Kassena-Nankana West District is one of the districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The district was established in 2007 under Legislative Instrument 1855 and was inaugurated on 29 February 2008, following its separation from the former Kassena-Nankana District. Its administrative capital is Paga, a major border town in northern Ghana adjoining Burkina Faso.
The district covers an area of approximately 1,004 square kilometres and had a population of 90,735 according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census. The District Assembly projects the population to reach 100,938 in 2026, comprising 48,958 males and 51,982 females.
Kassena-Nankana West is predominantly rural, with agriculture, livestock production, commerce and cross-border trade forming important parts of its local economy. Its location along Ghana's northern border gives the district particular economic and strategic importance, especially through the Paga border crossing and trade with Burkina Faso.
The district is also notable for its cultural and historical heritage. Major attractions include the Paga Crocodile Pond, Pikworo Slave Camp at Nania, and the traditional arts and cultural heritage of Sirigu. Agriculture, cultural tourism, border commerce and community-based economic activities remain important components of the district's development.
1.0 History The Kassena-Nankana West District was carved out of the former Kassena-Nankana District as part of Ghana's decentralisation programme. The district was established in 2007 under Legislative Instrument 1855 and inaugurated on 29 February 2008, with Paga designated as its administrative capital
The creation of the district formed part of the government's effort to decentralise administration and bring public services and local governance closer to communities. The district occupies the western portion of the former Kassena-Nankana administrative area, while the eastern portion developed into the present Kassena-Nankana Municipal area.https://ghanadistricts.com/Home/District/155
Since its establishment, the district has developed its own District Assembly structure and administrative institutions responsible for local planning, infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, environmental management and community development.
1.1 Background The paramount aim of creating this Assembly was to bring the business of governance to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian. It is located approximately between latitude 10.97° North and longitude 01.10° West. The district has a total land area of approximately 1,004 km2. The Kassena-Nankana West District shares boundaries with Burkina Faso to the north, Bongo District to the north-east, Bolgatanga Municipal to east, Kassena-Nankana Municipal to the south, Bulsa District to the south-west and Sissala East District to the west.
1.2 Physical Features
1.2.1 Geography and Area Kassena-Nankana West District is located in the northern part of Ghana's Upper East Region. Its administrative capital, Paga, is situated close to Ghana's international boundary with Burkina Faso.
The district's location gives it a strategic position within the Upper East Region because the Paga corridor connects Ghana with Burkina Faso and forms part of an important route for passenger movement and commercial activity.
The district's boundaries have been described somewhat differently in various official publications. Recent district and government documents identify Burkina Faso to the north, with neighbouring districts including Bongo, Bolgatanga, Kassena-Nankana Municipal, Builsa North and Sissala East.
There is a source discrepancy concerning the district's land area. The 2026 District Assembly Composite Budget gives approximately 1,004 km², while other government-linked sources give approximately 812 km².
1.2.2 Relief and drainage The district is underlain mainly by Birrimian and Granitic rock formation. The relief of the district is generally low lying and undulating with isolated hills rising up to 300 meters above sea level in the western part of the district. Notably among these hills are Fie (9280 metres above sea level), Busono 350 metres, and Zambao 360 metres. The district is mainly drained by the Sissili River and its tributaries. There are however some few dug-outs and ponds, which are used for livestock rearing, crop production and domestic purposes.
1.2.3 Climate The Kassena-Nankana West District falls within the interior continental climatic zone of the country characterized by pronounced dry and wet seasons. The two seasons are influenced by two air masses. First is the warm, dusty and dry harmattan air mass, which blows in the north easterly direction across the whole district from the Sahara desert. During its period of influence (late November – early March), rainfall is entirely absent, vapour pressure is very low (less than 10mb) and relative humidity rarely exceeds 20.0% during the day but may rise to 60.0% during the nights and early mornings. Temperatures are usually modest at this time of the year by tropical standards (26 °C – 28 °C). May to October is the wet season. During this period, the whole of West African sub-region including Kassena-Nankana West District is under the influence of a deep tropical maritime air mass. This air mass together with rising convention currents provides the district with rains. The total rainfall averages 950 mm per annum. The above phenomenon adversely affects the water table and reduces underground water. Water harvesting is probably a viable option in the district. 2 Figure 1.1: Map of Kassena Nankana West District Source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2010 Population and Housing Census
1.2.4 Vegetation The vegetation is mainly of Sahel Savannah type consisting of open savannah with fire swept grassland separating deciduous trees among which may be seen a few broad-leafed and fireleached tree species. Some of the most densely vegetated parts of this district can be found along river basins and forest reserves. Examples are the Sissili and Asibelika basins. Most of these trees in the forested areas shed their leaves during the dry season. The human activities over the years have also affected the original vegetation considerably. Common trees which are also of economic importance include Dawadawa, Sheanut, Baobab, Nim and Mango. The low vegetation cover of the area hampers sufficient rainfall thereby reducing underground water supply.
1.2.5 Soil Two main soil types can be found in the district. These soil types are the Savannah Ochrosols and the ground water laterite. The northern and eastern parts of the district are covered by the Savannah Ochrosols, while the rest of the district is characterized by ground water laterite. The Savannah Ochrosols are porous, well drained, loamy, mild acidity and interspersed with patches of black or dark grey clay soils. This soil type is suitable for cultivation of cereals and legumes. The ground water laterites are developed over shale and granite. Due to the underlying rock type, they become water logged during the rainy season and dry up during the dry season, thus causing cemented layers of iron-stone which make cultivation difficult. This would probably have contributed significantly to food insecurity in the district.
1.3 Political Administration The Assembly has a total membership of 68 people made up of 46 elected members, 20 appointed members, the ex-officio members being the 1 Member of Parliament and the District Chief Executive. The present Assembly has ten female members, 4 of whom are elected and 6 appointed. There are 11 Area Councils in the district which include the Chiana Town Council, Mirigu, Sirigu, Kandiga, Kayoro, Katiu, Nakong, Batiu, Paga, Nabango and Kejelo Area Councils. Administrative set up Administratively, the district is divided into 3 zones namely the North, East and West Zones. The District Assembly has the following departments in place and functioning under the District Co-ordinating Director. The District Directorate of Health Service, The Ghana Education Service (GES), Department of Community Development, Birth and Deaths Registry, District Environmental Health Unit, Department of Agriculture. The following national agencies which do not form part of the Departments of the Assembly are also in place: The National Service Secretariat, The NCCE, The Immigration Service, The CEPS, The Police Service. The other key decentralized departments which are yet to be established in the District include the following: Department of Town and Country Planning, Information Service Department, Department of Parks and Gardens. Other important national agencies that are crucial but not yet established in the district are: The Fire Service, The Statistical Service Department, Survey Department, The Forestry Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), The Land Valuation Board 4 Committees of the assembly The following committees have been constituted and are operational as part of the political and administrative machinery of the district. The executive committee (which is supported by the following sub-committees): Finance and Administration, Works, Justice and Security, Development Planning, Health and Environment, Education, Agriculture, Women and Children. The other committees in the district are: District HIV/AIDS Committee, District Security Council, District Tender Committee, District Tender Review Board, Audit Report Implementation Committee, and District Budget Committee.
1.4 Social and cultural structure 1.4.1 Traditional set-up There are seven paramountcies in the Kassena Nankana West District, namely, Paga, Chiana, Katiu, Nakong, Kayoro, Mirigu, and Sirigu. Every paramountcy has at least one ‘Tindana’ who acts as the chief priest and relates with the ancestral traditions which he holds in trust for the people. Sirigu has six Tindana. Matters concerning chieftaincy, culture, and tradition are handled by the various traditional council's and the individual chiefs.
1.4.2 Ethnicity The predominant tribes in the district are the Kassena and the Nankana and Mamprusis. Minor ethnic groups include Kantosi, Moshie, Builsa, Zambrama and few migrant workers from Burkina-Faso. These tribes have co-existed over the years, enhancing the development of the district. Despite the varied ethnic composition of the district, the society is generally patrilineal and traditionally male-dominated. Women are generally less involved in decision making and are traditionally responsible for the bulk of household activities such as cooking, fetching of water and caring for the children as well as other farming activities such as planting, weeding, harvesting and are also more involved in other commercial activities such as buying and selling.
1.4.3 Religious composition The major religious denominations are Christians, Muslims, and Traditionalist. The traditionalists are mostly found in the rural parts of the district. Their spiritual roles contribute to enhancing peace and development in the district.
1.4.4 Festivals Festivals are significant practices in the district. The Fao Festival is the predominant in Paga Traditional Area. This festival is celebrated to thank the gods for a bumper harvest. Another post-harvest festival is Gakwea which is also celebrated to give reverence and thanks to the gods for a bumper harvest which has implication for food security in the district. The Keposiga and Mokeeka festivals are also celebrated by the people of Sirigu and Kandiga. The festivals celebrated in the district strengthen the traditional family unions and systems of the people.
1.4.5 Marriage