The regions of Ghana are the first level of subnational government administration within the Republic of Ghana. As of 2020, there are 16 regions,[1] which are further divided for administrative purposes into 260 local metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (or MMDA's).

Regions of Ghana
LocationRepublic of Ghana
Number16 Regions
Subdivisions

Current regions

edit

The ten former regions were officially established in 1987, when the Upper West Region was inaugurated as the state's newest administrative region, although it had already functioned as an administrative unit since the break-up of the Upper Region in December 1982, prior to the 1984 national census.[2] A referendum on the creation of six new regions was held on 27 December 2018, where all proposed new regions were approved.[3]

Former region Capital New region Capital
Ashanti Kumasi Ashanti Kumasi
Brong-Ahafo Sunyani Bono Sunyani
Bono East Techiman
Ahafo Goaso
Central Cape Coast Central Cape Coast
Eastern Koforidua Eastern Koforidua
Greater Accra Accra Greater Accra Accra
Northern Tamale Northern Tamale
Savannah Damongo
North East Nalerigu
Upper East Bolgatanga Upper East Bolgatanga
Upper West Wa Upper West Wa
Volta Ho Volta Ho
Oti Dambai
Western Sekondi-Takoradi Western Takoradi
Western North Wiawso[4]
 
Accra
Ho
Cape Coast
Takoradi
Wiawso
Dambai
Wa
Bolgatanga
Nalerigu
Damongo
Tamale
Kumasi
Sunyani
Techiman
Goaso
Koforidua
Regional Capitals

Previous regional configurations

edit

Independence - 6 March 1957

edit

At independence in March 1957, the Northern Territories, Trans-Volta Togoland and the Gold Coast came together to form Ghana. There were initially five regions. The Trans-Volta Togoland was combined with part of the Eastern Region and Northern Territories to form the Volta Region.

[5][6]

Former region Capital New region Capital
Ashanti Protectorate Kumasi Ashanti Region Kumasi
Eastern Province Koforidua Eastern Region Koforidua
(Keta) Volta Region Ho
Trans-Volta Togoland Ho
Northern Territories (Saboba)
Tamale Northern Region Tamale
Western Province Sekondi Western Region Sekondi

Post-independence and First Republic

edit

On 4 April 1959, the Ashanti Region was split into the Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions as a result of the Brong Ahafo Region Act No. 18 of 1959.[7] This was in line with what the Brong Kyempem movement had been campaigning for, which was the recognition of the Bono people as a separate ethnic group from the Ashantis with their own region.[5]

On the day Ghana became a republic, 1 July 1960, the Northern Region got split into the Northern and Upper regions raising the number of regions to seven.[5][7]

Former region Capital New region Capital
Ashanti Kumasi Ashanti Kumasi
Brong-Ahafo Region Sunyani
Eastern Region Koforidua Eastern Region Koforidua
Northern Region Tamale Northern Region Tamale
Upper Region Bolgatanga
Volta Region Ho Volta Region Ho
Western Region Sekondi Western Region Sekondi

Second Republic

edit

During the Second Republic, the Western Region was split into the Western and Central regions, making eight regions in total. This was done ahead of the 1970 census. In 1971, Sekondi and Takoradi were merged to form Sekondi-Takoradi, the new capital of the Western Region.[5][6]

Former region Capital New region Capital
Ashanti Kumasi Ashanti Kumasi
Brong-Ahafo region Sunyani Brong-Ahafo region Sunyani
Eastern Region Koforidua Eastern Region Koforidua
Northern Region Tamale Northern Region Tamale
Upper Region Bolgatanga Upper Region Bolgatanga
Volta Region Ho Volta Region Ho
Western Region Sekondi Western Region Sekondi-Takoradi
Central Region Cape Coast

PNDC era

edit

The Provisional National Defence Council, which was the military government in power between 1981 and 1993, promulgated the Greater Accra Law (PNDCL 26) of 23 July 1982 which created the Greater Accra Region. The new region consisted of the Accra Capital District and the Ada Local Council, which were split off from the Eastern Region. In the following year 1983, the Upper Region was divided into the Upper East Region and Upper West Region, bringing the total number of regions to ten.[6][7]

Former region Capital New region Capital
Ashanti Kumasi Ashanti Kumasi
Brong-Ahafo region Sunyani Brong-Ahafo region Sunyani
Central Region Cape Coast Central Region Cape Coast
Eastern Region Koforidua Eastern Region Koforidua
Greater Accra Region Accra
Northern Region Tamale Northern Region Tamale
Upper Region Bolgatanga Upper East Region Bolgatanga
Upper West Region Wa
Volta Region Ho Volta Region Ho
Western Region Sekondi-Takoradi Western Region Sekondi-Takoradi

See also

edit

General:

References

edit
  1. ^ "Ghana Now Has 16 Regions". Modern Ghana.
  2. ^ David Owusu-Ansah. Historical Dictionary of Ghana (4 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. xii.
  3. ^ Zurek, Kweku. "CONFIRMED: Results of the 2018 Referendum on new regions". Graphic Online. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Sefwi Wiaso is capital of Western North region". www.myjoyonline.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Vinorkor, Mark-Anthony (5 March 2020). "Evolution of the regions: from 5 to 16". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Regions of Ghana". statoids.com. Gwillim Law and Shirley Law. 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "A short history of the creation of regions in Ghana". ghanaweb.com. GhanaWeb. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

8. Official Ghana Regions