Introduction to Bono Region

Background

The Bono region is one of the 16 administrative regions of Ghana. It was carved out of the former Brong Ahafo Region. In March 1959, the Brong Ahafo Bill was passed as a step towards the creation of another region in Ghana. Subsequently, on 4^th April 1959, the Brong Ahafo Region Act, No. 18, 1959 was enacted for the creation of the Brong Ahafo Region. However, in December 2018, the then President Akufo-Addo Government approved a petition to create six new regions in Ghana. Thus three new regions were created out of the existing Brong Ahafo Region namely Bono, Bono East and Ahafo after a successful referundum was held for the creation of six new regions in Ghana. Consequently, in the spirit of Article 255 of the 1992 constitution and Article 186 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936 as Amended), the Bono Regional Co-ordinating Council (BRCC) is a new entity and thus replaces the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (BARCC). Because of this, it became necessary to inaugurate the BRCC to enable it to perform its functions accordingly. Brong Ahafo Region in effect ceased to exist and so does the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council (BARCC).
Bono regional capital is Sunyani which prides itself as the cleanest capital city and major conference destination.

Location and Physical Characteristics

The Bono region of Ghana came into being after a referendum was passed in 2018 for the creation of new regions. It was formally known as the Brong-Ahafo Region. The Bono region has Sunyani as its regional capital with twelve Municipal and District administrative districts. At the north, the Bono Region shares a border with Savanna Region, Bono East Region at the east, Ahafo Region and Western North Region at the south. The region is also bordered on the west by Ghana-Cote D’Ivoire International Border. The land area for Bono Region is about 11,481KM2 .km2. (4433sqmi). Its distance from the national capital to the regional capital is about 369km which gives an average drive time of 7hrs 50mins from the national capital of Ghana.

Population Size, Growth and Density

Bono Region had a total population of 1,208,649 according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service. The distribution of the population by sex indicates that there are 596,676 males constituting 49.4 percent and a female population of 611,973, representing 50.6 percent. The region recorded an intercensal population growth rate of 2.5 between 2010 and 2021.The region’s population density in the 2021 population Census stood at 108.8 persons per square kilometer. The increasing population endangers the fixed land and its resources. For instance, it has resulted in high demand for land leading to high land pricing across the length and breadth of the region and especially in the regional capital. The demand for land has led to clearing of the forest and its valuable species among others. Moreover, there is pressure on the existing socio-economic infrastructure such as school infrastructure, health and water facilities among others.

Population Distribution by Settlements

The Bono Region has 12 administrative districts with six (6) of them being Municipalities and the other six (6) being Districts. The Urbanized areas in the region include Sunyani Municipal, Berekum Municipal, Dormaa Municipal, Wenchi, Jaman South and Sunyani West Municipals with the rest being semi- rural districts which include Jaman North, Dormaa East, Berekum West, Tain, Banda and Dormaa West.

The district beak down of the Bono Region population according to the 2021 population and housing report by the Ghana statistical Service is as follows; Sunyani municipal ranked as the highest populated district with a population of 193,595 followed by Sunyani West Municipal, Wenchi Municipal, Jaman North, Tain, Dormaa Central, Jaman South, Berekum East, Dormaa East, Berekum West, Dormaa West and Banda with 136022, 124758, 117909, 115568, 112702, 108388, 106252, 67899, 49464, 47913 and 28,179 population respectively.

Topography and Drainage

The topography of the region is generally flat and rises between 180m and 375m above sea level across some areas of the region. The region is endowed with several drainage system across the entire region. Most of the rivers have their catchments areas within the Districts around the high ranges with quite a good number cutting through and getting their source from adjourning districts. The region is well drained as evidence by the dense network of rivers spread out across all the districts. The rivers are mostly perennial due to double maximal rain fall, which is experienced in the District. The major rivers are; Black Volta River, River Tano, River Abisu, River Sise, River Nyinahini, River Ahunyan, River Bisi, River Bore, River Kora, River Maasu, River Jinijini, River Nanaasu, River Kyinmira, River Suntreso, Rivers Kora, River Maasu, River Jinijini, River Nanaasu, River Kyinmira, River Bia, River Nkasapim, River Pamu, River Abisu, River Sise, River Nyinahini, River Ahunyan, River Tain, River Subin, River Kyiridi, River Trome and River Yoyo. These rivers are potential resources that could be tapped for irrigation and small towns water projects.

Soil and Geology

The rocks underlying the soils are of the Birimain formation which covers more than three quarters of the closed forest zone. Economically, it is the most important geological formation in Ghana since it contains all the minerals exported from the country such as gold, diamond, bauxite and Manganese. Associated with the Birimians formation are extensive masses of, granite which occur in parallel belt.

These geological features together with the vegetation influence give rise to two main soils in the region namely the Savanna Ochrosols and the Forest Ochrosols. The fertile land/soil has made it possible for the production of food and tree crops in the region. Cocoa and cashew do very well in the region and currently the region is the highest producer of cashew nut

These soil types tend to support both industrial and food crops, which include cocoa, coffee, oil palm, citrus, cola-nuts, plantain, Cassava and Maize. Large deposits of granite is available in most parts of the region which are being used as stone quarry. Some part of the region is underlined by rocks of Pre-Cambrian formation believed to be rich in mineral deposits such as gold.

Natural Resources

Bono region abounds in a number of natural resources, which serve as a good potential for development. Some of these are being exploited while others remain unexploited. These resources include gold deposits, clay deposits, forest and water bodies as well as some natural Tourist features. The gold deposit around the Dormaa enclave has attracted small scale mining activities (Galamsay) and has both positively/ negatively impacted the citizenry, environment and water bodies.

In addition, the region has extensive forest reserves from which valuable timber species like Mahogany, Tick, Papao, Asanfina and Edinam, among others are being extracted on a large scale. The notable forest reserve in the region that attract lumbering include Bui National Park, Pamu-Berekum Forest, Tain II Forest Reserves all of which provide natural habitat for game and wild-life.

The region is also rich in ground water resources due to the high rainfall and the nature of the rocks. This is essential for ground water development such as the drilling of boreholes to help provide the population with potable water.