Brief History of the District
The Ahanta West District was formerly under the jurisdiction of the Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolitan Authority (S.T.M.A.). In 1988, Ahanta West was carved out of the then Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Authority, now the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and therefore became an autonomous District under Legislative Instrument LI 1395.
Location and Size
Ahanta West District is located at the southernmost point of the country and the entire West African Sub-Region with its capital Agona Nkwanta also called Agona Ahanta. The Ahanta West District has a total land area of 591 square kilometers and a total population of 106,215 people according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census report. It represents about 2.5 percent and 0.26 percent of the surface area of Western Region and Ghana respectively.
The District is bounded on the East by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), on the West by the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, and to the North by Mpohor Wassa East District and Tarkwa – Nsuaem Municipal Assemblies and the Gulf of Guinea to the South. The District is about 15 minutes drive from the commercial capital of Western Region, Takoradi and about 25 minutes drive from the administrative capital, Sekondi. In terms of distance, it is approximately 25 kilometers from the Central Business District (CBD) of Takoradi. This proximity to the Central Business District of Takoradi enhances business and trade in particular. The District lies between latitude 4º.45”N and longitude 1º.58”W. Figure 1, 2 and 3 below depicts maps showing the District map, location of the District in the National and Regional context.
Climate
The District falls within the South – Western Equatorial Climatic Zone Ghana. The highest mean temperature is 34ºC which is recorded between March and April, while the lowest mean temperature of 20ºC is experienced in August. Relative humidity is very high averaging between 75 percent to 85 percent in the rainy season and 70 percent to 80 percent in the dry season. The District is located in the wettest region of Ghana. It experiences a double maxima rainfall of over 1,700 millimeters. The rainy season falls between the months of April and September, with the greatest volume recorded between April and July. This abundant rainfall supports agrarian activities in the District. However, the high rainfall impacts badly on most of the roads in the district, since most of these roads are not tarred, they become unmotorable and accessibility to most parts of the district becomes difficult during the rainy season.
Vegetation
The District falls largely within the High Rain Forest Vegetation Zone, capturing several hectors of plantation of the rubber plant. However, due to human activities (including farming, mining and charcoal burning), all the forest except Cape Three Points Forest Reserve which occupies an area of 51.02 square kilometers has been reduced to secondary forest. These activities, including coastal sand -winning, have consequently caused soil erosion and deterioration in soil fertility in the District.
Political and Administrative Structure
The District Assembly is the highest decision making body headed by the District Chief Executive. It has 10 departments which include; central administration, works department, physical planning unit, health and agriculture.
There exist thirty-six (36) electoral areas and six (6) Area Councils namely Apowa, Ewusiejoe, Busua, Dixcove, Abura and Agona Nkwanta. There are 52 Assembly Members, made up of 36 elected and 16 Government Appointees.