HOME - Wa West District Assembly

Establishment of the District Assembly

The District is located in the western part of the Upper West Region, approximately between Longitudes 9 40’N and 10 10’ N and between Latitudes 2 20W and 2 50’ W. It shares borders to the South with Savanah Region, North-West by Nadowli District, East by Wa Municipal and to West by Burkina Faso.

The total area of the District is approximately 1,856 square km, representing about 12% of the Region’s total land area. Wechiau is the District capital about 38.0 km away from Wa, the Upper West Regional capital.

The population of the Wa West District is currently estimated at 101,348 using the 2010 Population and Housing Census growth rate data. The district’s population is currently estimated at 92, 894. In terms of sex distribution, females constitute 50.5% of the population (51,181) and male 49.5% (50,167). The spatial distribution of the population of the district shows that, the district is predominately rural. The sex ratio of the district is 97.8%. The population of the district is youthful (45.5%) depicting a broad base population pyramid which tapers off with a small number of elderly persons (5.8%). The total dependency ratio for the district is 105.6, the age dependency ratio for male is higher (118.2) than that of female (94.6%).

Mandate of the Assembly

The Wa West District Assembly was carved out of the then Wa District by Legislative Instrument (LI)1751 and inaugurated on 18^thFebruary, 2004 in accordance with Section 2 of the then Local Government Act (1993) Act 462 which has been replaced by Act (2016) Act 936.

The Assembly has Forty-three (43) members comprising Twenty-Eight (28) elected members and Thirteen (13) Government Appointees with one Member of Parliament and a District Chief Executive. The list of members and their respective electoral areas can be obtained from the registry. There are Twenty-Eight (28) unit Committees in the District and each unit has at 15 members.

The Sub-District structures of the Assembly are Five (5), that is, five area Councils namely, Wechiau Area Council, Dorimon Area Council, Ga Area Council, Gurungu Area Council and Viere Area Council.

The Assembly has the five (5) mandatory Sub-Committees such as Finance and Administration, Works, Social Services, Justice and Security and Development Planning which assist the Executive Committee to discharge its mandate appropriately. Aside the five statutory Sub-committees, the Assembly also put in place the Micro and Small Scale and Gender sub-committees to assist the Rural Enterprises Programme to function effectively. The Sub-committees and the Sub-district structures are creations of the Local Governance Act, Act 936 and Legislative Instrument, L I 1961 respectfully and therefore must be supported to function effectively.

Vision

To empower her people achieve sound and sustained socio-economic development in an enabling environment.

Our Mission

The Wa West District Assembly exists to enhance the quality of life of the people through a well-coordinated and planned development, the effective and efficient local governance and the mobilization and coordination of resources for the good of all its citizens.

This is expected to be achieved through:

Effective mobilization of both human and material resources
Ensuring and promoting peace and among the people at all times
Efficient utilization of resources
Ensuring proper planning, zoning and development of our towns and communities

Core Values

The core values of the Assembly are as follow: the core values serve as the guiding principles for the staff, motivate them in the discharge of their duties and to some extent, regulate their conduct are as follows:

Team Work

Commitment and dedication

Networking

Respect for clients

The core values serve as the guiding principles for the staff. They are the motivators and the drivers of service delivery and therefore management should occasionally remind staff the essence of these values at both management and staff meetings.

Wa West District- Home of Hippos

Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary

The Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (WCHS) is a unique, community-based conservation project located in Ghana’s Upper West Region. It protects and preserves wildlife and the natural environment along a 40 km stretch of the Black Volta River.

This river is home to one of only two remaining populations of hippopotamuses in Ghana. In 1999, local chiefs established the sanctuary to safeguard these animals and promote sustainable tourism.

Since its creation, the sanctuary has achieved significant success, offering both Ghanaian and international visitors a rare and memorable eco-tourism experience. Visitors can enjoy guided canoe safaris, bird watching, cultural encounters, and peaceful nature exploration.

In addition to conservation efforts, the sanctuary features a modern office and lodge, known as Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary and Lodge, providing accommodation and facilities for tourists.

WA WEST CASHEW PLANTATION

Wa West District Assembly Cashew Farm

The Wa West District Assembly under the leadership of Edward Sabo Laabiir is to set up cashew farm for the Wa West District Assembly.

Aim
It aims to increase cashew production, raise income of farmers and cut down the unemployment rate as well as modernize agriculture in the District.
PERD
This is in continuation of President Nana Akufo Addo’s futuristic financial security program dubbed Planting for Export and Rural Development ( PERD).
Employment
The Cashew nursery together with the plantations currently employs as many as 153 people who received monthly income.
Cashew Farms
The West District Assembly had established 20 acres of cashew nursery at Ga and Bankpama in the district.