Western Region (Ghana)
| Western Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region | ||
| Région Occidentale | ||
| ||
 Location of Western Region in Ghana | ||
| Country | Ghana | |
| Capital | Sekondi-Takoradi | |
| Districts | 22 | |
| Government | ||
| • Regional Minister | Dr. Kwaku Afriyie[1] | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 23,921 km2 (9,236 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | Ranked 4th | |
| Population (2010 Census) | ||
| • Total | 2,376,021 | |
| • Rank | Ranked 4th | |
| • Density | 99/km2 (260/sq mi) | |
| GDP (PPP) | ||
| • Year | 2013 | |
| • Per capita | $5,150 | |
| GDP (Nominal) | ||
| • Year | 2013 | |
| • Per capita | $2,500 | |
| Time zone | GMT | |
| Area code(s) | 031 | |
| ISO 3166 code | GH-WP | |
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The Western Region is located in south Ghana, spreads from the Ivory Coast border in the west to the Central region in the east, includes the capital and large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points, where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities in June 2007. The Western Region enjoys a long coastline that stretches from South Ghana's border with Ivory Coast to the Western region's boundary with the Central Region on the east.
The Western Region has the highest rainfall in Ghana, lush green hills, and fertile soils. There are numerous small and large-scale gold mines along with offshore oil platforms dominate the Western Region economy.
The culture is dominated by the Akans; the main languages are Akan, French and English.
Tourism
The largest rivers are the Ankobra River, the Bia River, and the Pra River in the east, with the Tano River partly forming the western national border. The area is known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site and village of Nzulezo, built entirely on stilts and platforms over water, and the Ankasa Protected Area. There is a series of imposing Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Brandenburgian forts along the coast, built from 1512 on.
Education
The Western region has many post-secondary schools, including teachers' and nursing colleges, and two universities one at Tarkwa, UMaT and Takoradi Technical University formerly known as Takoradi Polythecnic.
Districts
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The Western Region of Ghana contains 22 districts made up of 1 metropolitan, 2 municipal and 19 ordinary districts as follows:[2]
| Districts in Western region | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| # | District | Capital | Population |
| 1 | Ahanta West | Agona Nkwanta | |
| 2 | Aowin | Enchi | |
| 3 | Bia East | Adabokrom | |
| 4 | Bia West | Essam | |
| 5 | Bodi | Bodi | |
| 6 | Ellembelle | Nkroful | |
| 7 | Jomoro | Half Assini | |
| 8 | Juabeso | Juaboso | |
| 9 | Mpohor | Mpohor | |
| 10 | Nzema East | Axim | |
| 11 | Prestea-Huni Valley | Bogoso | |
| 12 | Sefwi Akontombra | Sefwi Akontombra | |
| 13 | Sefwi Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District | Bibiani | |
| 14 | Sefwi-Wiawso | Wiawso | |
| 15 | Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan | Sekondi | |
| 16 | Shama | Shama | |
| 17 | Suaman | Dadieso | |
| 18 | Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal | Tarkwa | |
| 19 | Wassa Amenfi Central | Manso Amenfi | |
| 20 | Wassa Amenfi East | Wassa-Akropong | |
| 21 | Wassa Amenfi West | Asankragua | |
| 22 | Wassa East | Daboase | |
| Total | |||
Famous native citizens
| Famous native citizens of Western region | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Citizen | Settlement | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Samuel Inkoom | Sekondi-Takoradi | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Nadia Buari | Sekondi-Takoradi | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Boris Kodjoe | Sekondi-Takoradi | |||||||||||||
| 4 | John Atta Mills | Tarkwa | |||||||||||||
| 5 | Kwame Nkrumah | Nkroful | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Anton Wilhelm Amo | Axim | |||||||||||||
| 7 | Joseph Boahen Aidoo | Wassa Afransie | |||||||||||||
| 8 | Kofi Kinaata | Takoradi
References
Sources
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