The Districts of Ghana are second-level administrative subdivisions of Ghana, below the level of region. There are currently 261 local metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (or MMDA's).
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 are classified into three types: Ordinary Districts with a minimum population of seventy-five thousand (75,000) people, Municipal Districts with a minimum population of ninety-five thousand (95,000) people, and Metropolitan Districts with a minimum population of two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) 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 District Chief Executive is appointed by the President of the Republic and serves as the representative of the Central Government in the district. The incumbent presides at meetings of the Executive Committee of the District Assembly, and is responsible for: the day-to-day performance of the executive and administrative functions of the District Assembly the supervision of the departments of the District Assembly
Executive committee The Executive Committee exercises the executive and coordinating functions of the District Assembly, and has the following members: 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 Each District Assembly elects a Presiding Member from among their number, who convenes and presides at meetings of the District Assembly.
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
The Act also grants the District Assemblies with the following authorities: Auction sales, as provided by the Auction Sales Act, 1989 (P.N.D.C.L. 230) Liquor licensing, as provided by the Liquor Licensing Act, 1970 (Act 331) Control bushfires, as provided by the Control and Prevention of Bushfires Act, 1990 (P.N.D.C.L. 229)* Execute the following provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) 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:
District Category Capital Established Comments Asunafo North Municipal Goaso 1912 Regional capital Asunafo South District Kukuom 2012 Asutifi North District Kenyasi Asutifi South District Hwidiem 2012 Tano North Municipal Duayaw Nkwanta 2004 Tano South Municipal Bechem 2004
Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region of Ghana is made up of 43 districts. This was increased from 30 districts. This is made up of 1 Metropolitan, 19 Municipal and 23 Ordinary districts. These are:
District Category Capital Established Comments Adansi Asokwa District Adansi Asokwa 2018 Adansi North District Fomena Adansi South District New Edubiase Afigya-Kwabre North District Boamang 2018 Afigya-Kwabre South District Kodie 1 November 2007 Ahafo-Ano North Municipal Tepa 1988 Ahafo-Ano South East District Adugyama 2018 Ahafo-Ano South West District Mankranso Akrofuom District Akrofuom 15 March 2018 Amansie Central District Jacobu 2004 Amansie West District Manso Nkwanta 1988 Amansie South District Manso Adubia 15 March 2018 Asante-Akim Central Municipal Konongo 1988 Asante-Akim North District Agogo Asante-Akim South Municipal Juaso Asokore-Mampong Municipal Asokore Mampong 29 June 2012 Asokwa Municipal Asokwa 2018 Atwima-Kwanwoma District Twedie November 2007 Atwima-Mponua District Nyinahin Atwima-Nwabiagya Municipal Nkawie Atwima-Nwabiagya North District Barekese 2018 Bekwai Municipal Bekwai Bosome Freho District Asiwa Bosomtwe District Kuntanase Ejisu Municipal Ejisu Ejura/Sekyedumase Municipal Ejura Juaben Municipal Juaben 2018 Kumasi Metropolitan Kumasi Kwabre East Municipal Mamponteng Kwadaso Municipal Kwadaso 2018 Mampong Municipal Mampong Obuasi East Municipal Tutuka 2018 Obuasi Municipal Obuasi 2004 Offinso Municipal Offinso 2007 Offinso North District Akomadan Oforikrom Municipal Oforikrom 2018 Old Tafo Municipal Old Tafo 2018 Sekyere Afram Plains District Drobonso 28 June 2012 Sekyere Central District Nsuta Sekyere East District Effiduase 1988 Sekyere Kumawu District Kumawu 2008 Sekyere South District Agona Suame Municipal Suame 2018
Bono Region
The Bono Region of Ghana was created by a referendum in December 2018. It was part of the then Brong-Ahafo Region and contains 12 districts, 5 municipal and 7 ordinary districts. These are:
District Category Capital Established Comments Banda District Banda Ahenkro Berekum East Municipal Berekum Berekum West District Jinijini Dormaa Central Municipal Dormaa Ahenkro Dormaa East District Wamfie Dormaa West District Nkrankwanta Jaman North District Sampa Jaman South Municipal Drobo Sunyani Municipal Sunyani Regional capital Sunyani West District Odumase Tain District Nsawkaw Wenchi Municipal Wenchi
Bono East Region
The Bono East Region of Ghana was created by a referendum in December 2018. It was part of the then Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana and contains 11 districts, 4 municipal and 7 ordinary districts. These are: District Category Capital Established Comments Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Atebubu Kintampo North Municipal Kintampo Kintampo South District Jema Nkoranza North District Busunya Nkoranza South Municipal Nkoranza Pru East District Yeji Pru West District Prang Sene East District Kajaji Sene West District Kwame Danso Techiman Municipal Techiman Regional capital Techiman North District Tuobodom
Central Region
The Central Region of Ghana contains 22 districts. These are made up of 1 metropolitan, 7 municipal and 14 ordinary districts. There were formally 20 districts in this region. District Category Capital Established Comments Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese District Abura-Dunkwa 1988 Agona East District Nsaba Agona West Municipal Municipal Agona Swedru Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam District Ajumako Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District Breman Asikuma 2 November 1988 Assin Central Municipal Assin Foso Assin North District Assin Bereku 15 March 2018 Assin South District Nsuaem Kyekyewere Awutu Senya East Municipal Kasoa 28 June 2012 Awutu Senya West District Awutu Breku Cape Coast Metropolitan Cape Coast Municipal 1987Metropolitan 2007 Effutu Municipal Winneba Ekumfi District Esakyir June 2012 Gomoa East District Potsin 2018 Gomoa Central District Afransi 29 February 2008 Gomoa West District Apam Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal Elmina Mfantsiman Municipal Saltpond Twifo Atti Morkwa District Twifo Praso 2012 Twifo/Hemang/Lower Denkyira District Hemang Upper Denkyira East Municipal Dunkwa-on-Offin February 2008 Upper Denkyira West District Diaso
Eastern Region
The Eastern Region of Ghana contains 33 districts made up of 13 municipal and 20 ordinary districts. These are: District Category Capital Established Comments Abuakwa North Municipal Kukurantumi 2018 Abuakwa South Municipal Kibi Municipal status 2008 Achiase District Achiase Akuapim North Municipal Akropong 1988 Municipal status15 March 2012 Akuapim South District Aburi 2012 Akyemansa District Ofoase 2008 Asene Manso Akroso District Manso 2018 Asuogyaman District Atimpoku Atiwa East District Anyinam 2018 Atiwa West District Kwabeng 2008 Ayensuano District Coaltar 28 June 2012 Birim Central Municipal Akim Oda 2007 Birim North District New Abirem Birim South District Akim Swedru 2008 Denkyembour District Akwatia 28 June 2012 Fanteakwa North District Begoro Fanteakwa South District Osino 2018 Kwaebibirem Municipal Kade 1988 Kwahu Afram Plains North District Donkorkrom Kwahu Afram Plains South District Tease 28 June 2012 Kwahu East District Abetifi Kwahu South District Mpraeso Kwahu West Municipal Nkawkaw Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Krobo Odumase New Juaben North Municipal Effiduase 2018 New Juaben South Municipal Koforidua 1988 Nsawam Adoagyire Municipal Nsawam Okere District Adukrom 15 March 2018 Suhum Municipal Suhum, Ghana July 2012 Upper Manya Krobo District Asesewa Upper West Akim District Adeiso 28 June 2012 West Akim Municipal Asamankese Yilo-Krobo Municipal Somanya
Greater Accra Region
The Greater Accra Region of Ghana contains 29 districts made up of 2 metropolitan, 23 municipal and 4 ordinary districts. These are: