Wa Municipal Profile

Wa Municipal ProfileCHAPTER THREE federation PROFILE OF THE WA MUNICIPALITYLocation and SizeThe upper berth watt vicinity is located in the north- atomic number 74ern p finesse of Ghana and allots b cab arets with the La Cote DIvoire to the north,-west, Burkina Faso to the north, Upper East to the East and the northeastern Region to the south. The Wa Municipal fictionalisation was created out of the then Wa District in 2004 with legislative legal document (L1) 1800 in pursuant of the policy of decentralization started in 1988. The throng is sceptered as the spunkyest political and administrative body in the Municipality charged with the responsibleness of facilitating the implementation of national policies. Under section 10 of the Local g e preciseplacenment Act 1993 (Act 426), the Assembly exercises deliberative, legislative and executive functions in the District. By this act, the Assembly is responsible for the overall growing of the Municipality. The Wa Municipality is in that respectfore tone of the eleven administrative domains (District Assemblies) that make up the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana. The Municipality shares administrative boundaries with Nadowli District to the north, the Wa East District to the east and the Wa west district to the west. The Municipality lies among latitudes 950N to 1020N and mingled with longitudes 940 W and 1015W. It has an area of approximately 234.74 km2, al or so 6.4% of the area of Upper West Region. The suggestion of the location of the municipality for development is, enhancing bilateral take and commerce with Franco phone countries. The Wa town has the potential difference to grow and be upgraded into both an industrial and mercantile hub for the north-western corridor of Ghana. The Figure 1 (map) below shows the location of the Wa Municipality with some of the peri-urban communities that yielding victim of the rapidly urbanizing process in the municipality.DemographyThe Upper West portion is the youngest region in Ghana. In 2010, the nation of the region stood at 702,110 with a growth rate of 1.9% per annum. According to the 2010 race and Housing census, the Wa Municipality has a total nation of 107,214. Currently, the total population of the municipality stands at 127,284 (male 61,826/ distaff 65,458) with an alter population of 71,051 (GSS, 2012) re typifying 66.3% compared to the national urbanized share of 50.9% and the regional urbanized share of 16.3%. This alike implies the Wa Municipality alone accounts for a 62% share of the regions urbanized population in the year 2010. The Municipality is likewise reported as having an urban population growth rate of 4% as compared to the national urban growth rate of 3.4% (Wa Municipal, 2012 GSS, 2005 GSS, 2012). The population structure of the Wa municipality revealed a preponderance of the early days over the aged and females (51%) over males (49%). The youth form 49% of the total population with a potential w orking population of 47% and 4% aged. This means a high numerateency ratio since the sparingally active population is 47% compared to strung-out population of 53%. The population density is 542 persons per square kilometers with its associated development import in the areas of housing, education and health facilities, environmental sanitation, water supply, pressure on buck and socio-stinting infrastructure due(p) to the rapidly urbanising township. This raises the issue of population management, specifically, housing, land use planning, streetism, conflict management, to secure the future of the municipality.The gender implication of the preceding(prenominal) holds programming for women, mother and children to provide for peculiar health, educational and economic necessarily and strengthening institutions for pitchive governance and protection of the vulnerable and excluded and also stop up human rights especially for women. A second implication is that the youthfulness of the population requires the provision of social infrastructure especially schools, crches, day nursery, base and junior secondary schools, healthcare services especially family planning, adolescent and procreative health services. Thirdly, there is the take on for skills development programmes that will provide the youth with employable skills to address current and future unemployment problems. These implications are linked to population management issues such as enhancing effective resource mobilization, human, financial and temporal resources for the provision of basic socio economic infrastructure and services in the educational and health sectors. There is also the need for capacity build and institutional strengthening for the staff of the municipal assembly and other sector departments and the need to embark upon vigorous population management programmes and employment creation for the youth. The humans of educational facilities universities, Polytechnics, long distan ce learning centers, vocational and technical institutions, approachability of electricity, water, banking, tele intercourse and tranceation facilities employment opportunities and handiness of agricultural fertile lands in the Wa town are responsible for the current rural hegira of populations into the city centre leading to the expansion of the urban centre towards the peri-urban communities in response to the influx of populations and developments.Relief, Drainage and TopographyThe Municipality lies in the Savannah high plains, which generally, is lightly undulating with an average height between clxm and 300m above sea level. The gentle turn nature of the landscape implies that the topography is no barrier to cultivation and other somatogenetic development. The low lying areas are found in the following local anaestheticities Charia, Zingu, Kperisi to the North and Piisi, Dapouha, Boli, Sing, Biihe and Busa to the South. These manifest in the form of valleys that colle ct and retain water during the showery appease and are therefore suitable for rice cultivation and broth rearing. These low lying areas subscribe to further given rise to twain important drain system of ruless, the Sing-Bakpong and its tributaries to the South and Billi and its tributaries to the North. The streams are seasonal and thus wry up during the long dry season thereby reducing forthcoming of water for agriculture, domestic, industrial and constructional uses. This implies the provision of dams, dugouts and rainwater harvesting in order to provide adequate water to meet the domestic and agricultural take aim of the increasing population in the area.WeatherThe climate of the Wa Municipality is characterized by long, windy and hot dry season followed by the short and thundery wealthy season. The dry season occurs between November and April. The north eastern trade winds from the Sahara desert precipitates the cold harmattan winds between November and February wh ich brings with it coughs, cold and other respiratory diseases and also skin diseases. The hot season records high temperatures with a peak of between 400C and 450C in March and April causing dehydration and incidence of cerebral meningitis. The effect of climate change is becoming more(prenominal) manifest of late due to human activities in terms of bush burning, felling of trees, poor farming practices and infrastructural activities. The wet season lasts between April and October. The annual mean rainfall volume of between 840 mm and 1400 mm is sparsely and poorly distributed over the months. The rainfall imitate is erratic and punctuated by spells of long droughts and heavy downpours and floods. This affects humidity levels, soil moisture levels, crop growth and general agricultural productivity.Land use as yet the fact that the municipality is the commercial hub of the upper west region, agriculture re mains main the economic activity. It remains the amplest single contribut or to the local economy and employs about 70% of the active population. The main staple crops grown are millet, sorghum, maize, rice, cowpea and groundnuts cultivated on subsistence basis. However, soybeans, groundnuts, Bambara beans are produced as cash crops. Economic trees deep down the municipality are sheanuts, dawadawa, mango, baobab and teak.The vegetation cover of the area is guinea savannah woodland, which is made up of grasses and tree species such as Butylosternum Paradoxum (Shea tree), Parkia biglolosa (Dawadawa), genus Adansonia Digitata (baobab), Anarcadium occidentale (cashew), Acacia, Ebony, Neem and Mango among others. There is a marked change in the plant life of this vegetation zone during different seasons of the year. The vegetation in this area is thus open and dominated by short grasses. In the wet season, the area looks green and in the dry season, the grass dries and to the highest degree of the trees shed their leaves and prone to bush fires. Human acti vities such as firewood harvesting, charcoal gray burning, farming, quarrying, construction etc. are all combined to modify the inherent environment. The Municipality lies in the Savanna high plains, which generally, is undulating with an average height between 160 and 300 m above sea level and has two main drainage systems, Sing-Bakpong and its tributaries to the South and Billi and its tributaries to the North. The streams dry up during the long dry season thereby reducing available water for agriculture, domestic, industrial and construction users. away from the Wa central-the large(p) of the municipality, there are eight peri-urban towns within the municipality. However, the deal would focus on the four tight urbanizing communities (Busa, Kpongo, Charia/Loho and Kperisi) located almost equidistance from the municipality. thrift of the Wa MunicipalityThe structure of the economy of the municipality has non changed since 2009. It is still dominated by agriculture (about 70% ), followed by commerce (about 9%) and industry (about 3%). Other key sectors of the economy are charm, tourism, communication and energy. Peoples sources of income for livelihood depend on the economic activities they undertake, the level of mixture and the technology or know-how used. Comparatively, the diversity of the economy of the municipality is very limited and dominated by agriculture, which is equally not diversified. Wa municipal falls within the Savannah Zone where scantiness has been above the national average. Currently, nine (9) out of every ten is verbalise to be poor. Average households incomes are very low and bread winners few. An summary of households expenditure shows that about 80% of their income is spent on nutrition and 20% on rent, education, health, utility charges and funerals. The high level of scantness is attributed to underdeveloped social overhead capital. Social overhead capital, which supplies services (power, transportation, computer memo ry, communication, education) that are indispensable to modern industry are under developed. The under development of this capital base is a constraint or bottleneck to economic growth and development in the Municipality.AgricultureThe agriculture sector provides more than 60% of the municipal population sources of jobs, livelihood and business. It is a sector life-or-death to the local economy, because it is shortly the study provider of jobs. Despite its strategic usage in fighting poverty, it is under modernized. Traditional technologies still dominates agriculture doing, affect, storage and commercializeing. Programs are therefore required to enhance development of sustainable agriculture production systems e.g. irrigation systems, enhanced farmer education and training, enhanced technology manoeuvre in agriculture production, storage and enhance corporate development for marketing. Agro-Industry is an vast potential waiting development. The enthronement potentials are m any and varied.Cereals flour processing from Staple food crops like maize, millet and sorghum. About 5,581, 7,113and 5,180 MT of maize, millet and sorghum respectively are produced annually. About 70-80% of the production is processed at grinding mill around where the possibility of food contamination is very high.Pito Brewing A local beverage (Pito) produced from sorghum (Guinea Corn) which enjoys a lot patronage in the municipality and the region faces the challenges of maintaining the quality/standards beyond a day, meeting preferred taste and alcoholic drink level of consumers, packaging and traditional brewing process. Yet it is one of the major sources of livelihoods and income for women. Modernizing pito brewing has a potential of not only augmenting sorghum production but improving women income level.Processing/Packaging of dairy and meat products (cheese, yoghurt, sausages) for households, provide and hospitality industries Cattle herds are about 6,696 plot small rumina nts population is about 8,457. Livestock production is still basically open range, while a growing hospitality and catering industry lack the inevitable meat product.Edible oil extraction Shea butter, Groundnut and Cotton seed oil are extracted using traditional methods. About 6,696, 5,154, and 5,303 MT of sheanuts, groundnuts and cotton wool seed respectively are produced annually in the Municipality.Fruit succus/jam extraction Yet another emerging business area with great growth potential is fruit juice extraction. Fruits of significant economic importance in the municipality include mango, cashew, shea, zumbringa.TourismTourism is one of the fast growing sectors in the Municipality of Wa and awaits a lot of investment. Apart from ludicrous attractions (ranging from natural resources, culture and entertainment), a relative good basic infrastructure, transport and hospitality base promise the municipality a unique tourist destination. These potentials notwithstanding, lodging, f ood and beverages facilities, and support services are inadequate and substandard. Some of the notable tourists attractions include the Wa-Naa Palace (a symbol of authority of one of the three epical regimen of traditional Wa), a flat roofed magnificent traditional building with rumble stripped walls the Dzendzen Pool, George E. Ferguson Tomb (the first agent of the Governor of the fortunate Coast Colony to reach Wa, May 4th 1894), Western Sudanese style built mosques e.g. the Centenarian Mosque at Nakori, Chegli crocodile pond, indigenous traditions, buildings and culture, dance and music. conveyingThe transport system in the Municipality is made up of road and very limited air transport. The road network is about 385km comprising 256km latitude roads and 129km, surfaced roads (trunk tarred roads). The Municipality has four (4) trunk road links to Kumasi and Tamale, Dorimon/Burkina Faso, Lawra-Hamile and Tumu/Leo. This is a fuddled advantage for enhanced trade and tourism. Howe ver, the conditions of these are bad and inhibit transport services between Wa and these locations. The absence of a by-pass road for vocation on direct route to neighbouring Burkina Faso, undeveloped arterial roads, poor drainage network, inadequate/substandard travelers and cargo lorry parks, limited pedestrian give chase walks, absence of bus stop pavements do retard the progress of the transport sector. Wa Municipality has over 300 commercial/ mystical vehicles population and scram over 200 Vehicles passage day the services providers are dominantly private operators GPRTU, Metro Mass transport, STC, OA, DKM, Diamond Winners, EMEKPA and Private alliance transport. Another most predominate means of transport is the use of motorcycle. This lessens traffic situations but in time causes accidents in the town. It is incumbent that for the Municipality to tap the full benefits of all sectors, transportation requires a serious development intervention.Housing /Real Estate developme ntAs a regional capital the municipality performs political, administrative and commercial services which demand appropriate housing for households, sites/institutions and business. However, compound housing which usual accommodate six to12 households with poor municipal services still dominates the housing sector in the municipality. The housing challenge is aggravated by a floating students population which lack accommodation on campuses.Commercial Hub of the RegionThe Wa Municipality is currently the regional commercial/service centre with average trading/office facilities (infrastructure). It has over 800 SME in tourism, agro business/ processing, Commerce, metal fabrication, construction, banking Finance. The presence of some market facilities (shops), do attract people from all corners of the region to trade in the municipality. A few Modern shopping facilities are also present to ease the congested shopping situation in the municipality. The relatively large number of SMEs opens up opportunities for Partnerships/Joint Ventures The industries in the Municipality are small weighing machine and are categorized into Agro processing, wood, Textile, metal glass, leather hide, clay/sand/stone, art craft. There is a high level of agro-based industries in the Municipality. To finance these industries there are about 15 financial institutions (Banking and Non-banking) in the Municipality. This place the municipality in a better position to assist small and medium outmatch businesses to grow.Light Industrial AreaThe Local Authority, Wa Municipal Assembly, has acquired 20 acres of land for light industries. Utilities like electricity and water have been provided. This creates an impetus for a total transformation of the economy. The Municipal Assembly is seeking potential investors to do business with. Beside the Municipal Assembly is ready to prior/assist any potential investor to access land for any investment in the municipality.Banking and Financial Inst itutionsThe municipality can boost of over 15 banking/non-banking institutions ADB, SGSSB, Barclays, Stanbic, prime Bank, GCB, NIB , 1st National bank, Lawra Area clownish Bank and Sonzelle Rural Bank. There also exist Five (5) non-banking financial institutions. There are Two Credit Unions Ghana Financial Services, Comforter, DKM, Line Paradise and Sinapi Aba. They provide the necessary financial services.InfrastructureInfrastructure comprises water systems, communication networks, electricity (power), health care facilities, roads, streets security system among others. The available infrastructure in the Municipality is averagely adequate to promote the growth of other sectors in the region. There is the availability of water systems, communication networks, electricity (power), health care facilities, roads, streets security system that will facilitate development in the municipality.Key Interest Areas to do Business in the Wa MunicipalityExpanding production and value addition in agriculture, industry, tourism and transportEnhancing institutional competitivenessEffective and efficient and communication systemEngaging diversified forms of partnershipsDeveloping and retaining the necessary human capital for hiring and self-employmentFacilitating access to financial and non-financial support service