Establishment of the District

The Atiwa West District came to existence by a legislative instrument L.I. 2343 when the then existing Atiwa District was divided into two in 2017. The District Capital, Kwabeng, is situated at the foot of the Atiwa Range. The Atiwa West District covers a total land area of approximately 328 square kilometers lying between longitudes O° 3ʻ West and O° 50 East and latitudes 6° 10̕ North and 6° 30̕ South.  The District is bounded on the North and North-East by Atiwa East and Fanteakwa South respectively, to the East by Abuakwa North and South, Kwaebibrim and Denkyembour to the West and Ayensuano to the South.

 

Population Structure

The Atiwa West District has a total estimated population of 61,219 according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census Report. The distribution of the population in the district according to sex indicates that there are more males than females in the district. The males constitute 51% whereas the females constitute 49%. Comparing population by the locality type, there are more people in the rural areas than in the urban centers. The population figures for the rural and urban areas are 40,861 and 20,358 respectively.

 

Vision

To become one of the best Districts in the country in terms of quality service delivery and improvement in the quality of lives of the citizenry.

 

Mission

To improve the quality of life of the people in the district through the mobilization of human,

material and financial resources for the provision of Socio-economic Services and infrastructure.

 

Goals

  • To boost local economic development of the Atiwa West District.

  • To increase access to quality education in the district

  • To increase access to quality healthcare delivery in the district

  • To increase access to safe sanitation across all communities in the district.

  • To strengthen the capacity of the Assembly and its departments.

  • To develop a standard development plan that addresses the real needs of the people in the district.

 

Core Functions

The District Assembly is the highest administrative and political authority of the district. It exercises deliberative, legislative and executive functions. The Assembly performs the following functions, as provided in Section 12 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).

  • Being responsible for the overall development of the district

  • Formulating and executing plans, programs and strategies for the effective mobilization of the resources necessary for the overall development of the district

  • Promoting and supporting productive activity and social development in the district and removing any obstacles to initiative and development

  • Initiating programs for the development of basic infrastructure and providing district works and services in the district

  • Being responsible for the development, improvement and management of human settlements and the environment in the district

  • Being responsible for the maintenance of security and public safety in the district in cooperation with the appropriate national and local security agencies

  • Ensuring ready access to courts in the district for the promotion of justice

  • Preserving and promoting cultural heritage within the district

  • Initiating, sponsoring and carrying out studies that may be necessary for the discharge of any of the duties conferred by this Act or any other enactment

  • Performing any other functions that may be provided under other enactments.

  • Executing approved development plans for the district.

  • Guiding, encouraging and supporting sub-district local structures, public agencies and local communities to perform their functions in the execution of approved development plans.

  • Initiating and encouraging joint participation with other persons or bodies to execute approved development plans.

  • Promoting or encouraging other persons or bodies to undertake projects under approved development plans; and

  • Monitoring the execution of projects under approved development plans and assessing and evaluating their impact on the development of the district and national economy in accordance with government policy.

 

District Economy

The main economic activities in the district are agriculture, commerce, service and industry or manufacturing.  Agriculture remains the dominant sector and employs about 57.4% of the labour force. This is followed by the service sector (hair-dressing salons, mechanics, electricians, sprayers, spare parts dealers, drug/chemical stores, pharmacies, supermarkets, drinking spots) which employs about 29.6% while 13% are employed in the industry (Gari Processing, Oil Palm Extraction, Mining, Sawmills and Bakery). The mining sector employs 6.6% of the total labour force in the district. The contribution of manufacturing is marginal and such activities are usually organized on small scale basis. Whereas more males than females are employed by the Agriculture and Industry sectors, more females than males are employed by the Service sector of 38.2% and 21.0% respectively.