Districts of Ghana
The Districts of Ghana are second-level administrative subdivisions of Ghana, below the level of region. There are 216 districts.
History
The districts of Ghana were re-organized in 1988/1989 in an attempt to decentralize the government and to assist in development. The reform of the late 1980s subdivided the regions of Ghana into 110 districts, where local district assemblies should deal with the local administration. By 2006, an additional 28 districts were created by splitting some of the original 110, bringing their number up to 138. In February 2008, there were more districts created and some were upgraded to municipal status. This brought the final number to 170 districts in Ghana. Since then, a further 46 districts have been added since 28 June 2012 bringing the total to 216 districts.Types of Districts
Districts
Ordinary Districts have a minimum population of seventy-five thousand people.Municipalities
Municipal Districts have a minimum population of ninety-five thousand people.Metropolises
Metropolitan Districts have a minimum population of two hundred and fifty thousand people.Governance and Administration
District Assemblies
Districts are governed by District Assemblies, which are established by the Minister of Local Government, and serve as the highest political authority in each district. They consist of:- the District Chief Executive, appointed by the President of the Republic
- one person from each electoral area within the district elected by universal adult suffrage
- the member or members of Parliament from the constituencies that fall within the area of authority of the District Assembly
- other members that shall not exceed thirty per cent of the total membership of the District Assembly appointed by the President in consultation with the traditional authorities and other interest groups in the district
District Chief Executive
- the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the District Assembly
- the supervision of the departments of the District Assembly and
Executive Committee
- the District Chief Executive, who serves as chairperson
- the chairpersons of the following Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee:
- * Development Planning,
- * Social Services
- * Works
- * Justice and Security
- * Finance and Administration
- * the chairperson of one ad hoc Sub-Committee of the Executive Committee elected by the District Assembly
- * any two other members elected by members of the District Assembly, at least one of whom is a woman
Presiding Member
Functions of District Assemblies
As the political and administrative authorities over the districts, the primary function of District Assemblies is to promote local economic development.The Local Government Act of 2016 also tasks District Assemblies to:
- formulate and execute plans, programs and strategies for the effective mobilization of the resources necessary for the overall development of the district
- promote and support productive activity and social development in the district and remove any obstacles to initiative and development
- sponsor the education of students from the district to fill particular manpower needs of the district especially in the social sectors of education and health, making sure that the sponsorship is fairly and equitably balanced between male and female students
- initiate programs for the development of basic infrastructure and provide municipal works and services in the district
- be responsible for the development, improvement and management of human settlements and the environment in the district
- in co-operation with the appropriate national and local security agencies, be responsible for the maintenance of security and public safety in the district
- ensure ready access to courts in the district for the promotion of justice
- act to preserve and promote the cultural heritage within the district
- initiate, sponsor or carry out studies that may be necessary for the discharge of any of their duties
- Auction sales, as provided by the Auction Sales Act, 1989
- Liquor licensing, as provided by the Liquor Licensing Act, 1970
- Control bushfires, as provided by the Control and Prevention of Bushfires Act, 1990 *
- Execute the following provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 within its district: section 296 in respect of throwing rubbish in the street; and section 300 in respect of stray cattle
List of Districts
[Ahafo Region]
The Ahafo Region of Ghana was created by a referendum in December 2018. The regional capital is Goaso. It was part of the then Brong-Ahafo Region and contains 6 districts, 3 municipal and 3 ordinary districts. These are:- Asunafo North Municipal
- Asunafo South District
- Asutifi North District
- Asutifi South District
- Tano North Municipal
- Tano South Municipal
[Ashanti Region]
- Adansi North District
- Adansi South District
- Afigya-Kwabre District
- Ahafo Ano North Municipal
- Ahafo Ano South District
- Amansie Central District
- Amansie West District
- Asante-Akim Central Municipal
- Asante Akim North District
- Asante Akim South Municipal
- Asokore Mampong Municipal
- Atwima Kwanwoma District
- Atwima Mponua District
- Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal
- Bekwai Municipal
- Bosome Freho District
- Botsomtwe District
- Ejisu-Juaben Municipal
- Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipal
- Kumasi Metropolitan
- Kwabre East District
- Mampong Municipal
- Obuasi Municipal
- Offinso North District
- Offinso South Municipal
- Sekyere Afram Plains District
- Sekyere Central District
- Sekyere East District
- Sekyere Kumawu District
- Sekyere South District
Bono
- Banda District
- Berekum East Municipal
- Berekum West District
- Dormaa Central Municipal
- Dormaa East District
- Dormaa West District
- Jaman North District
- Jaman South Municipal
- Sunyani Municipal
- Sunyani West District
- Tain District
- Wenchi Municipal
Bono East">Brong East">Bono East
- Atebubu-Amantin Municipal
- Kintampo North Municipal
- Kintampo South District
- Nkoranza North District
- Nkoranza South District
- Pru East District
- Pru West District
- Sene East District
- Sene West District
- Techiman Municipal
- Techiman North District
Central Region">Central Region, Ghana">Central Region
- Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese District
- Agona East District
- Agona West Municipal
- Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam District
- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa District
- Assin Central Municipal
- Assin South District
- Awutu Senya East Municipal District
- Awutu Senya West District
- Cape Coast Metropolitan
- Effutu Municipal
- Ekumfi District
- Gomoa East District
- Gomoa West District
- Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District
- Mfantsiman Municipal
- Twifo-Ati Morkwa District
- Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira District
- Upper Denkyira East Municipal
- Upper Denkyira West District
Eastern Region">Eastern Region, Ghana">Eastern Region
- Akuapim North Municipal
- Akuapim South District
- Akyemansa District
- Asuogyaman District
- Atiwa District
- Ayensuano District
- Birim Central Municipal
- Birim North District
- Birim South District
- Denkyembour District
- East Akim Municipal
- Fanteakwa District
- Kwaebibirem Municipal
- Kwahu Afram Plains North District
- Kwahu Afram Plains South District
- Kwahu East District
- Kwahu South District
- Kwahu West Municipal
- Lower Manya Krobo District
- New-Juaben Municipal
- Nsawam Adoagyire Municipal
- Suhum Municipal
- Upper Manya Krobo District
- Upper West Akim District
- West Akim Municipal
- Yilo Krobo District
[Greater Accra Region]
- Accra Metropolitan
- Ada East District
- Ada West District
- Adenta Municipal
- Ashaiman Municipal
- Ga Central Municipal
- Ga East Municipal
- Ga North Municipal
- Ga South Municipal
- Ga West Municipal
- Kpone Katamanso District
- La Dade Kotopon Municipal
- La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal
- Ledzokuku Municipal
- Ningo Prampram District
- Shai Osudoku District
- Tema Metropolitan
Northern Region">Northern Region, Ghana">Northern Region
- Gushiegu District
- Karaga District
- Kpandai District
- Kumbungu District
- Mion District
- Nanton District
- Nanumba North Municipal
- Nanumba South District
- Saboba District
- Sagnarigu Municipal
- Savelugu-Nanton District
- Tamale Metropolitan
- Tatale-Sangule District
- Yendi Municipal
- Zabzugu District
North East Region">North East Region, Ghana">North East Region
- Bunkpurugu-Nyankpanduri District
- Chereponi District
- East Mamprusi Municipal Assembly
- Mamprugu Moaduri District
- West Mamprusi Municipal District
- Yunyoo-Nasuan District
[Oti Region]
- Biakoye District
- Jasikan District
- Kadjebi District
- Krachi East Municipal
- Krachi Nchumuru District
- Krachi West District
- Nkwanta North District
- Nkwanta South Municipal
Savannah Region">Savannah Region, Ghana">Savannah Region
- Bole District
- Central Gonja District
- East Gonja Municipal
- North Gonja District
- Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District
- Tolon District
- West Gonja
[Upper East Region]
- Bawku Municipal
- Bawku West District
- Binduri District
- Bolgatanga Municipal
- Bongo District
- Builsa North District
- Builsa South District
- Garu-Tempane District
- Kassena Nankana East Municipal
- Kassena Nankana West District
- Nabdam District
- Pusiga District
- Talensi District
[Upper West Region]
- Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District
- Jirapa Municipal
- Lambussie Karni District
- Lawra Municipal
- Nadowli-Kaleo District
- Nandom District
- Sissala East Municipal
- Sissala West District
- Wa East District
- Wa Municipal
- Wa West District
[Volta Region]
- Adaklu District
- Afadjato South District
- Agotime Ziope District
- Akatsi North District
- Akatsi South District
- Anloga District
- Central Tongu District
- Ho Municipal
- Ho West District
- Hohoe Municipal
- Keta Municipal
- Ketu North Municipal District
- Ketu South Municipal
- Kpando Municipal District
- North Dayi District
- North Tongu District
- South Dayi District
- South Tongu District
Western Region">Western Region, Ghana">Western Region
- Ahanta West Municipal
- Ellembele Municipal
- Jomoro Municipal
- Mpohor District
- Nzema East Municipal
- Prestea-Huni Valley Municipal
- Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan
- Shama District
- Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal
- Wassa Amenfi Central District
- Wasa Amenfi East Municipal
- Wasa Amenfi West Municipal
- Wassa East District
[Western North Region]