Northern Region (Ghana)

Northern Region
Region

Location of Northern Region in Ghana
Country Ghana
Capital Tamale
Districts 26
Government
 • Regional Minister Salifu Saeed[1]
Area[2]
 • Total 70,384 km2 (27,175 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)[3]
 • Total 2,479,461
 • Density 35/km2 (91/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year 2013
 • Per capita $5,150
GDP (Nominal)
 • Year 2018
 • Per capita $2,500
Time zone GMT
Area code(s) 037
ISO 3166 code GH-NP

The Northern Region is one of the ten regions of Ghana. It is located in the north of the country and is the largest of the ten regions, covering an area of 70,384 square kilometres or 31 percent of Ghana's area . The Northern Region is divided into 26 districts. The region's capital is Tamale.[2]

Geography and climate

Location and size

The Northern Region is bordered on the north by the Upper West region and the Upper East region, on the east by the eastern Ghana-Togo international border, on the south by the Black Volta River and the Volta region, and on the north-west by the Upper West region and Burkina Faso, and on the west by the western Ghana-Ivory Coast international border. Northern region is the largest region in total area, and is made up of 26 districts.

Climate and vegetation

A baobab tree

The Northern Region is much drier than southern areas of Ghana, due to its proximity to the Sahel, and the Sahara. The vegetation consists predominantly of grassland, especially savanna with clusters of drought-resistant trees such as baobabs or acacias. Between January and March is the dry season. The wet season is between about July and December with an average annual rainfall of 750 to 1050 mm (30 to 40 inches). The highest temperatures are reached at the end of the dry season, the lowest in December and January. However, the hot Harmattan wind from the Sahara blows frequently between December and the beginning of February. The temperatures can vary between 14 °C (59 °F) at night and 40 °C (104 °F) during the day.

Tourism

Elephants at Mole National Park

Parks

Economy

Agribusiness Factory in Tamale, Northern region. Agriculturist workers at Agriculture Factory in Tamale, Northern region.

More than 75% of the economically active population are agricultural. The low population density is partly caused by emigration, in addition to geography and climate.

Demographics

The Northern Region has a low population density, and, along with the official language of English, most inhabitants (52%) speak a language of the Oti–Volta subfamily in the Niger–Congo language family, such as Dagbani, Mamprusi or Konkomba. The Dagbon Kingdom, of the Dagomba people, is located in the region.

Religion

Around three out of five residents in the Northern region were affiliated to Islam (60.0%). [5]

Districts

Districts of the Northern Region

The Northern Region of Ghana contains 26 districts. 24 are ordinary districts in addition to 1 municipal and 1 metropolitan district.:[6]

Districts in Northern region, Dagbon
# District Capital Population
1 Bole Bole
2 Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo Bunkpurugu
3 Central Gonja Buipe
4 Chereponi Chereponi
5 East Gonja Salaga
6 East Mamprusi Gambaga
7 Gushegu Gushegu
8 Karaga Karaga
9 Kpandai Kpandai
10 Kumbungu Kumbungu
11 Mamprugo Moaduri Yagaba
12 Mion Sang
13 Nanumba North Bimbilla
14 Nanumba South Wulensi
15 North Gonja Daboya
16 Saboba Saboba
17 Sagnarigu Sagnarigu
18 Savelugu-Nanton Savelugu
19 Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Sawla
20 Tamale Metropolitan Tamale
21 Tatale Sangule Tatale
22 Tolon Tolon
23 West Gonja Damongo
24 West Mamprusi Walewale
25 Yendi Municipal Yendi
26 Zabzugu Zabzugu

Famous citizens

Famous native citizens of Northern region, Dagbon
# Citizen Settlement
1 John Dramani Mahama Damongo
2 Aliu Mahama Yendi
3 Wakaso Tamale
4 Majeed Waris Tamale

References

  1. ↑ "Regional Ministers - Government of Ghana". ghana.gov.gh. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Northern Region". GhanaDistricts.com. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Northern Region – Population" (PDF). statsghana.gov.gh. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  4. ↑ "Bui National Park". Ghana Wildlife Division. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Table 4.17: Population by religious affiliation and region, 2010
  6. ↑ "Northern". GhanaDistricts.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  • "Districts of Ghana". Statoids.
  • GhanaDistricts.com

Coordinates: 9°30′N 1°00′W / 9.500°N 1.000°W / 9.500; -1.000

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