the wide variations at
the district level. Irrespective of the fertility indicator considered, the Ahafo Ano South District ranks highest,
on the TFR (9.9), the CFS (6.7), the CEB (3.3) and the CBR (48.7 per 1000 population), compared to the
regional average of these indicators.
The same applies, to varying degrees, to the Sekyere East, Bosomtwi-Atwima-Kwanwoma, Atwima, Kwabre,
Amansie East and West and the Ahafo Ano North, Districts. On the other hand, the TFR, the CFS, the CEB
and the CBR, are all lower than the regional average of these indicators, only in the Kumasi metropolis and the
Adansi West District, which may be explained by the high urban population of these two districts.
The very high fertility rates in Ahafo Ano South (9.9), Ahafo Ano North, Sekyere East, Bosomtwe-Atwima-
Kwanwoma, Atwima, Amansie East, and Kwabre Districts, deserve focused, sustained and intensive
programme actions to reduce the level such that the population can benefit from development imputs in these
districts.
Child survival
Child survival remains relatively low in the region, with rates lower than 90.0 per cent in all districts, but higher
than 85.0 per cent in only three districts, Offinso (87.3%), Afigya Sekyere (87.4%) and the Kumasi metropolis
(85.8%). The highest Child Survival rate in the region is incidentally not in the Kumasi metropolis.
In the remaining districts, Child Survival varies around a narrow range between 84.1 and and 84.8 per cent in
five districts, Ejisu-Juaben (84.1%), Adansi East (84.0%), Adansi West (84.6%), Amansie West (84.6%) and
Asante Akim South (84.8%). In the ten districts in which the rate is below the regional value of 84.1 percent, it
varies between 81.6 per cent in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District to 83.5 per cent in Ahafo Ano
South District.
It will take time for Child Survival, Immunization and Vaccination campaigns by the Ministry of Health in the
region, to show appreciable results. It is however important that all projects and activities that enhance the
welfare and health of infants and mothers be encouraged, sustained and well resourced.
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
Size of household
The average household size in Ashanti is 5.3 persons, the same as Brong Ahafo. It is lower than only the three
northern regions. Apart from two districts, Adansi West (4.8) and Ejisu-Juaben (4.7), the household sizes in the
various districts vary from 5.1 to 5.7 in 14 districts, 6.5 in the Sekyere East District and 7.0 in the Ahafo Ano
South Districts. Large households exert pressure on housing, thus leading to large population per room or
overcrowding.
Sex of the head household
In all districts of the region, females head more than a quarter (25.0%) of households in each district, with
more than a third (33.8 - 40.1%) in 11 of the 18 districts. Female headed households are relatively more
common in six districts, Ejisu-Juaben (40.1%), Bosomtwe/Atwima/Kwanwona (39.3%) Afigya Sekyere
(39.2%), Kwabre (39.0%), Sekyere East (38.4%), and Amansie East (38.0%), compared to the 12 others. The
proportion of female headed households is lowest in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District (26.9%) followed by the
Ahafo Ano South (29.0% and Ahafo Ano North (29.0%), Districts.
The region has the third highest proportion of female headed households (34.6%) in the country, after the
Central (38.8%) and the Volta (37.1%) regions. The proportion of female headed household (34.6%) has
however remained at the level of 1970 (34.7%).
Household composition
Household head, temporary head and spouse The proportion of the population in the districts who reported
as household heads range from 13.7 per cent in the Ahafo-Ano South, to 20.4 per cent in the Ejisu-Juaben,
Districts. While over a third (34.6%) of households are headed by females, about one eighth (12.2%) of
females are heads of households in addition to 1.4 per cent temporary heads. At the district level, the lowest
percentage of female heads of households is in the Ahafo Ano South District (9.0% heads and 1.2%
temporary heads) and the highest in the Ejisu-Juaben District (15.7% heads and 1.3% temporary heads).
Athough at the national level, the region has the third largest proportion of female headed households, it ranks
fifth in terms of percentage of females heading households in the country as a whole. The proportion of male
household heads is higher than that of female household heads in all the districts but the proportion of female
temporary heads is higher than that of male temporary heads, in each district
Children
Except in three districts, children constitute the highest proportion of household mebers in all the districts in
the region, ranging from 27.2 per cent in Ahafo Ano South to 42.7 per cent in the Adansi East District. The
proportion is below 30.0 per cent in two districts, Kwabre (29.3%) and Ahafo-Ano South (27.2).
Several factors may account for the high proportion of children of household heads in the region. In addition
to minors who may still be living with their parents, there could also be chidren, particularly females, who may
move to stay with their parents, in accordance with tradition, during the latter part of pregnancy, well into the
post natal weaning period, before returning to their spouses.
Divorced, widowed, unemployed or even destitute children may also fall back to live with their parents while
sorting themselves out. All these are indications of the fall-back support system that is the bedrock of the
traditional family structure.
Other relatives
Other relatives form the second highest proportion of the population in households in the districts after
children, constituting between 12.9 and 43.3 per cent of households. A number of socioeconomic factors may
account for the high proportion of “other relatives” in households in the Kumasi metropolis, the Kwabre,
Sekyere East and Ahafo Ano South, District. Both the Sekyere East and Ahafo Ano South District are major
cocoa growing areas where relatives stay with household heads and provide labour on the farms. Both the
Kumasi metropolis and the Kwabre, District are urbanized districts which attract persons who stay with
relatives while actively searching for jobs or their own dwelling units.
Marital status
Marriage
Marriage is relatively high in the region with no district, except Kumasi metropolis (48.0%), having lower than
53.0 per cent of the population 15 years and older, married. The Kumasi metropolis is the only district with
lower than 50.0 per cent of the population 15 years and older, married for both males (46.2%) and females
(49.8%).
While the proportion of married males is 60.8 per cent in only the Amansie West District, the females exceed
60.0 but not 66.0 per cent in ten districts and between 55.0 and 60.0 per cent in seven districts, compared
with 13 districts for males.
There is no district with lower than 55.0 per cent married females while there are three for males. The above
picture not only changes when one distinguishes between formalized and consensual marriage but draws a
particular attention to marriage in Ashanti.
Between 4.1 per cent (Adansi West) and 23.4 per cent (Amansie West) of males compared with 5.0 per cent
(Adansi West) and 27.2 per cent (Amansie West) of females, are in consensual marriages in the region.
The proportion in consensual marriage is higher for males than for females in every district and exceeds 20.0
per cent for males in one district, Amansie West (23.4%), compared with five districts for females, Amansie
West (27.5%), Amansie East (22.7%), Kwabre (22.0%), Ahafo Ano South (21.5%) and Bosomtwe-Kwanwoma
(20.3%).
The region has the first, (Kwabre 36.5%), second (Amansie West 36.8%), fourth (Amansie East 38.6%) and
fifth (Bosomtwe-Kwanwoma 38.9%), lowest percentage married in the country. It also has the four highest
percentages in consensual marriage in the country, Amansie West and East, Kwabre and Bosomtwe-
Kwanwoma. The particular pattern of marriage in the region, which requires further studies, has important
consequences for polygamy, child care, child welfare and commitment to marital stability in the region.
Separation of marital unions is relatively low in the region, varying within a narrow range of 1.4 and 2.6
percent. The level of marital separation is slightly higher for females (1.4%-3.0%) than for males (1.2-2.3%), in
every district of the region. For the region as a whole, the proportion separated is lower than the proportion
divorced or widowed for both males and females, in all districts. Asante Akim South has the highest
proportion of those separated in the region (2.6%), both males (2.3%) and females (3.0%).
Divorce and widowhood are relatively high for bothsexes. The proportion of divorced males is lower than that
of divorced females in each district and exceeds 6.0 per cent in only two districts, Bosomtwe-Kwanwoma
(6.5%) and Ahafo Ano South (6.8%). By contrast, the proportion of female divorcees is not only higher than
that of males, but exceeds 10.0 per cent in four districts, Amansie West (10.2%), Amansie East (10.3%),
Bosomtwe-Kwanwoma (10.8%) and Ejisu- Juaben (11.2%). The proportion of divorced females is almost the
same as that of widowed females in two districts, Sekyere East and Ahafo Ano North. The differential between
widows and widowers in the region is reflected in the fact that the highest proportion of widowed males, in the
Ahafo Ano South District (4.5%), is lower than the lowest proportion of widowed females, 5.3 percent, in the
Kumasi metropolis and 5.6 per cent in the Adansi West District.
Besides, the proportion of widowed females is higher than that of divorced females in one district, Offinso,
and almost the same in two districts, Ahafo Ano South and Sekyere East. In addition, while the highest
proportions of widowed males (between 3.9 and 4.5 percent) are in five districts, there is no district in which
the proportion of female widows is 5.0 per cent or lower.
The higher percentage of divorced or widowed females, relative to males, presents serious problems of
welfare, single motherhood, childcare, in addition to compounding the already complex problems that
confront women in the region and for which mitigating programme actions need to be intensified. The high
and disproportionate level of women, once married and no longer in a marital union, necessitates prompt and
focused programmes action to mitigate the consequent problems, such single parenthood burden, child and
household welfare, protection and insecurity, which confront women within the context of the precarious
conditions of household heads in the region.
Never in a marital union
The proportion of the population aged 15 years and older, who have never been in a marital union, is relatively
high, varying from 24.3 per cent in the Amansie West, to 32.3 per cent in Adansi West, District for the region
as a whole, but is particularly very high for the Kumasi metropolis (42.2%).
Unlike all the other marital statuses, the proportion of never married males is much higher than that of females
in each district, and is particularly high in Kumasi metropolis for both males (47.1%) and females (37.2%).
While the proportion of the never married males is not lower than 28.0 per cent in any district, that of the
females, except for Kumasi metropolis (37.2%), does not exceed 24.0 per cent in any district. If the above
trend is sustained, it is likely to have a dampening effect on fertility in the region.
Districts with relatively smaller proportions of their population married or living together in consensual union
tend to have lower fertility rates. Two of such districts are the Kumasi metropolis with a total fertility rate of 3.5
and the Adansi West district, with a total fertility rate of 3.6. Districts with high rural populations tend to have
high proportions of their populations married or living together.
One of such districts is Ahafo-Ano South, where the total fertility rate is exceptionally high (9.8). The
proportion married exceeds those living together in all the districts. There is no significant difference between
the sexes in terms of the proportion married. Eleven districts have more females married than males. The
proportion living together is higher for females in all the districts.
Separated/divorced/widowed
Except in one District, where the proportion widowed is higher than those divorced or separated, the
proportion divorced is higher than those separated or widowed in the remaining seventeen districts. The
proportion separated is less than 3.0 per cent in all the districts, while the proportion divorced is between 4.1
per cent in the Offinso, districts and 8.7 per cent in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District. The
Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma district is also the district with the highest proportion widowed (6.6%).
Except the Ahafo-Ano South District where the male population separated or divorced is higher than females,
the female population separated, divorced or widowed is higher than that for males in the remaining districts.
This may be due to the polygamous nature of the Ghanaian society, particularly among the Ashantis. For
example, a man with two wives may not consider himself as a widow if he loses one wife.
The data indicate a high marital instability and widowhood, which normally brings headship, particularly on the
females who are less-likely than males to remarry soon after such a break. There is therefore the need for
policy initatives to mitigate the hardships for those concerned.
Marriage of children 12-14 years
The Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) fixes the legal age at first marriage at 18 years or at 16 years with parental
consent. Data from all the districts in the region indicate that some marriage takes place below the
recommended age. A relatively small proportion of those aged 12-14 years, are married or living together in
consensual union contrary to the Children’s Act.
Less than 3.0 per cent of the population in this age bracket, in all the districts is married or living together in
consensual union. Except in the Adansi West, Kumasi and Kwabre, Districts where the proportion of females
aged 12-14 years who are never married is higher than males, the proportion of never married males is higher
than that of females. The observed trend in the Adansi West, Kumasi, and the Kwabre Districts may be
accounted for high urban populations.
Ethnicity
The Akan, the predominant ethnic group (77.9%) in the region, constitute over three quarters (75.0%) of the
population in 12 districts and over two thirds (66.6%) in five of the remaining six districts. Sekyedumase
(42.4%), which is the only district in the region where the Akans constitute less than two thirds (66.6%) of the
population, is also the district with the highest concentration, over a quarter (27.6%), of the Mole-Dagbon, the
Gurma (11.3%) the Grusi (5.3%) and the Guan (4.3%).
The Asante are the predominant sub-Akan ethnic group in all the districts, with over 60.0 per cent in 11
districts and under 60.0 per cent, but higher than 50.0 percent, in three other districts; they constitute less
than 50.0 per cent in the remaining four districts. In two of these districts, Ahafo Ano South (48.8%) and Ejura
Sekyedumase (32.7%), there is no concentration of a particular Akan sub-group.
The Kwahu (8.8%) and the Akyem (5.0%) are the other major Akan sub-ethnic groups in Asante Akim North,
while in the Adansi East; the Fante (23.1%) are equally important, accounting for 7 out of every 10 Asante.
Apart from Adansi East, the Fante are also important in the Adansi West (12.15) and in the Kumasi metropolis
(6.6%). In fact, of the Akan, other than the Asante, the Fante account for the highest proportion in seven
districts, including the Adansi East, which borders the Central Region, the home of the Fante.
Other non-Asante, Akan sub-groups in the region worth noting are the Aowin who constitute the highest
proportions in five districts, while the Boron and Banda sub-groups form the highest proportion among the
other Akan sub-groups in the Ejura-Sekyedumase and Offinso, District which border the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Akwapim form the highest proportion of non Asante Akan in the Asante Akim North, Ahafo-Ano North and
Asante Akim South (shares border), while the Sefwi form the highest proportion in the Amansie West. On the
whole, the proportion of the Akan, other than the Asante, varies from 4.2 per cent in the Amansie West, to 34.5
per cent in Adansi West.
The Mole-Dagbon (9.0%) are the second major ethnic group in the region. They are found in each of the 18
districts of the region, accounting for just under a tenth of the regional population. They constitute over 9.0 but
less than 30.0 per cent of the population in 11of the 18 districts. Their main concentrations are in, the Ejura-
Sekyedumase, Offinso, Bosomtwe/Atwima/ Kwanwoma, Sekyere West, and Ahafo Ano North, where they
constitute between 13.0 and 27.6 per cent of the population.
The Ewe (3.2%), the third major ethnic group in the region, are particularly in Adansi East (18.5%), Ahafo Ano
South (6.3%), Asante Akim North (4.6%), Ahafo Ano South (3.3%) and in the Kumasi Metropolis (2.9%). The
other ethnic groups are spread all over the region in small proportions.
The analysis indicates the general lendency of ethnic groups of regions that border districts influencing the
ethnic composition of those districts. Thus, districts to the north of the region, Offinso, Ejura-Sekyedumase,
Sekyere East and West, which share common borders with the northern regions, also have significant
proportions of the Mole-Dagbon, the Gurma and the Grusi, who are ethnic groups originating from the
northern regions of the country.
Religious affiliation
Christianity is the dominant religion in the region. The proportions of the population in the districts who are
Christian range from 49.7 per cent in Ejura-Sekyedumase District to 85.0 per cent in the
Bosomtwe/Atwima/Kwanwoma, District. Apart from Offinso (68.2%), and the Ejura- Sekyedumase (49.7%),
Districts the proportions of the population who are Christian exceed 70.0 per cent in the remaining sixteen
districts.
Apart from the Catholics, there are more female, than male, Christians in all the districts. On the other hand,
the proportion of female Catholics is higher than that of males in 11 districts. It is the same in two districts and
higher for males in 5 districts. Thus for the region as a whole, there is a higher proportion female Christians
than male Christians.
Islam (13.2%) is the second most important religion in the districts, ranging from 4.7 per cent in the
Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma and the Amansie East Districts to 39.2 per cent in the Ejura- Sekyedumase
District. The proportion of Moslems is lower than 10.0 per cent in seven districts. In the remaining 11 districts,
the proportion is higher than 10.0 but does not exceed 20.0 percent, except in the Ejura-Sekyedumase
District, where Moslems account for nearly two fifths (39.2%) of the district population.
This may be due to the high proportion of Mole-Dagbon, Gurma and Grusi who are mostly Moslems, in the
district, while in the region as a whole, adherence to traditional religion is negligible (1.3%), there are however,
2.0 to 7.0 per cent in the Sekyere West and 4.1 per cent in the Sekyedumase Districts, who adhere to
Traditional religion. The proportion of those with no religion varies from 4.2 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis
to 11.1 per cent in Ahafo-Ano South District.
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The Literacy level in the region (65.0%) is higher than the national average (57.9%). Literacy in English and a
Ghanaian language in the region (48.9%) is also higher than for total country (38.1%), although literacy in
English only (16.4%), at the national level is higher than that of the region (12.9%). Literacy in a Ghanaian
language only (3.2%) is also higher than that of the national average (2.5%).
About 50 per cent of the population is literate in a Ghanaian language, which suggests that Ghanaian
languages are taken seriously in literacy programmes in the region. There are disparities between districts in
the region in terms of literacy. The illiteracy levels range from a relatively high level of 61.2 per cent for Ejura-
Sekyedumase to a relatively low level of 22.1 per cent for the Kumasi metropolis. Only four out of the eighteen
districts in the region (Kumasi, Kwabre, Adansi West, Asanti Akim South and Ejisu-Juaben) have illiteracy
levels lower than the regional average of 35.0 percent.
The literacy rate in Asante Akim North (35.8%) is almost the same as the regional average. The highest
percentage of those literate in the English language only, is in the Adansi West District (17.8%) and the lowest
(6.3%), in the Afigya Sekyere District. The highest proportion who are literate in both English and a Ghanaian
language is in the Kumasi metropolis (58.7%) with the lowest (27.5%) in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District.
There are marked differences between the sexes in terms of literacy in almost all the districts in the region.
The proportion of the illiterate population is higher for females than males in all the districts with the Ejura-
Sekyedumase District recording the highest for both females (68.0%) and males (55.1%). There is significant
proportion of the population literate in English only (12.9%) with the Adansi West District recording the highest
(17.8%), for both males (18.5%) and females (17.1%).
Except in three districts, Asanti Akim South (9.0%), Ejura-Sekyedumase (9.4%) and Efigya Sekyere (6.3%), the
percentage of the population literate in English only is higher than (10.0%) in all the other fifteen districts. This
high proportion of persons in the Adansi West District literate in only English (17.8%) may be due to the
expatriate non-African staff working in the gold mines at Obuasi and the surrounding areas. Since English is
the effective medium of official communication, the proportion of the population literate in English and a
Ghanaian language is a measure of the population’s ability to make use of written information.
Educational attainment
Never attended school

For the region, 33.2 per cent (29.2% males, 37.2% females) of the population aged 6 years and older, have
never been to school compared with 38.8 per cent (38.1% males, 44.5% females) for the country as a whole.
This means the region has a higher proportion than average of those who have been to school, for both males
and females. This picture rather blurs the substantial variations in the proportion of those who never attended
school in the districts, the disparities between males and females .
At the district level, the proportion of those who never attended school varies from 26.4 per cent in the Kumasi
Metropolis to 52.3 per cent in Ejura-Sekodumase. The variation among the males ranges from 23.0 per cent in
Adansi West to 50.9 per cent in Ahafo Ano South. The highest percentage of females who have never been to
school are in Ejura-Sekodumase (57.0%).
Although the percentage of those who have never been to school in the region is lower than that of the
country as a whole, the figures in districts, such as Ejura-Sekodumase (52.3%) and Ahafo Ano South (51.4%)
are high enough for concern.
Basic school
For the region as a whole, 77.9 per cent of the population six years and older who have ever been to school
have attained basic education (Primary and JSS/Middle). The proportions range from 86.9 per cent in the
Amansie West District, an entirely rural district, to 70.9 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis, an entirely urban
district.
Apart from the Kumasi metropolis, more than 78.0 per cent of the population, six years and older in each of
the remaining districts have attained primary or middle/JSS level of formal education. The proportion that has
attained middle/JSS is higher than those with primary school education, in all districts, lower in seven districts
and is almost the same in two districts, Offinso and Amansie East.
Except the Kumasi metropolis (13.9%), secondary school attainment is below 10.0 per cent in all the other 17
districts of the region. The regional average is 9.8 percent, made up of 11.2 per cent for males and 8.3 per
cent for females, is lower than the national average of 11.1 per cent made up of 12.4 per cent for males and
9.5 per cent for females. Secondary school attainment is higher for males in each district than for females.
Male secondary school attainment is higher than 10.0 per cent in three (3) districts compared with only one (1)
for females. There seems to be over-concentration of secondary schools in the Kumasi metropolis to the
detriment of the other districts.
The decision to upgrade at least one secondary school in each district to a first class school such as
Mfantsipim School, Prempeh College, Wesley Girls High school, among others, is therefore a welcome idea.
Attainment in both Vocational/Technical/Commercial (3.9%) and Post Secondary (3.3%) education is low in
the region and lower than the national average (4.8% and 3.6%) for both males (5.3% and 3.8%) and females
(4.3% and 3.5%).
At the district level, male attainment in both Vocational/Technical/Commercial and Post Secondary education
is higher than female attainment in 15 of the 18 districts. In each of the remaining three districts, females have
higher attainment in Post Secondary Education while males have higher attainment in
Vocational/Technical/Commercial education.
The proportion who attained tertiary education is relatively low in the districts, ranging from 1.0 per cent in the
Amansie West District to 4.5 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis. A higher percentage of males have attained
tertiary education than females in all the districts.
Of the children aged 3-5 years in the region who are in school, about 38.1 per cent are in preschool while 5.7
percent, ranging from between 4.0 and 6.6 percent, are in primary school. Those in the primary school
constitute the small proportion of children who begin their primary education before the official age of six
years.
The results also show that between 1.5 per cent (Kumasi metropolis) and 2.9 per cent (Bosomtwe-Atwima-
Kwanwoma) of the eligible population in districts, have had pre-school education. There is no significant
difference between the sexes in terms of pre-school education. Less than 2.0 per cent of the eligible male and
female populations have had pre-school education which is gradually becoming very important in all the
districts.
There is therefore much more to do by way of focused planning, programme implementation and greater
investment in education in the region, particularly in post JSS education, specifically targeting females who
appear to drop out faster than males after JSS. The Ministry of Education/Ghana Education Service has
however reported that a significant expansion in infrastructure has taken place in all levels of the educational
system. Many new primary and Junior Secondary Schools are being built throughout the region.
Current school attendance
A very high proportion of the population currently in school in the districts (85.3%) are in the basic schools-
Primary (63.2%) and JSS (22.1%). The proportions range from 79.6 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 90.5
per cent in in the Amansie West, Districts.
Apart from the Kumasi metropolis, more than 85.0 per cent of the population currently in school in the
remaining districts is in the basic schools. The proportions in primary schools far exceed those in JSS, and
range from 55.9 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 71.9 per cent in the Ahafo Ano South District.
The proportions in JSS range from 18.3 per cent in the Ahafo Ano South Distirct to 23.7 per cent in the
Kumasi metropolis. Apart from the Kwabre, District where JSS enrolment is slightly higher in rural areas than in
urban areas, all the districts have higher JSS enrolment in urban, than rural, areas.
The sharp drop of the population from primary to JSS in all the districts may be due to the fact that some
children drop out of school before entering JSS. The other reason may be that there is inadequate
infrastructure for JSS in the district. Efforts should be geared towards aggressively building more JSS to
uptake pupils from the primary schools. The free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme (fCUBE)
is probably beginning to yield results leading to higher primary school enrolment.
The proportions in senior secondary school (SSS), which range from 3.4 per cent in the Ahafo Ano South
District to 10.4 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis are relatively low compared to those in the JSS or in the
primary school. There are no great disparities between rural and urban populations in terms of SSS enrolment.
However, relatively higher proportions are in SSS in urban areas than in rural areas since most Secondary
Schools are located in urban centres.
The large difference between JSS and SSS enrolment in the districts may be due to the high drop out rate as a
result of examination failure, inability to pay for SSS education, or some pupils enrolling in Vocational,
Technical or Commercial Schools. Except in the Kumasi metropolis where 2.2 per cent are in
vocational/technical/commercial schools, the remaining districts have low proportions in this category.
Since those who complete their training in these institutions contribute significantly to the middle level
manpower in the country, there is the need to provide more of those institutions at the district level and
encourage more of the youth to enroll in them.
On the whole there are slight variations in current school attendance between the sexes. The proportion of
females is higher than that of males at the lower levels of education (pre- school, primary and JSS). The
reverse is however the case for SSS and above. The proportion of the population in tertiary institutions is
relatively low in all the districts ranging from 1.1 per cent in Adansi West to 3.2 per cent in Kumasi Metropolis.
The proportion in post secondary is also relatively low in all the districts.
The Sekyere West (2.3%) is the only district in the region with post secondary school enrolment exceeding 2.0
percent. Five other Districts, Ejura-Sekyedumase (1.5%) Kumasi metropolis (1.8%), Ofinso (1.8%) and Asante
Akim North (1.9%) have post secondary enrolment ranging from 1.5 per cent to 1.9 percent. Pre-schools,
which provide child-care and learning services to children below six years of age, are assuming greater
importance in all the districts.
The results show that children six years and older have been enrolled in pre-schools in the districts, even
though they should have been in the primary school. The proportions are however relatively low. A high
proportion of the population aged 3-5 years, is in pre-schools in all the districts.
Apart from the Ahafo Ano South District (79.7%), all the districts have more than 80.0 per cent of the
population in this age group in pre-schools. The trend is the same for both sexes.

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
Type of economic activity

The proportion of the economically active population in the districts varies from 71.4 per cent in the Kumasi
metropolis to 85.2 per cent in the Amansie West District. The proportion of the economically active population
in the districts, who worked, for at least one day, ranges from 72.5 per cent in the Kwabre District to 92.4 per
cent in the Offinso District.
The proportion of the unemployed population in the region varies from 4.5 per cent in the Ahafo Ano North
District to 16.0 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis. The proportions exceed 10.0 per cent in eight districts. In
thirteen districts, the level of female unemployment is comparatively higher than that for males. The
unemployment rates are more pronounced in urban areas than in rural areas in 14 districts. This general trend
is the same for both sexes, and may be due to the high rural-urban drift, apparently in search for jobs, which
are difficult to come by, in urban areas.
Students form the highest proportion of those who are not economically active, in all the districts; while the
aged, together with those who have retired from work, form a relatively high proportion also, ranging from 11.8
per cent in the Adansi East District to 23.0 per cent in the Sekyere East District. The proportion of those
whose economic inactivity is due to disability is also relatively high, particularly in the Amansie East (6.5%),
Asante Akim North (7.8%) and the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (10.3%) districts.
Policies aimed at improving the lives of the aged and persons with disability should be tailored more to the
rural areas. There should also be concerted efforts by Government and other stakeholders, to make the rural
areas more attractive in order to stem the exodus of rural dwellers to the urban centres.
Occupation
Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Hunting/Fishing (42.3%), Production/ Transport/Equipment (19.9%), Sales

(17.8%), and Services (6.4%) are the main occupations in the districts. The major occupations for males are
Agriculture and related work (40.8%), Production (24.8%), Sales (11.7%), Clerical and related work (7.7%),
and Professional/Technical and related work (7.5%). Females are mainly in Agriculture and related work
(43.9%), Sales (24.3%), Production/ Transport/Equipment (14.6%) and Services (8.5%).
Except in the Kumasi metropolis and the Kwabre, District, Agriculture and related work is the dominant
occupation for both males and females in all the districts in the region. The proportion of the population in
Agriculture is higher in rural than in urban areas, for all the districts. Sales and Production work, which are the
major occupations in the Kumasi metropolis and the Kwabre District, also tend to be the main occupations in
the urban areas.
The fact that the Kumasi metropolis is the main commercial and industrial centre in the region, may partly
account for the large proportion of the population in Sales and Production work. The Kwabre District is one of
the districts adjoining the Kumasi metropolis and may attract the spillover population from the Kumasi
metropolis, which therefore accounts for the high proportion of people in Sales and Production. The
proportions of the economically active population in Professional and Technical work are relatively small in all
the districts.
Industry
Agriculture/Hunting/Forestry is the major source of employment for majority of the people in the districts.
Except in three districts, Agriculture provides employment to more than half of the economically active
population in the region. Trade, which is the next most important economic activity in twelve districts, employs
between 3.1 and 20.7 per cent of the economically active population. Manufacturing is the second largest
industry in terms of employment in the remaining six districts,
The Adansi West District where the Ashanti Goldfields Company has its largest operational mine in Ghana, has
a relatively high proportion (19.4%) of its population engaged in Mining/Quarrying. The proportion engaged in
Mining/Quarrying activity is not significant in the remaining districts.
In all the districts, rural dwellers tend to be engaged more in the agricultural sector than urban dwellers,
except in the Kumasi metropolis, which has no rural population. On the other hand, higher proportions of
urban dwellers are in Manufacturing and Sales than the rural dwellers.
Employment status
A high proportion (71.0%) of the economically active population in 15 of the 18 districts are self-employed,
majority of whom are without employees. These range from 60.8 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 87.2 per
cent in the Amansie West and Adansi East (85.6%) districts. The three remaining districts, Ahafo Ano South
(65.1%), Adansi West (65.2%) and Kumasi metropolis (60.8%), have less than 70.0 per cent of their
economically active population in selfemployment.
The high figure of 10.1 per cent of the self-employed with employees in the Ejura- Sekyedumase District may
be due to medium to large-scale commercial farmers employing many farm hands. The Ejura area is well-
known for large cereal and yam farming, which could be labour-intensive. Employees (15.0%) constitute the
second highest proportion in all the districts, except in the Adansi East District (5.4%) where the employee
category comes third, after unpaid family workers.
In the districts, except Kwabre, the proportion of unpaid family workers which is higher in rural areas, than in
the urban, tends to be more female based than male. In the rural areas, unlike in urban centres, most people
tend to help in family enterprises without direct cash remuneration.
Employees, who are more often males than females, are in greater proportions in urban areas than in rural
areas. Majority of the self-employed are engaged in the private sector, while employees are engaged mainly in
the public sector. The proportion of apprentices is particularly high in urban areas.
Institutional sector of employment
About 90.0 per cent of the economically active population is engaged in the private sector in the districts
except Ahafo Ano South (86.6%) and the Kumasi metropolis (87.1%). Majority of them are in the private
informal sub-sector of the economy. The public sector (6.3%) is the next important sector employing between
2.7 and 9.0 per cent of the total workforce in the districts.
Public sector workers are in greater proportions in urban areas, compared to rural areas. The reverse is
however the case for those employed in the private sector. The data further indicate that males in the public
sector are in greater proportions compared to females. On the other hand, females are in relatively higher
proportions in the private sector than males. This may be due to the high proportion of females in small-scale
farming and trading activities.
The government’s policy of making the private sector the engine of growth of the economy needs to be
encouraged, since a greater proportion of the population in the district tends to be engaged in this sector. The
private sector, as presently constituted with such high proportions of single person enterprises, cannot be an
engine of growth. Such enterprises do not expand to absorb the ever-increasing labour force. Moreover, they
contribute next to nothing to taxes. Policies aimed at improving the private sector and creating an enabling
environment, should therefore aim at capacitating such enterprises to expand their base in order to be able to
absorb extra labour.
The self-employed without employees, in the private informal sector, many of whom are not even properly
registered, also raise problems of mobilisation for such social welfare issues as social security and health
insurance, which are becoming important concerns for Government. Appropriate policies to intergrate this
sector into the various social sector schemes will therefore need to be evolved. Such integration can even
have an indirect positive effect on the growth and expansion of such private sector enterprises.
Type of activity and employment status of economically active children (7-14 years)
slightly less than a tenth of children, (8.7%) aged 7-14 years in the region, worked for at least one day within
the seven days prior to the Census. In the districts, between 5.5 per cent 16.4 per cent of chidren 7-14 years
in the Kwabre District and in the Sekyere West District worked during the period.
In six of the districts, the proportions exceed 10.0 per cent and apart from the Ejisu Juaben District, the
proportion of children in rural areas who engaged in economic activity is higher than those in urban areas. The
proportion of females who worked during the period is higher than that of males in nine districts. According to
the 1998 Children’s Act, children less than 13 years of age are not expected to work while those aged 13-15
years can only do light work.
As established by the Ghana Child Labour Survey (Ghana Statistical Service, 2001), such children have to
work in order to support the family mainly because of poverty. Government and other child support
organizations should take advantage of new data on working children to implement more effectively the
projects and programmes intended to enhance the welfare of children.
The data reveal that a high proportion of children, aged 7-14 years who are working, are mainly in agricultural
activities in the rural areas and in wholesale/retail trade in the urban areas. A high proportion of the working
youth (7-14 years), are in the private informal sector. In more than half (11) of the 18 districts in the region, over
70.0 per cent of the children in this age group engage in activities in the private informal sector. In the Kumasi
metropolis (49.9%) and the Kwabre District (49.8%), less than 50.0 per cent of children in this age group
worked in this sector.
Majority of the working youth are either self-employed without employees or are unpaid family workers. The
proportion in self-employment without employees varies from 30.2 per cent in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-
Kwanwoma District to 64.7 per cent in Asante Akim South District. On the whole, districts with large rural
populations tend to have more of the youth in self employment without employees while districts with large
urban populations tend to have relatively higher proportions of unpaid family workers or apprentices.
Since at their ages, these children are not expected to be employed, according to the existing laws in Ghana,
they therefore are normally engaged in jobs such as selling on the street and farming activities, in order to
supplement household incomes. The high proportion of male children in Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma
(10.6%), who are engaged in economic activity, are mainly in fishing in Lake Bosomtwe, where they dive into
the lake to set fishtraps and disentangle fishing nets.
This dangerous undertaking sometimes results in the death of children. Government and other child support
organizations should take advantage of new data on working children to more effectively implement policies
that would retain children at school. Investment in ensuring effective implementation of the child
worker/working child policies will, in the long run, assist in formulating acceptable policies and solutions for
the child/youth worker issues.
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Housing
Stock of houses
Trends in stock of houses
The number of houses in the region has steadily been increasing since 1960, from 94,459 to 328,751 in 2000,
representing a 3.5 fold increase, compared with almost the same increase, 3.3 folds, in the population, during
the 40 year period. The largest intercensal increase in both the stock of houses (87.2%) and the population
(72.9%) occurred in the 1984-2000 period.
The population per house, which however remained almost unchanged, around 11 persons, during this period
(1960 - 2000) is the highest in the country, bracketing with Upper West Region. The region has the highest
share of both the national housing stock (15.1%) and the national population (19.1%) in 2000.
The distribution of housing units in the region varies from district to district. The Kumasi metropolis, which
accounts for about a third of the share of the population (32.4%), has one fifth (20.5%) of the housing stock in
the region. Amansie East has the second largest share of the housing stock, (9.1%) followed closely by Adansi
West (7.8%) and Atwima (7.6%). The share in six districts, range from 4.0 to 5.5 per cent while in six other
districts, it varies in a narrow range of 3.4 to 3.7 percent. Ahafo Ano North (2.2%) and Ejura-Sekyedumase
(2.7%) have the smallest shares of the housing stock in the region.
Households per house
All the districts in the region have more than one household per house. The average number of households
per house in the districts ranges from 1.4 households in Adansi East, to 3.4 households in the Kumasi
metropolis. In four districts, the average number of households per house is lower than 1.5 and in ten districts;
it varies between 1.5 and 1.9. In two districts, Kwabre (2.6) and Kumasi (3.4), it is higher than the regional
average (2.1). The relatively large number of households per house in Kumasi may be due to the relatively
large population in the metropolis.
Population per house
The average population per house in the region is 11 persons. In four districts, the average population per
house exceeds this average, while in 13 districts; it is between 7 and 10 persons. It is higher than 10.0 per
cent in 5 districts, particulary in Kumasi (17.3) and Kwabre (13.7), when the relatively large households per
house account for the high population per house.
Housing condition
Dwelling unit
The region has a total of 700,636 dwelling units. In 2000 the typical dwelling unit in the districts is the
compound house. In three districts, Ejura-Sekyedumase (62.1%), Kwabre (60.8%) and Afigya Sekyere
(59.0%), about 60 per cent of the households live in compound houses.
The separate and semi-detached housing units are next in importance after the compound house. The
proportions of the population in the districts living in separate houses range from 18.5 per cent in Ejura-
Sekyedumase to 46.0 per cent in Adansi East. In twelve districts, the proportions of households living in
separate houses exceed 20.0 per cent.
The other dwelling units, flat/apartment, hut/buildings, and hotel/hostel, are not very common in the districts.
Makeshift dwelling units such as tents, kiosks, containers or attachments to shops and offices represent an
insignificant proportion of the dwelling units. The Kumasi metropolis, however, has a relatively large proportion
of households (2.4%) living in kiosks and containers an indication of housing scarcity in the metropolis.
Ownership
In 13 districts, 50.0 per cent or higher of households own the houses they occupy. It is only in the Kumasi
metropolis that the proportion living in houses owned by private individuals exceeds those in owner-occupied
houses. This may be due to the large number of migrant workers in the metropolis. The proportion of those
who live in their own houses ranges from 33.6 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 74.1 per cent in the Adansi
East district.
The next important ownership type across all districts is the “Other private individual”. The proportions of
households in the districts occupying such houses range from 9.8 per cent in the Amansie West to 37.1 per
cent in the Kumasi metropolis. The proportions exceed 30.0 per cent only in the Kumasi and Adansi West
districts. In four districts, the proportions range from 20.0 to 30.0 percent.
The proportions of households occupying houses belonging to relatives who are not household members vary
between 7.5 per cent in Adansi East and 26.8 per cent in Bosomtwe-Atwima- Kwanwoma. In six districts, the
proportions exceed 20.0 percent. The “Private Employer”, “Public or Government Owner” and “morgaged”
categories are not very common in the districts. For example, housing facilities owned by private employers
range from 1.3 per cent in Sekyere East to 9.7 per cent in Adansi West, which may be due to the provision of
housing facilities by the Ashanti Goldfield Company for its workers. The proportions exceed 5.0 per cent in
eight districts.
Rooms occupied
The Kumasi metropolis has the highest proportion of single room occupancy (64.4%). The proportions
recorded in the adjoining districts are also high. This is an indication of the extent of room shortage in the
Kumasi metropolis and a possible spill-over to the adjoining districts.
Although Adansi West is not an adjoining district to the Kumasi metropolis, it also has a relatively high
proportion (57.6%) of households sleeping in one room. This district has the largest mining town in the
country, Obuasi. The gold mining industry which generates other collateral activities attracts in-migrants who
put pressure on available housing, which may account for the shortage of rooms. On the whole, six districts
have more than 50.0 per cent of their households in single rooms. Large households occupying single rooms
tend to have health implications, especially where the population per room is large.
Construction materials
Materials for construction of walls
The most commonly used material for the construction of walls of dwelling units in the region is mud/mud
brick/earth. The proportion of walls constructed with mud/mud brick/earth ranges from 9.3 per cent in the
Kumasi metropolis to 84.8 per cent in Adansi East. More than 50.0 per cent of the walls in twelve districts are
constructed with mud/mud brick/earth. Only Kumasi, Kwabre and Adansi West have more than 50.0 per cent
of walls of dwelling units in the region made of cement blocks/concrete.
The use of other materials for the construction of walls of dwelling units is not very common in the districts.
For example, the proportion of dwelling units with sandcrete/landcrete walls ranges from 1.4 per cent in the
Kumasi metropolis to 10.8 per cent in Asante Akim South. The proportion of dwelling units with wooden walls
varies from 1.7 per cent in Afigya Sekyere to 5.8 per cent in Ahafo-Ano South.
Roofing materials
Corrugated metal sheet is the main roofing material in all the districts followed by palm leaf or thatch. The use
of palm leaves or thatch as roofing material is more predominant in Ejura- Sekyedumase than in any other
district. Another roofing material that is common and second in importance in the Kumasi metropolis is the
cement or concrete roof. Bamboo, mud or mud bricks, slate or asbestos, concrete or ceramic roofing tiles, are
less common in all the districts
Floor materials
An overwhelming majority of the floors of houses in the districts are constructed with either cement/concrete
or mud bricks/earth. The use of ceramic or marble tiles in the construction of floors of dwelling units is
common only in the Kumasi metropolis.
Household facilities
Main source of drinking water
The main source of drinking water varies among districts in the region. Between 1.7 per cent (Ahafo Ano
South) and 82.5 per cent (Kumasi metropolis) of households in the districts have main pipe-borne (both inside
and outside), for their main source of drinking water. While in Kumasi metropolis (82.5%), Atwima (37.1%),
Adansi West (36.2%) and Offinso (39.3%), the proportion of households using pipe-borne water as their main
source of drinking water exceeds 30.0 percent, the corresponding proportion in eight districts is lower than
10.0 per cent.
The next major sources of drinking water, for all districts, are boreholes and wells. Except Kumasi and Asanti-
Akim North, where pipe-borne water constitutes the largest single source of drinking water, boreholes and/or
wells are the largest single sorces of drinking water in all other districts.
The proportions of households in the districts, whose main source of drinking water is the borehole, range
from 1.5 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 55.4 per cent in Ahafo Ano South. In four districts, the
proportions exceed 50.0 percent. In six districts, the proportions range from 30.0 per cent to below 50.0
percent, and in the remaining eight districts, the proportions are below 30.0 percent. The borehole has
therefore proved to be a major contributor to the provision of potable water in all the districts, compared to
pipe-borne water.
It is relatively cheaper to construct, expecially for small communities. If the negative problems associated with
borehole water in certain localities, such as salinity and high iron content, could be overcome, they could
serve as an effective way of solving the potable water problem of many localities. The water could even be
piped into one community reservoir and redistributed into households, ran in taps.
The proportions of households in the districts, whose main source of drinking water is the “well”, range from
7.7 per cent in Sekyere West to 36.5 per cent in Ejisu-Juaben, the only district where the proportion exceeds
30.0 percent. In six districts, the proportions range from 20.0 per cent to less than 30.0 percent. In ten
districts, the proportions are lower than 20.0 per cent but not below 10.0 percent. The proportion is however
lower than 10.0 per cent in only Sekyere West.
The proportions of households in the districts whose main source of drinking water is the river, stream, pond
and lake, range from 1.5 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 40.8 per cent in Sekyere West. In four districts,
the proportions of households using river, stream, pond and lake as main source of drinking water exceed
30.0 percent. In seven districts, the proportions exceed 20.0 per cent but less than 30.0 percent. In the
remaining seven districts, the proportions are lower than 20.0 percent.
On the whole, six districts, namely Adansi East, Afigya-Sekyere, Ejisu-Juaben, Asante Akim South, Sekyere
West and Sekyere East, have more than 50.0 per cent of households not enjoying adequate potable water
(pipe-borne, tanker services and borehole). Even in these districts, boreholes (19.0 to 39.0%), and pipe-borne
water (4.0 to 25.5 %) constitute the major source of potable water. The inadequacy of potable water has very
serious health implications for these districts.
Main source of lighting
The kerosene lamp is the main source of lighting in most districts in the region. The proportions of households
that use the kerosene lamp for lighting in the districts range from 9.6 per cent in the Kumasi Metropolis to 92.1
per cent in Ahafo Ano South. In four districts, the proportions exceed 80.0 per cent and range between 70.0
and 80.0 per cent in three districts. In eight districts, the proportions vary between 50.0 and 70.0 percent, and
in the remaining three districts, they are below 50.0 per cent.
The proportions of households in the districts using electricity for lighting vary from 6.1 per cent in the Ahafo
Ano South district to 88.4 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis. In addition to Kumasi, two other districts, Adansi
West (61.3%) and Kwabre (53.1%), have more than 50.0 per cent of households using electricity as a source
of lighting.
The proportions of households in the districts using other sources of energy for lighting are relatively small. On
the whole, the proportions range from 0.6 per cent in Asante Akim South to 2.2 per cent in Amansie East, the
only district with a proportion higher than 2.0 percent. Other sources of lighting such as the gas lamp and
solar energy are not popular in all the districts and should be promoted, as they tend to be cost effective.
Main fuel used for cooking
Firewood and charcoal are the main sources of fuel used in the districts for cooking. The proportions of
households that use firewood for cooking range from 3.9 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 90.7 per cent in
Amansie West. The proportions exceed 80.0 per cent in nine districts. In five districts, they range from 70.0 to
80.0 percent, while they are below 70.0 per cent in the remaining 4 districts.
The use of charcoal for cooking is also widespread in all the districts, ranging from 6.0 per cent in the Amansie
East district to 70.9 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis. In Adansi West, Kwabre and Ejura Sekyedumase are
the only districts where more than 30.0 per cent of households use charcoal as the main source of fuel for
cooking.
The relatively high use of firewood and charcoal as the main fuel for cooking has serious implications for the
already depleted forests. Some of the districts that used to have large tracts of their landmass as forest are
becoming grasslands. One of such districts is Ejura Sekyedumase. Offinso, a former timber producing area,
now has virtually no major timber concession.
Attempts at re-afforestation have started in some districts, including teak plantations in Afigya Sekyere,
Sekyere West and Asante Akim South. These and other afforestation programmes should be extended to the
other areas which used to be major forest reserves to stem the possibility of turning larges areas of the
Ashanti region into savanah.
The other sources of fuel used for cooking are relatively less important. For example, the proportions of
households in the districts using gas for cooking range from 0.6 per cent in Ahafo Ano South to 10.8 per cent
in the Kumasi metropolis. In seven districts, the proportions are less than 1.0 percent. The fact that people in
the rural communities have easy access to fuel wood, at relatively no cost, explains why they tend to use more
of it than the other sources, particularly gas and electricity.
As a measure to conserve forests, efforts should be made to promote the use of alternative sources of fuel
such as gas. Even though gas is cheaper and more efficient per unit than charcoal, its use is less widespread
because of the heavy initial capital outlay for equipment, unlike charcoal which can be bought in small
quantities at a time. Promotion of gas as cooking fuel should therefore aim at producing small cheaper single-
ring gas cylinder cookers.
Bathing facility
Different types of bathroom facilities are available in the districts, the commonest being the shared bathroom.
The proportion of households in the districts using this facility ranges from 28.3 per cent in Adansi East, the
only district with the proportion below 30.0 percent, to 54.4 per cent in Ejisu-Juaben. In five districts, the
proportions of households exceed 50.0 percent. In eleven districts, the proportions are between 30.0 and 50.0
percent.
The proportion of households using “own bathrooms” ranges from 11.4 per cent in Ahafo Ano North to 31.6
per cent in the Adansi East. In six districts, the proportions are between 20.0 and 30.0 percent. Many
households in the districts share open cubicles as bathrooms, ranging from 9.0 per cent in Amansie East to
23.1 per cent in the Ejura-Sekyedumase.
The use of open spaces around dwelling places as bathrooms is also common, varying from 4.3 per cent in
Adansi West, to 13.5 per cent in Sekyere East. Households using the exclusive open cubicles as bathrooms
vary from 3.2 per cent of households in Kumasi metropolis to 15.7 per cent of households in Ahafo Ano North.
In Kumasi and Kwabre, the proportions are less than 5.0 percent. The proportion of households using
bathrooms in other houses ranges from 1.4 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 13.6 per cent in Amansie
West. The proportions 112 exceed 10.0 per cent in only Amansie West and Amansie East. The use of other
types of bathing facilities such as rivers, lakes, ponds and public bathrooms is not common in the districts.
Toilet facility
In-house pit latrines and public toilets, which may be pit, KVIP or bucket latrines, are the main toilet facilities
used in the districts. The proportions that use public toilets vary from 36.8 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis
to 63.5 per cent in the Ahafo Ano South. In six districts, the proportions exceed 50.0 percent.
The use of the pit latrine in the districts ranges from 12.0 per cent of household in the Kumasi metropolis to
43.8 per cent in Adansi East. The proportions exceed 30.0 per cent in three districts, including Adansi East. In
eleven districts, the proportions are between 20.0 and 30.0 per cent and less than 20.0 per cent in three
districts. The use of KVIP, which is not widespread in the various districts, ranges from 2.7 per cent in Ahafo
Ano South to 18.3 per cent in Asante Akim North. The proportions exceed 10.0 per cent in only three districts
and are less than 5.0 per cent in three districts.
The analysis also shows that between 2.1 per cent of households in Ahafo Ano South and 15.2 per cent in the
Asante Akim South, use toilet facilities in other houses. Asante Akim South is the only district where the
proportion exceeds 10.0 percent. The water closet (W.C) is used by small proportions of households, ranging
from 0.5 per cent in Ahafo Ano South to 27.8 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis. Beside Kumasi, the
proportions exceed 10.0 per cent in only the Adansi West district (11.6%). These are the two most urbanised
dstricts in the region, 114 where Kumasi metropolis and Obuasi town, are located. Houses built for workers by
Ashanti Goldfields in Obuasi are likely to be provided with WC facilities.
A number of households in the districts have no access to toilet facilities, and these range from 0.8 per cent in
Ahafo Ano South to 15.3 per cent in Ejura-Sekyedumase. When a substantial number of households do not
toilet facilities, it is to be expected that their members will defecate anywhere (bush, drains, etc), leading to the
spread of diseases, such as typhoid fever, diarrhea and cholera.
Waste disposal
Solid waste
More than two-thirds of households in all districts use the public dump to dispose of solid waste, with the
highest proportion (87.1%) in Amansie East. Those household that dump their solid waste elsewhere range
from 8.3 per cent in Amansie East to 25.9 per cent in Asante Akim South.
Liquid waste
The prominent method of liquid waste disposal in the districts is throwing it on streets/outside of the dwelling
unit. The proportions of households that use this method range from 14.2 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis,
the only district with a proportion lower than 30.0 percent, to 67.5 per cent in Ejisu-Juaben. The proportions
exceed 60.0 per cent in two other districts, namely, Amansie West and Afigya Sekyere.
The use of appropriate sewerage system for the disposal of liquid waste is not common even in the Kumasi
metropolis, which has less than 10.0 per cent (8.8%) of households disposing of their liquid waste by this
method. Getting rid of liquid waste on the compound of the dwelling unit is a common practice in all the
districts, with the lowest proportion of households in Kumasi (18.0%) and the highest in Offinso (45.9%). On
the other hand, throwing liquid waste into gutters is practised to varying degrees, with proportions ranging
from 5.9 per cent in the Ejura- Sekyedumase to 58.7 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis.
The practice of households resorting to disposal of liquid waste in gutters is directly linked the development of
street gutters in urban areas such as Kumasi. On the other hand, the relatively low corresponding proportions
in rural areas, is due to the non-availability of streets with gutters in these areas. Neither of the practices
should nonetheless be encouraged. Indiscriminate disposal of solid and liquid waste tends to create filthy
environments leading to the breeding of mosquitoes and may increase malaria cases as well as other diseases
such as typhoid fever, diarrhoea, and cholera. Furthermore, indiscriminate disposal of waste products 116
especially into gutters and drains can lead to flooding since most of the gutters are often choked during rainy
seasons.
The dumping of solid waste into drains, open gutters and even streams and rivers has created a major
environmental nightmare for many urbanised districts, particularly Kumasi. The Subin river, which barely forty
years ago, was a clean unpolluted stream, is now nothing but a huge dead, open and polluted drain full of all
sorts of waste material. Many other small streams which used to be part of the beauty of Kumasi cannot now
even be recognized as such. This is a major ecological disaster.
Information on three main facilities - education, health and communication. The availability of these facilities
helps to improve or facilitate living conditions. Many of the localities in the districts do not have all the facilities
identified in the census, except the Kumasi metropolis where all the localities have all the community facilities.
In analyzing the community facilities, those localities that do not have the facilities are analyzed from the
standpoint of distance to the nearest facility.
Post office
Localities with a post office are few in the districts. The proportions range from 0.1 per cent in Adansi East and
Ahafo Ano North to 3.8 per cent in Kwabre. It is only in 3 districts that more than half of the localities have the
nearest post office within 10 kilometres. In most of the localities, one has to travel long distances to the
nearest post office. The situation is worst in 4 districts, where the nearest post office, in the case of more than
half of the localities, is located more than 20 kilometres away.
Post offices are not many in the region, and the distribution of the few existing ones is unsatisfactory. Kumasi
metropolis is particularly best endowed with postal facility in all localities. Three other districts are also
relatively well endowed with postal facilities within 10 kilometres Kwabre (86.1%), Afigya Sekyere (74.6%) and
Ejisu Juaben (58.7%).
Apart from Ejura Sekyedumase (43.5%) and Adansi West (42.2%), the remaining 12 districts have between
15.0-36.0 per cent of localities within 10 kilometres of a post office facility. Even within 15 kilometres, four
districts have only 31.0-38.0 percent, and three have 43.0-48.0 per cent of localities with a post office facility.
Although the bulk of the localities in the districts are within 20 kilometres of a post office facility, Amansie West
and East and Ahafo Ano North have more than 50.0 of localities with a post office facility beyond 20
kilometres.
Since the Ghana Post is increasingly expanding its services and serving as payment point for public utility
services, it is therefore necessary to redress the imbalance in the distribution of post office facilities in the
region in addition to increasing accessibility to more remote localities.
Telephone
The Pattern of distribution of telephone facilities follows closely that of post office facilities. All localities in the
Kumasi metropolis have a local telephone facility. Kwabre has 60.8 per cent and Afigya Sekyere 47.5 per cent
of localities with telephone facility within a 5- kilometre distance and 85.8 and 83.3 per cent respectively within
ten kilometres.
No other district has either 20.0 of localities with a telephone within five kilometres and only five districts,
Sekyere East (30.5%), Ejura Sekyedumase (31.0%) Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (32.8%) Offinso (36.2%)
and Asanti Akim South (40.8%) have between 30.0 and 40.8 per cent of localities with telephone facility within
ten kilometres.
Although the Mobile telephone is becoming increasingly widely patronized, not all people can afford either the
initial cost or the recurrent cost of replacing telephone units. The line telephone is likely to continue to be used
and its expansion to a larger member of localities in the district will facilitate the diffusion of information at the
remote local levels in the districts.
Traditional healing facilities
Traditional Healers play a very important and indispensable role in primary healthcare delivery. They are
available to most of the population within the locality, or within 5 kilometres of any locality. The region has
3,144 registered traditional medical practitioners (TMPs), constituting 15.8 per cent of all registered TMPs in
the country, but evenly distributed throughout all the districts. In contrast over 85.0 per cent of the region’s
doctors are in Kumasi, leaving just about 15.0 per cent for the remaining 17 districts. This yields very high
population to doctor ratios for all districts except Kumasi.
Traditional healers make traditional health facility very accessible in all districts of the region. The proportions
of localities with traditional healers range from 56.5 per cent in Ahafo Ano South to 87.4 per cent in Sekyere
West. It is only in two districts (Adansi West and Asante Akim North) that the proportions are below 60
percent. In the other districts, at least two-thirds of the localities have traditional healers. Most of the localities
without this facility have the nearest traditional healer within 5 kilometres.
Traditional health practitioners provide healthcare for a large number of the people in the region, particularly in
rural areas. The bulk of localities in all districts of the region have access to a traditional health facility within
the locality. In fact, in all the districts about 98.0 per cent of localities access a traditional heath facility within
five kilometres, except Afigya Sekyere (95.3%) and Offinso (94.0%).
With a population to orthodox medical practitioner ratio of over 30,000 in 14 of the 18 districts, the role of the
traditional healer in primary healthcare delivery in the region becomes very important, and should engage the
full attention of planners, policy makers and implementers. Districts such as Amansie West may be relying on
them considerably for their health needs, but their capabilities are limited, and that may be the reason why the
Buluri Ulcer epidemic in the two Amansie districts deteriorated into such serious epidemic proportions before
proper treatment could reach the patients. It is most unlikely that health facilities and availability of doctors in
these and other deprived districts are likely to improve in the near future.
The upgrading of TMPs could include training in simple disease monitoring techniques so that they could
bring any impending epidemic to the notice of appropriate health authorities in good time, since they are more
available and more in contact with the general population in all districts.
Hospital
Hospitals are scarcely found in many localities in the districts. The proportions of localities with this facility
range from 0.1 per cent in Adansi East and Ahafo Ano South to 4.2 per cent in Ejisu Juaben. Generally, the
nearest hospital to the localities without the facility is far. In two districts (Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere), more
than 60.0 per cent of the localities have the nearest hospital located within 10 kilometres. In the other districts,
the majority of the localities have the facility located over 10 kilometres away. The situation is worst in four
districts where between 53.3 and 61.1 per cent of localities have the nearest hospital located beyond 20
kilometres.
Doctors
The Ashanti Region, with 409 doctors, consisting of 353 in the public sector and 56 in the private sector, has
the second largest number of doctors in the country, after Greater Accra. But like greater Accra, the
distribution of these doctors is grossly skewed in favour of the regional capital. Of the 409 doctors in the
region, which constitute 20.3 per cent of all doctors in the country, 346 or 84.6 per cent are in the Kumasi
metropolis, whose population is only 32.4 per cent of the region’s total population.
With another 10 doctors each in Adansi West (all in Obuasi) and Asante Akim North (7 in Agogo), this leaves
just about 10 per cent of the region’s doctors distributed in all the other districts.
Of the 346 doctors in Kumasi, 293 (84.7%) are in the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. These make up 71.6
per cent of all doctors in the region. Of the 56 private doctors in the region, 53 are in Kumasi, two in Obuasi
and one in Konongo. This very unsatisfactory distribution of doctors is reflected in the population to doctor
ratios in the various districts. The regional average is one doctor to 8,834 people, which appears to be better
than the national average of one doctor to 9,418 people. But this is deceptive in the sense that whereas the
population to doctor in Kumasi metropolis is 3,382 persons to one doctor, and Asante-Akim North has one
doctor to 12,648 people, all the other districts have over 20,000 people to one doctor, with 10 of the 18
districts having more than 50,000 people to one doctor.
Adansi East has only one doctor to the entire district population of 129,308, and Amansie West, one doctor for
the entire population of 108,726. And yet this district is the apical point of the Buluri Ulcer epidemic the
country has been facing for the past 10 years. Such a situation makes health monitoring and the detection of
epidemics very difficult, and situations can easily get out of hand before they are brought to the notice of the
health authorities. The Buluri Ulcer epidemic in the two Amansie districts and parts of Adansi is a typical case
in point, which has now spread and become endemic in many other parts of the country.
Health planning should aim at going beyond the current situation of just one or two doctors for an entire
district, located in the district capital or district hospital. if some of the better endowed hospitals such as
Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, which also carry out training of other health professionals such as nurses and
medical assistants, could be upgraded to function as Teaching Hospitals, this could increase the availability of
specialists taking up referral cases in hospitals other than the only teaching hospital in the region.
Clinic
There are also few clinics in many of the localities in the districts. The proportions of localities with this facility
range from 0.5 per cent in Adansi East to 11.6 per cent in Ejisu Juaben. The proportion of localities with no
clinics, but with the nearest clinic at most 10 kilometres away, is in the range of 36.4 per cent in Sekyere West
to 87.7 per cent in Kwabre. In most of the localities in the districts, the nearest clinic is not more than 10
kilometres away. It is in Amansie East and Sekyere East that about a third of localities have the nearest clinic
located at more than 20 kilometres away. If the Ministry of Health’s aim of making primary healthcare delivery
system available and accessible to all communities is to come to fruition, then a lot more needs to be done in
providing health facilities in the districts.
Primary school
In spite of the free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) programme, not all localities in the districts
have primary schools. The proportions of the localities in the districts with primary schools range from 3.0 per
cent in Ahafo Ano North to 25.5 per cent in Amansie East. In all, only 4 districts have proportions greater than
20 percent, with the rest below 20.0 percent.
In most of the districts however, at least half of the localities have the nearest primary school within five
kilometres. Apart from Sekyere East (40.7%) and Offinso (51.1%), all other districts have more than 60.0 per
cent of localities within five kilometres of a primary school, which is in accordance with the official policy of
basic education facilities within five kilometres from localities.
Junior secondary school
Apart from Kumasi metropolis, the proportion of localities with a Junior Secondary School (JSS) within the
locality is low. In four districts, Sekyere West (21.1%), Kwabre (25.0%), Ejisu Juaben (25.1%) and Amansie
East (25.1%), the proportions are over 20 per cent with a JSS facility. In 14 of the 18 districts, over 75.0 per
cent of localities, can access a JSS facility within five kilometers. In three other districts, between 55.0 and
63.0 per cent have this facility within a distance of five kilometres. Sekyere East is the only district with only
40.7 per cent of localities with a JSS facility within five kilometres.
The current distribution of JSS facilities indicates many Priamry Schools in the region do not have
complementary JSS facilities. Consequently, after completing the primary school cycle, pupils have either to
travel long distances to continue in a JSS facility or end their education at the Primary school level. This
situation requires urgent programme action.
Senior secondary school
Localities with Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) are few in all districts. The proportions range from 0.1 per
cent in Adansi East, Ahafo Ano South and Ahafo Ano North to 3.8 per cent in Kwabre. Apart from Atwima and
Kwabre, which have proportions of at least 3.0 percent, the rest have proportions of less than 2.0 percent.
Apart from Kwabre and Afigya Sekyere, where at least seven in every ten localities have the nearest SSS
within 10 kilometres, larger proportions of localities in the other districts have SSS at distances exceeding 10
kilometres.
The anaysis on educational facilities indicates that much more has to be done to meet the minimum
educational needs of the region at all levels. Although availability of Primary School facility in the region is
encouraging, its distribution needs to be expanded to increased locality levels, with the maximum number
provided with complemetary JSS facilities.
SUMMARY FINDINGS, POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS
Summary findings
Demographic characteristics
Even though more than half of the population in the region are in the urban areas, 15 of the 18 districts have
more than half of the population in rural areas. The Amansie West District, for example, is entirely rural while
three other districts, Bosomtwe/Atwima/Kwanwoma, Adansi East and Ahafo Ano South, have more than 90.0
per cent of the population in rural areas. The age structure of the population in the districts is skewed towards
the youth. Apart from the Kumasi metropolis, between 40.0 and 47.0 per cent of the population in the
remaining districts are below 15 years.
The male population exceeds the female population in 11 of the 15 districts. The proportion of the dependent
population in the districts is relatively high, varying between 42.2 per cent and 57.3 percent. The dependent
population in the Atwima, Adansi West, Ejisu- Juaben, Kumasi metropolis, Ejura Sekyedumase and Offinso,
Districts is less than 50.0 percent. The proportion of the female adult population is higher than that of the male
in five districts, namely, the Kumasi metropolis, the Kwabre, Ejura Sekyedumase, Ahafo Ano South and Ahafo
Ano North, Districts.
In 11 of the remaining 13 districts, the reverse is the case, while in the Atwima and Sekyere East Districts, the
proportions are the same. Although the sex ratio has been stabilising around 100.0, the age sex pattern of an
increasing proportion of females, at older ages, deviates from the norm. The observed pattern is a higher
proportion of males than females, from around age group 40-44 years and older, in 10 districts, a mixed
pattern in six districts.
A higher proportion of males from age groups 44-49 to 54-59 years is followed by a higher proportion of
females in the remaining age groups, in one district (Amansie West). It is only in one district, the Ejisu Juaben,
that the normal pattern is observed. This pattern is nearing what is observed in the three northern regions of
the country. One can not, however, necessarilty attribute this to either a change in the male-female mortality
pattern, or an exageration of ages of males, at older ages.
The proportions of in-migrants in the districts vary from 20.0 to 44.7 percent. In two districts, Ahafo Ano South
and Ahafo Ano North, more than 40.0 per cent of the population are inmigrants while in nine other districts, in-
migrants account for over a third of the population. About two fifths (39.4%) of the people born outside the
locality of enumeration in the districts, were born in the region.
Total fertility rates (TFRs) are still high in most districts. Apart from the Adansi West, Asante Akim South,
Kumasi metropolis and Afigya Sekyere, Districts, the other 14 districts have TFRs in excess of the regional
average of 4.8, which is also high. The TFR in Ahafo Ano South (9.9) is exceptionally high.
The proportions of male-headed households exceed that of females in all the districts. In 13 of the 19 districts,
between 30.0 and 40.0 per cent of the households are headed by females. It is in the Ejisu-Juaben District
only that the proportion of female-headed households slightly exceeds 40.0 percent.
Half of the districts have an average household size higher than the regional average of 5.3 people. On the
average, two households live in one house in the region. The number of households per house in the districts
varies from 1.4 in the Amansie West District to 3.4 in the Kumasi metropolis.
The population per house in the districts is relatively large. Four districts have averages ranging from 11.0
people to 17.0 people, exceeding the regional average of 11 people. In 13 districts, the average population per
house is between seven and 10 people. The region’s population per house, which remained unchaged around
11 persons during the 1960-2000 period, is the highest in the country. The region also has the highest share of
the national housing stock (15.1%) and the national population share (19.1%) in 2000.
Children constitute the highest proportion of household members in the districts except in three, Kwabre,
Sekyere East, and Ahafo Ano South, where the proportions of other relatives are higher. In all the districts,
children of the head of household and other relations form more than 50.0 per cent of household members.
The proportions of the population in the districts, except the Kumasi metropolis, who are married or are in a
consensual union, exceed those who are not in any form of marital union. The proportion divorced is relatively
high in three districts, namely, Bosomtwe/Atwima/Kwanwoma (7.9%), Ejisu-Juaben (7.6%) and Amansie East
(7.4%).
Illiteracy levels are high in the districts, ranging from 26.0 per cent in the Kumasi metropolis to 64.7 per cent in
the Ejura-Sekyedumase District. Only three districts have illiteracy levels below the regional average of 40.4
percent. A high proportion of the population in the region (40.0%- 50.0%), has only pre-school education or
no formal education at all. The proportion of females who have no formal education, or have only pre-school
education, is higher than that of males in all the districts.
Economic characteristics
Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Forestry is the predominant economic activity in the districts, with the
exception of the Kumasi metropolis, where Sales work is the predominant activity. In the Kwabre and the
Adansi West Districts, the proportion of the population engaged in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Forestry is
relatively low. The proportion of females in Sales work is higher than that of males in all the districts.
Also, the proportion of females in Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Forestry exceeds that of males in the districts
except the Kumasi metropolis, Ejura Sekyedumase, Offinso and Ahafo Ano North, where the reverse is the
case. However, the proportion of males is higher than that of females, in all the districts, for the
Professional/Technical occupations.
In all the districts, the proportion of the population engaged in Agriculture is higher in the rural areas than in
the urban areas, while the proportion in Trade is higher in urban, than in rural, areas. The Amansie West
District, which is entirely rural, and the Kumasi metropolis, which is entirely urban, do not follow this general
pattern. Majority of the economically active population, in all the districts, are self-employed. The highest
proportion of the economically active population is in the private sector, particularly the private informal sub-
sector, which accounts for over two-thirds of the economically active population in all the districts.
The public sector employs less than 10.0 per cent of the economically active population. While the proportion
of females in the private informal sector is higher than that of males, the proportion of males in the private
formal sector, on the other hand, is higher than that of females. The proportion of workers in the public sector
in urban areas is relatively higher than that in rural areas, while the opposite is the case for those engaged in
the private sector.
Housing characteristics
Compound and separate dwelling units are predominant in all the districts. Makeshift dwelling units such as
tents, kiosks, containers, etc, are predominant only in urban areas, particulary in the Kumasi metropolis. In the
districts, 40.0 per cent or higher of the households own the dwellings they live in, except in the Kumasi
metropolis, where the proportion is about 30.0 percent. The proportion of households living in rented houses
is high in the Kumasi metropolis (42.5%) and in the Adansi West District (37.3%).
Too many households live in single rooms. In Kumasi and Kwabre over 60 per cent of households live in single
rooms and in 4 other districts 50-60 per cent are in single rooms. In the remaining districts at least 30 per cent
of household occupy single rooms. Cement/concrete is used for the construction of the outer walls of over
30.0 per cent of the dwelling units in ten districts In the Kumasi metropolis, majority of the households use
pip-borne water as the main source of dringking water except 13.0 per cent who use either the river or the
well or other sources of drinking water. In six other districts, less than half of the households have access to
potable water, mainly boreholes, while in the remaining 11 districts, over 30.0 per cent of households use
water from either the river or the well, as main source of drinking water
Public toilets and pit latrines are the two main facilities used in the districts. A high proportion of households
(10.0% - 20.0%) in the districts, have no toilet facility or use toilet facilities in other houses. A high proportion
of households in the region dispose of their solid waste using the public dump or throw it elsewhere. Liquid
waste is mainly disposed of by either throwing it on the compound on the street or into a gutter, where
available.
Wood and charcoal are the two main sources of fuel for cooking. Over 92.0 per cent of households in 14
districts and between 74.8 and 89.1 per cent in the remaining four districts, including the Kumasi metropolis,
use either charcoal or wood for cooking. Apart from the Kumasi metropolis, where 10.8 per cent of
households use gas for cooking, the proportion of households in the remaining districts, using gas for
cooking, is less than 5.0 percent.
Kerosene is the main source of fuel used for lighting in 15 of the18 districts. Even for those districts with
higher proportions of households using other sources of fuel for lighting, the proportions that use kerosene are
still relatively high. Less than 1.0 per cent of the households use solar energy, as the main source of fuel for
lighting.
Apart from traditional healers, all the educational, health and communication facilities are scarcely found in the
localities of the districts with the exception of the Kumasi metropolis. Generally, the nearest facility (except
traditional healers, clinics and primary schools) is located more than 10 kilometres away. Majority of the
localities have traditional healers; those which do not have any, can access them within less than five
kilometres.
Policy implications and interventions
The National Population Council, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Women and
Children Affairs, need to collaborate more effectively with the District Assemblies to intensify the education on
the relevance and benefits of having a smaller number of children, from the perspective of family and the
nation.
A lot more advocacy and awareness creation on population issues and their implications need to be
intensified, particularly in the Ahafo Ano South, Sekyere East, Bosomtwe/Atwima/ Kwanwoma Ejura
Sekyedumase, Kwabre, Atwima and Amansie East and West, Districts.
Illiteracy levels are still high in all the districts. A High proportion (46.5%) of the population in the region has
either no education or only pre-school education. Relatively smaller proportions of the population have
attained a level higher than the junior secondary school, with disparities between males and females in
educational attainment. The free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) programme should be fully
implemented in all the districts in order to expand access to educational opportunities for majority of the large
youthful population. The promotion of girls’ education by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
(MOWAC) and the Girl Child Education Division of the Ministry of Education, should work towards gender
equity in education.
There is a sharp drop of the population from primary to JSS in all the districts. This may be due to the fact that
some children drop out of school before entering JSS. The other reason may be that there are few new
infrastructures for JSS in the district.
Efforts should be geared towards aggressively building more JSS to uptake pupils from the primary schools.
The free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme (fCUBE) is beginning to yield results leading to
higher primary school enrolment. The large difference between JSS and SSS enrolment in the districts may be
due to the high drop out rate as a result of examination failure, inability to pay for SSS education, or some
enrolling in Vocational, Technical or Commercial Schools.
There is therefore much more to do by way of focused planning, programme implementation and greater
investment in education in the region, particularly in post JSS education, specifically targeting females, who
appear to drop out faster than males, after JSS. The Ministry of Education/Ghana Education Service has
however reported that a significant expansion in infrastructure has taken place in all levels of educational
system.
In most of the districts, the proportion of rural dwellers is higher than that of the urban areas. Efforts to
develop the districts should therefore concentrate on the rural areas. The Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy
(GPRS) programme should be rural focused in order to achieve the desired impact. Agriculture is the
predominant occupation in the districts, with the exception of the Kumasi metropolis. The District Assemblies,
in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, should therefore develop schemes that will
particularly assist the large proportion of the population who are engaged in agricultural production and
related activities.
Since the majority of the population in the districts is engaged in basic agriculture, the Government and the
District Assemblies should encourage agro-based enterprises that will add value to the raw materials
produced by the sector, so as to raise the standards of living of the people.
The private sector plays an important role in providing employment opportunities in the districts. It should
therefore be strengthened by providing it with direct support. Policies aimed at improving the private sector
and creating an enabling environment, should therefore aim at capacitating such enterprises to expand their
base and be able to absorb extra labour.
The selfemployed without employees in the private informal sector, many of whom are not even properly
registered, also raise problems of mobilisation for such social welfare issues as social security and health
insurance, which are becoming important concerns for Government. Appropriate policies to integrate this
sector into the various social sector schemes will therefore need to be evolved; as such, integration can even
have an indirect positive effect on the growth and expansion of such private sector enterprises.
A high proportion (52.7%) of households in the region lives in single rooms. The high average household size
(5.3) and high room occupancy levels (2.7) may have health implications which need to be effectively
addressed at both district and regional levels. The proportion of the population with access to pipe-borne
water is relatively low in the districts, including the Kumasi metropolis.
The Barekese Dam in Antwima, from which the Kumasi metropolis gets its main water supply, faces various
potential problems that may soon reduce its capacity to provide the metropolis with all its treated water
requirements. These hazards include the threat of inuarum of the water hyacinth. The District Assemblies
should be encouraged to invest more of their resources in the provision of potable water in the form of pipe-
borne water and boreholes or deep wells for the communities. This will help reduce the incidence of water
borne diseases among the population in the region.
The borehole has proved to be a major contributor to the provision of potable water in all the districts,
compared to pipe-borne water. It is relatively cheaper to construct, expecially for small communities. If the
negative problems associated with borehole water in certain localities, such as salinity and high iron content
could be overcome, they could serve as an effective way of solving the potable water problem of many
localities. The water could even be piped into one community reservoir and redistributed into households,
through taps.
The use of gas for cooking is very limited. Charcoal and wood are overwhelmingly used. This has partly
caused the depletion of the forest cover in the region and a negative impact on rainfall and farming. In order
not to completely deplete the forests, reafforestation programmes should be considerably intensified.
Areas that particularly need immediate attention are Offinso, Kwabre, Ejura-Sekyedumase, District and the
Kumasi Metropolis. The use of gas for cooking should be encouraged through the manufacture of cheaper
smaller single-ring gas cylindercookers that will be affordable to more people so as to reduce the reliance on
wood and charcoal. The methods of waste disposal, particularly liquid waste, are not environmentally friendly.
The indiscriminate dumping of waste tends to pollute the environment with serious health consequences. The
Ministry of Health (MOH) Annual Reports for the Ashanti Region indicate that malaria alone constitutes about
45.0 per cent of all hospital outpatient consultations. The sewerage system of waste disposal and other solid
waste disposal materials that will improve the situation should be provided in the districts and punitive
measures instituted against those who pollute the environment indiscriminately.
Relatively high proportions of households have no toilet facility or use toilet facilities in other houses. The
public toilets used by majority of people are usually in an unhygienic state and are badly maintained. This is
not a healthy situation. The District Assemblies should therefore encourage and assist communities and
individuals to construct hygienic toilet facilities, such as the KVIP.
The Government and the District Assemblies should make conscious efforts towards increasing the number of
health, education and communication facilities in the districts. Such moves will improve and facilitate the living
conditions of the people.

Ghana Ashanti Region

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Ghana Ashanti Region

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21/03/2022, 16:04 Ghana Ashanti region

Ghana Ashanti region

The population of the region is concentrated in a few districts. The Kumasi

Background of the region

Nationality and ethnicity

Cultural and social structure

Age and sex structure

Place of birth of population

Economic activity and employment

Dependent population and dependency ratio

Population distribution and composition

District share of population

Fertility and child survival

Sex of the head household

Never in a marital union

Marriage of children 12-14 years

Never attended school

Current school attendance

Type of economic activity

Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Hunting/Fishing (42.3%), Production/ Transport/Equipment (19.9%), Sales

Institutional sector of employment

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Trends in stock of houses

Households per house

Population per house

Materials for construction of walls

Main source of drinking water

Main source of lighting

Main fuel used for cooking

Traditional healing facilities

Junior secondary school

Senior secondary school

SUMMARY FINDINGS, POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS

Policy implications and interventions

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