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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS


Location and Size

The Akyemansa District lies on longitude 10 10W and 1o O E. The district is strategically located especially the district capital which is situated among two major commercial towns, Oda and Nkawkaw as well as the mining town of New Abirem. Akyem Ofoase can be described as a nodal or a confluence town as it is located at the meeting point of the New Abirem-Oda-Nkawkaw roads.

The district is bordered by Birim North District to the north, Asante Akyem South Municipal, Amansie East and Adansi South Districts all in the Ashanti region to the west, Birim Central District to the south and Atiwa and Kwaebibirem districts to the east.

The district has a land size of 611.80, km2 constituting 3.4 percent of the land size and a population of 97, 374 constituting (3.7%) percent share of the population of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The district is predominantly rural with few urban settlements which include Ofoase, Ayerebi, Abenase and Bontodiase Adjobue


Topography and Drainage

The landscape of the district is mostly undulating and mountainous in nature. The central part of the district is a low lying area rising to a maximum height of 61 metres while the southern end of the district is elevated between 61 and 122 metres above sea level. The district is drained by several rivers and streams notable among them are the two great historical rivers, the Pra and Birim tributaries.

The Pra River serves as the boundary between Akyemansa and the neighbouring districts in the Ashanti Region, while the Birim River serves as the southern boundary of the district. The rivers and streams have high volumes of water which could be harnessed to boost agricultural production and also treated to supply potable water to many of the towns in the district. 

 

Climate and Vegetation

The Akyemansa District lies within the wet semi-equatorial climatic zone that experiences substantial amounts of rain twice in a year. The first rainfall season starts from late March to early July and the second season is from mid-August to late October. The amount of rainfall received in the district is between 150cm and 200cm reaching its maximum during the two peak periods of May-June and September-October.

Temperatures in the district range between an average minimum of 25.2 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 27.9 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity of the district is about 55-59 percent throughout the year. This climatic condition supports the cultivation of food crops and tree crops such as oil palm and 2 cocoa. This has given rise to increasing farming activities in the district and this condition confirms the designation of the district as an agrarian district.

Furthermore as a result of its rainfall pattern, the district is also home to four (4) forest reserves with a large variety of economic tree species and evergreen undergrowth. The forest reserves were created to slow down the trend in deforestation and to conserve some of the forests in the district. The forest trees provide resources for the timber industry.


Geology and Soil

The soils of the district can be classified into four broad categories. They are the Swedru-Nsaba/Ofin Compound Association which is found around the towns of Chia, Otwereso and Abenase; the Atewa-Atukrom-Asikuma-Ansum Compound Association around Ayirebi; the Bekwai-Oda Association around Ofoase and Akokoaso and the Birim-Chichiwere Association found around Edubiase. These varieties of soils are suitable for growing a wide range of trees and food crops as well as forestry.

Additionally, the greater part of the district is underlain with granite as well as upper and lower Birimian rock formation of pyrite, schist, greywacke and met volcanic and quartzes. These rocks have high potential for ground water extraction. The district lies almost completely in the main mineral deposit area of the Eastern Region with rich mineral resources in gold and diamond.

 


Date Created : 11/23/2017 2:59:11 AM