The Western region, located in south Ghana, spreads from the Ivory Coast (Comoé District) 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 region covers an area of 13,842 km2, and had a population of 2,060,585 at the 2021 Census. It has a coastline that stretches from South Ghana's border with the Ivory Coast to the boundary with the Central region on the east.
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, the 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.
The region is an Akan region comprised Wassa, Ahanta, and Nzema. Wassa is the largest tribe in the region. However, the popular language spoken in the region is Fanti. The Western region boasts many beaches and mining companies. The popular Ghana Gold fields mine is located in the region at Tarkwa.
Education The Western region has many post-secondary schools, including teachers' and nursing colleges, and two universities--University of Mines and Technology (in Tarkwa) and Takoradi Technical University (formerly known as Takoradi Polytechnic).
Administrative divisions Before the regional demarcation in December 2018, the region had 23 MMDA's (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 11 Municipal and 11 Ordinary Assemblies). Therefore, as part of this reorganisation, nine MMDA's (those in bold and asterisks below, which were 3 Municipal and 6 Ordinary Assemblies) were removed from the Western region and formed into a new Western North region with its new capital at Wiawso.
The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 14 MMDA's (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 8 Municipal and 5 Ordinary Assemblies). Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:
+ Districts of the Western region # MMDA name Capital MMDA type Populationcensus 2010 Populationprojection 2019 1 Ahanta West Agona Nkwanta Municipal106,215139,188 - Aowin* Enchi Municipal117,886154,661 - Bia East* Adabokrom Ordinary27,39337,108 - Bia West* Essam Ordinary88,939111,355 - Bodi* Bodi Ordinary53,31468,055 2 Ellembelle Nkroful Ordinary87,501114,441 3 Jomoro Half Assini Municipal150,107194,808 - Juabeso* Juaboso Ordinary58,43577,678 4 Mpohor Mpohor Ordinary42,92355,678 5 Nzema East Axim Municipal60,82880,480 6 Prestea-Huni Valley Bogoso Municipal159,304207,237 - Sefwi-Akontombra* Sefwi Akontombra Ordinary82,467108,266 - Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai* Bibiani Municipal123,272160,844 - Sefwi-Wiawso* Wiawso Municipal139,200182,510 7 Sekondi-Takoradi Sekondi Metropolitan559,548726,905 8 Effia-Kwesimintsim Kwesimintsim OrdinaryN/AN/A 9 Shama Shama Ordinary81,966105,173 - Suaman* Dadieso Ordinary20,52927,832 10 Tarkwa-Nsuaem Tarkwa Municipal90,477117,550 11 Wassa Amenfi Central Manso Amenfi Ordinary69,01489,703 12 Wassa Amenfi East Wassa-Akropong Municipal83,478108,272 13 Wassa Amenfi West Asankragua Municipal92,152120,643 14 Wassa East Daboase Ordinary81,073105,163Total 2,376,0213,093,201
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 (Nzema) 6 Anton Wilhelm Amo Axim (Nzema) 7 Joseph Boahen Aidoo Wassa, Afransie 8 Kofi Kinaata Takoradi 9 Gyedu-Blay Ambolley Sekondi-Takoradi 10 Godfried Gambrah Sekondi-Takoradi 11 Kwame Yeboah Wassa 12 Paa Kwasi Axim (Nzema) 13 Bozoma Afiba Mamekyi Saint JohnNzema
References
Sources
Latest list of Regional Ministers in 2008