Profile of West Gonja District
The West Gonja Municipal is one of the seven districts in the Savannah Region of Ghana, with its capital, Damongo, located approximately 129 km west of Tamale. It is bordered by the North Gonja District to the north, Central Gonja to the south, and Bole and Sawla Tuna Kalba Districts to the west. A significant portion of the municipal’s land area is occupied by the Mole National Park, which hosts a few communities and camps. The region is rich in unexploited mineral resources, including barite deposits, which have potential industrial applications such as paint production. The projected population of West Gonja Municipal for 2024 is estimated at 69,740, based on the 2021 population and housing census. This population is mainly concentrated in accessible sub-municipal areas. Administratively, the municipal is divided into three area/town councils: Busunu, Damongo, and Larabanga, and consists of twelve electoral areas, each with at least one CHPS (Community-based Health Planning and Services) zone. For effective service delivery, the municipal is further subdivided into five administrative sub-municipals: Busunu, Canteen, Damongo, DASS, and Larabanga.
Map Of West Gonja District
Ethnicity
The municipal is ethnically diverse, comprising 22 ethnic groups with Gonja, Hanga, Dagomba, Mamprusis, and Dagaabas being the major ones. Although the 1994 ethnic conflict caused significant migration of the Konkonbas, the area maintains a degree of unity through inter-tribal marriages and peaceful coexistence.
Religion
Religiously, the population is predominantly Muslim (70%), with Christians making up 18% and traditional worshippers 12%. Religious harmony is prevalent, with major Christian denominations including the Catholic Church, Assemblies of God Church, Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Church of Ghana, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pentecost Church, Methodist Church, Christ Apostolic Church, Light House, and Word Miracle Church of Ghana. Key Friday mosques include the Busunu Main Mosque, Soalepe Mosque, Ahmadiyya Moslem Mission Mosque, Ndewura Jakpa Community Mosque, Damongo Central Mosque, Canteen Central Mosque, and Larabanga Central Mosque.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the primary economic activity, engaging over 60% of the labor force. Major crops include maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cassava, yam, beans, and soya beans, with gari and shea butter processing as significant commercial activities for women. Livestock rearing, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and guinea fowl, is also prevalent. The municipal hosts three major markets in Busunu, Damongo, and Kotito No. 2, with specific market days enhancing trade activities.
Tourism
West Gonja Municipal is a hub for tourism, boasting attractions such as the Mole National Park, Ghana’s largest and best-stocked national park. The park is home to 93 mammal species, 33 reptile species, nine amphibian species, around 300 bird species, and about 600 elephants, alongside other wildlife like buffaloes, roan antelopes, lions, leopards, and hyenas. Other notable tourist sites include the ancient Larabanga mystic stone and mosque, the oldest mosque in Ghana, reflecting the area’s historical Sudanic influences and the cultural heritage of the Gonja kingdom.
Health
The municipal health infrastructure includes twenty-eight health facilities, with St. Anne’s Hospital as a notable CHAG facility and Mma Lucia Maternity Home as the sole private facility. The Ghana Health Service oversees 26 public health facilities, including health centers and CHPS compounds distributed across various communities, ensuring comprehensive healthcare services are accessible to residents. Key facilities include Achubunyor CHPS, Busunu Health Center, Kededelimpa CHPS, Kojope CHPS, Langantre CHPS, Memepeasem CHPS, Soalepe CHPS, and many more, providing essential health services to the populace.
