DISTRICT PROFILE

2.1 Introduction

The chapter covers the current situation of the municipality in areas such as physical and natural environment, demographic characteristics, culture, spatial analysis, economy of the district, food security, governance and social service delivery in the municipality. Again, the chapter presents the trend of development and its implications in the municipality.

1. Physical and Natural Environment
   

2.2.1 Location and Size

Sunyani Municipality is one of the twenty-two administrative districts in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. It lies between Latitudes 7⁰ 20'N and 7⁰ 05'N and Longitudes 2⁰ 30'W and 2⁰10'W and shares boundaries with Sunyani West District to the North, Dormaa District to the West, Asutifi District to the South and Tano North District to the East. There are effective economic and social interactions with the neighbouring districts which promote resource flow among these districts.

The municipality has a total land area of 829.3 Square Kilometres (320.1square miles). Sunyani also serves as the Regional Capital for Brong Ahafo. One third of the total land area is not inhabited or cultivated which provides arable lands for future investment.

2.2.2 Climate

The municipality falls within the wet Semi-Equatorial Climatic Zone of Ghana. The mean monthly temperatures vary between 23ºC and 33ºC with the lowest around August and the highest being observed around March and April. The relative humidities are high averaging between 75 and 80 percent during the rainy seasons and 70 and 80 percent during the dry seasons of the year which is ideal for luxurious vegetative growth.

The average rainfall for Sunyani between 2000 and 2009 is 88.987cm. Sunyani experiences double maxima rainfall pattern. The main rainy season is between March and September with the minor between October to December. This offers two farming seasons in a year which supports higher agricultural production in the municipality. However, the rainfall pattern of the municipality is decreasing over the years as a result of deforestation and depletion of water bodies resulting from human activities.

2.2.3 Vegetation

Sunyani Municipality falls largely within the Moist – Semi Deciduous Forest Vegetation Zone. Most of the primary vegetation can be found in patches around the north-west, east and southern parts of the municipality. These include the Yaya and the Amoma forest reserves. This vegetation zone also contains most of the valuable timber species. As indicated by the characteristics of the vegetation cover, tree crops such as cocoa and citrus can thrive well in this zone. As a result of lumbering and farming practices, most of the forest areas have been degraded. Re-afforestation is therefore being undertaken in the forest reserves to reverse the trend.

2.2.4 Relief and Drainage

The Sunyani Municipality lies within the middle belt of Ghana with Heights from 750 feet (229 meters) to 1235 feet (376 meters) above sea level. The topography of the municipality is fairly flat thus suitable for large scale agricultural mechanisation. Cost of constructing houses and roads is relatively minimal due to the nature of the topography.

The drainage is basically dendritic with several streams and rivers, notably Tano, Amoma, Kankam, Benu, Yaya and Bisi. Most of the water bodies are seasonal. This often creates water shortage in the municipality during the dry season for both domestic and agricultural purposes.

2.2.5 Geology and Mineral Deposits

The municipality is underlain by Precambrian Birrimian formations which are believed to be rich in mineral deposits. Associated with the Birrimian formations are extensive masses of granite. The Cape Coast Granite Complex is what pertains in the Municipality. The rich mineral deposits underlain in Precambrian Birimian and the Birimian presents a great potential for investment in mineral mining.

2.2.6 Condition of Natural Environment

The major problem confronting the natural environment in the municipality is deforestation. Bushfires claim between 60-80 percent of the municipality's agricultural lands annually. Until 2001 when the municipality was able to save about 80 percent of farmlands and forest reserves from burning, valuable timber resources, food crops and properties of various types were lost annually through bushfires. The major human activities negatively affecting the natural environment include land preparation for farming, actual cultivation and bush burning. The successive intensive use of land for agricultural purposes has reduced the fallow period of about 6-7 years to 2 or less years. This has resulted in low soil fertility and the continuous demand for crops which originally did not require fertilizer. Presently, about 30-50 percent of the agricultural land in the Municipality is under cultivation.

2.2.7 Built Environment

The built environment experiences sheet and gully erosion on roads and residential areas. Settlements where erosion is more pronounced include Atronie, Abesim and Nkwabeng. The direction of growth in the municipality is towards the West that is Atronie Road-Asufufu, Adomako, Kwaware and Baakoniaba. This may suggest the need to open up the area with social services and development infrastructure.

2.2.8 Road Network

In relations to the condition and network of roads in the municipality, out of the total 423.71 km of road network in the municipality, 200.01km is paved and 223.71km are unpaved (Urban Roads, 2009). This indicates the condition of roads in the municipality.

1. Demographic Characteristics
   

2.3.1 Population Size and Growth rate

In 2000 the population of Sunyani municipality was 101,145. Currently, with a growth rate of 3.8 percent, the estimated population is 147,301. The growth rate of Sunyani compared with the national growth rate of 2.7 percent indicates a high growth rate.

This has contributed to pressure on the available facilities. It is therefore required that development authorities intervene to reduce this pressure.

Table 2.1 Populations for Sunyani Municipal and Sunyani West District

Name of Locality	1984	Growth rate	2000	Growth rate	2010
Sunyani Municipal	-	-	101,145	3.8	147,301
Sunyani West	-	-	78,020	3.8	113,623
Sunyani (Combined)	98,183	3.5	179,165	3.8	260,924

Source: Ghana Statistical Service computation, Sunyani, 2010

Table 2.1 above, indicates an increase from 3.5 percent to 3.8 percent of growth rate. Comparing with the national rate of 2.7 percent brings to fore issues of population management to be dealt with. This trend presents serious development challenges to the municipality, as the population growth does not match with the provision of social services and development infrastructure.

2.3.2 Population Density

The population density of the municipality is 122 persons per square kilometre (MPCU Computation, 2010). In comparing this to the population density of the nation 76/sq.km, the municipality is densely populated resulting in high demand for land.

From the survey conducted, the densely populated areas in the municipality include Zongo, New Dormaa and Area 2 in that order. On the average these areas have 18 persons per house. Nkwabeng, Abesim and Nkrankrom constitute the medium densely populated areas with an average of 13 persons per house. The low density areas are Estate, South Ridge, Airport Area, Atronie and Baakoniaba with an average of 8 persons per house (Refer to Appendix I).The densely populated areas are mostly in the low income group whereas the less dense areas are mostly in the high and medium income groups.

2.3.3 Rural Urban Split

The population in the municipality is generally concentrated in the three largest localities (Sunyani, Abesim and New Dormaa) which hold about 74.3 percent of the population, with only 25.7 percent distributed among the other settlements. Sunyani, the municipal capital, accommodates about 60% of the total population. The current concentration of 74.3 percent in the urban areas has accounted for the high urban growth and its associated problems of congestion and erection of slum
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2.3.4 Age and Sex Composition

Table 2.2 Age and Sex Distribution of the municipality, 2010

Age Cohort	% Male	% Female
0-4	6.7	6.6
5-9	6.4	6.5
10-14	6.3	6.2
15-19	6	6.1
20-24	5.1	5.3
25-29	4.7	4.8
30-34	3.7	4.1
35-39	3.1	2.8
40-44	2.3	2.4
45-49	1.7	1.6
50-54	1.4	1.5
55-59	1	1.1
60-64	0.7	0.8
65+	0.5	0.6
Total	49.6	50.4

Source: 2000 PHC, GSS, MPCU computation, 2010

The male female ratio as indicated in table 2.2 shows a ratio of 50.4 females to 49.6 males, thus the sex ratio of the municipality is 1 Male: 1.01 Females. The situation in the municipality does not deviate so much from what the national figure depicts.

Figure 2.1 Age Sex Pyramid, 2010

LEGEND

65+ MALE

60-64 FEMALE

55-59

50-54

45-49

40-44

35-39

30-34

25-29

20-24

15-19

10-14

5-9

0-4

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Source: 2000 PHC, GSS, MPCU Computation, 2010

Figure 2.2 Compressed Age-Sex Structure for Sunyani Municipality 2010

LEGEND

MALE

FEMALE

65+

15-64

0-14

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Source: 2000 PHC, GSS, MPCU Computation, 2010

2.3.5 Dependency Ratios

The computation of this is done for the economically dependent and age dependent groups. The age dependency ratio refers to the ratio of persons in the ages of 0-14 and 65+ to persons in the economically active group (15-64) whiles economic dependency ratio refers to the ratio of persons who are actively working (employed) to those who are not (unemployed).

The age dependency ratio of the municipality stands at 73.3 percent (MPCU Computation, 2010). The ratio is lower than the national and regional figures of 87.1 and 90.5 respectively. This means that each person in the productive age has less than one person to support. On the other hand the economic dependency ratio stands at 1:0.08.
This means that less than one unemployed person is supported by an employed individual. An age and economic dependency ratio of 73.3 percent and 1:0.08 depicts a positive economic situation of the municipality.

2.3.6 Household Characteristics

The survey showed that about 26 percent of households in the municipality have 1-3 persons making up a household, 45.3 percent have 4-6 persons, and 22.7 percent 7-9. Also the least composition has 4 percent and 2 percent for 10-12 and 13-15 respectively. The municipality has an average household size of 4 (Refer to Appendix I). Comparing the municipality's average household size of 4 to the national average household size of 5.1, the average household size of the municipality is low. This means that there is low dependency as far as the number of persons per household is concerned. This may also suggest that, the extended family system is not dominant in the municipality as 71.3 percent of the households in the municipality are composed of 1-6 persons.

2.3.7 Literacy Levels

Given the criterion that persons aged 15 years and above who complete basic school (Primary, JSS or Middle school level) are literates, the survey revealed that about 76 percent of the population of the municipality are literates
(Refer to Appendix I). The municipality can therefore be said to be highly literate when compared to the national average of 53.3 percent. This situation allows for majority of people to understand and get involved in the development process of the municipality.

1. Culture
   

The Sunyani Traditional Council is composed of 22 divisional and sub chiefs and is headed by the Omanhene. There are about 27 settlements under the jurisdiction of the Sunyani Traditional Council. The Traditional Council is the traditional authority of the people. And it is responsible for mobilizing its people for development.

Currently, the Sunyani Traditional Council has not been celebrating festivals due to its inability to generate enough funds. A committee has recently been commissioned to plan and mobilise resources to initiate a festival for Sunyani. The Sunyani traditional council abhors evoking spirits to curse hence has introduced strict punitive measures for offenders of such acts. Sunyani Traditional Council has recorded a dispute free chieftaincy system resulting in the peaceful atmosphere of the municipality. As a result, the council serves as the centre for dispute resolution and arbitration in the traditional areas. In addition to Sunyani traditional council are other sub traditional areas like Abesim, which is part of Dormaa Traditional Council and Atronie. This revelation has contributed immensely to investment attraction and opportunities in the municipality.

2.4.1 Ethnic Diversity

There are nine main identifiable ethnic groups in municipality. Akan the majority constitute 71.1 percent; Ga Dangme presents 2.1 percent whereas Ewe constitutes 3.2. In total the Northern tribes (Guan, Gurma, Mole-Dagbani, Grusi, Mande) in the municipality constitute 19.3 percent (GSS, PHC, 2000). The municipality has diverse ethnic background because its capital serves as the administrative capital for the region and as such offers certain services not existing in most districts.

2.4.2 Religious Composition

Predominantly Christians, Islam, and Traditional groups form the main religious groups in the municipality. About 81 percent of the populace are Christians, 11.3 percent constitute Islam, and again 0.9 are traditional believers whereas 6.2 percent belong to no religious group (GSS, PHC, 2000).

1. Spatial Analysis
   

2.5.1 HIERARCHY OF SETTLEMENTS

The hierarchy of settlements in the municipality are categorised into three levels. This is done based on the percentage of total weighted index of 570.

Category	Definition
	Percentage of total Weighted Score	Range of total Weighted Index Score
Level	70-100	399-570
Level II	30-69	171-393
Level III	20-29	114-170
Level IV	10-19	57-113
Level V	0-9	0-56

Source: Municipal Planning Coordinating Unit, 2010