Economic Activities

Agriculture

The nation’s agriculture is predominantly of subsistence small holding production units, with weak linkages to industrial and service sectors but has an enormous potential to ensure food security, generate income and provide livelihood for majority of the people.

Agriculture plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the Bono Region as majority of the economically active population is engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing.  The districts which have relatively high proportions of their workforce in the agricultural sector are Tain, Jaman South and Jaman North.  However, Sunyani Municipal,  Berekum Municipal and Sunyani West have less than 50 percent of their workforce in the agricultural sector since they are developing commercial centres (GSS, 2013).   

The regional economy is agro-based with foodstuffs, cereals, legumes, and root and tree crop being the main crops cultivated.  The Bono Region is among the largest producer of cocoa, cashew, plantain, cassava, maize and yam.  The common food crops are plantain, cocoyam, cassava, maize, yams, groundnuts, cowpea, rice and vegetables.  Whilst, oil palm, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, cashew, mango, citrus and sheanut are the major cash crops produced.  Fishing activities are also undertaken by communities located near and along the major water bodies in the Region, especially along the Black Volta.  Animals like cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, turkey and fowls are reared on both small and large scale (MOFA, 2014).

Hospitality Services

The Bono Region can also boast of some appreciable hotels and guest houses.  These hospitality services are mostly found in Sunyani Municipal, Berekum Municipal, and Sunyani West which have relatively high proportions of their workforce in the accommodation and catering services (GSS, 2013). The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has registered over 100 hotels and guest houses across the Region. These prominent ones are Eusbett, Chesville, Regent Resorts, South Ridge, Tony’s Lodge, Tyco, and Glamossay (Sunyani); Sheila Executive (Fiapre), Ginaat, Partners and Continental (Berekum); Viglosam and Pony Guest House (Wenchi); and Savanna (Sampa).

The major challenges affecting tourism development in the Region are low awareness, poor marketing, inaccessible and undeveloped tourist sites and poor accommodation services (GTA, 2014). The sector therefore requires a great deal of development, marketing and promotion with effective private sector participation.

Education and Religion

• The region prides itself on having public institutions such as University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani Technical University, Dormaa Senior High School, Sunyani Senior High school, St. Vitus, Notre Dame Girls Senior High School, Sacred Heart Senior High School, Twene Amanfo Senior High Technical School, Odumanseman Senior High School, Bonoman Senior High School, Abesim Senior High School plus many other private educational institutions such as the Catholic University in Fiapre, Ideal College, Saint James Senior High Seminary in Abesim, Miracle Preparatory Junior & High School, Sunyani Business High School etc.
• Christianity, Islam and Bono Ancestral Worship and spirituality is the dominant religion within this domain.

POPULATION 15 YEARS AND OLDER BY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY STATUS, SEX AND TYPE OF LOCALITY IN BONO REGION

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2021

EMPLOYED POPULATION 15 YEARS AND OLDER BY INDUSTRY, SEX, TYPE OF LOCALITY IN BONO REGION

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2021