Bono Region | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 7°39′N2°30′W / 7.650°N 2.500°W | |
Country | Ghana |
Capital | Sunyani |
Districts | 12 |
Government | |
• Regional Minister | Hon Justina Owusu-Banahene [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 11,481 km2 (4,433 sq mi) |
Population (2021)Census [2] | |
• Total | 1,208,649 |
GDP (PPP) | |
GDP (Nominal) | |
Time zone | GMT |
The Bono region is one of the 16 administrative regions of Ghana. It is as a result of the remainder of Brong-Ahafo region when Bono East region and Ahafo region were created. [3] Sunyani, also known as the green city of Ghana, is the regional capital. [4] [5] Sunyani can pride itself as the cleanest capital city and a major conference destination. [6] [7]
The region was created after the Ahafo region and Bono East region respectively have been carved out of the then Brong-Ahafo region. This was in fulfillment of a promise made by candidate Nana Akuffo Addo in his 2016 campaign activities. The implementation of plans for the creation of this region is seeded to the newly created Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development under the leadership of Hon. Dan Botwe. Brong Ahafo Region in effect ceased to exist and so does the Brong Ahafo Region Co-ordinating Council (BARCC).
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 BARCC. Because of this, it became necessary to inaugurate the BRCC to enable it to perform its functions accordingly. [8]
The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 12 MMDA's (made up of 0 Metropolitan, 5 Municipal and 7 Ordinary Assemblies). [9] Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:
# | MMDA Name | Capital | MMDA Type | Member of Parliament | Party |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Banda | Banda Ahenkro | Ordinary | Ahmed Ibrahim | NDC |
2 | Berekum East | Berekum | Municipal | Nelson Kyeremeh | NPP |
3 | Berekum West | Jinijini | Ordinary | Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng | NPP |
4 | Dormaa Central | Dormaa-Ahenkro | Municipal | Kwaku Agyeman-Manu | NPP |
5 | Dormaa East | Wamfie | Ordinary | Paul Apreku Twum Barimah | NPP |
6 | Dormaa West | Nkrankwanta | Ordinary | Vincent Oppong Asamoah | NDC |
7 | Jaman North | Sampa | Ordinary | Frederick Yaw Ahenkwah | NDC |
8 | Jaman South | Japekrom | Municipal | Williams Okofo-Dateh | NDC |
9 | Sunyani | Sunyani | Municipal | Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh | NPP |
10 | Sunyani West | Odumase | Ordinary | Ignatius Baffour Awuah | NPP |
11 | Tain | Nsawkaw | Ordinary | Adama Sulemana | NDC |
12 | Wenchi | Wenchi | Municipal | Haruna Seidu | NDC |
This area's topography is mainly characterized by a low elevation not exceeding 152 metres above sea level. It has moist semi-deciduous forest and the soil is very fertile. The region produces Cash crops like cashew, timber, etc., and food crops such as maize, cassava, plantain, cocoyam, tomatoes, and many others. [6]
Bono Region shares a border at the north with the Savannah Region, is bordered on the west by Ghana-Côte d'Ivoire international border, on the east by Bono East, and on the south by Ahafo Region.
It has a population of about 1,208,649 according to Ghana statistical service in 2021 census. [11]
The region prides itself on having public institutions such as:
There are several cultural practices and festivals within this region. Some are:
The Brong-Ahafo region was a region in central Ghana. Brong-Ahafo was bordered to the north by the Black Volta river and to the east by the Lake Volta, and to the south by the Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions. The capital of Brong-Ahafo is Sunyani. Brong-Ahafo was created on 14 April 1959 from the then Western Ashanti and named after the main ethnic groups, the Brong and Ahafo. In 2019, as a result of the 2018 Ghanaian new regions referendum, the region was divided into three, namely Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions, and ceased to exist.
Dormaa District is a former district that was located in Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana. Originally created as an ordinary district assembly on 10 March 1989. However, on 1 November 2007, it was split off into two new districts by a decree of president John Agyekum Kufuor: Dormaa Central District and Dormaa East District. The district assembly was located in the western part of Brong-Ahafo Region and had Dormaa Ahenkro as its capital town.
Dormaa Ahenkro is a town and also the capital of Dormaa Traditional Area Dormaa Municipal of the Bono Region, in Ghana. Dormaa Ahenkro has a historical reference for their brave warlords. Dormaa Ahenkro is the capital for the Dormaa traditional area and serves as the seat of the Paramount chief Oseadeeyo Nana Agyeman Badu II, who is arguably the most controversial traditional leader in Ghana.
The University of Energy and Natural Resources is a public-funded university in Ghana, that was established by an Act of the Parliament of Ghana, Act 830, 2011 on December 31, 2011. The university is a public funded national institution which seeks to provide leadership and management of energy and natural resources and be a centre of excellence in these critical areas. The university approaches its programmes and research emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and taking into account, areas such as economics, law and policy, management, science, technology and engineering as well as social and political issues affecting energy and natural resources.
Banda Ahenkro is a town located in the west-northern of Bono region, Ghana, near the border of Ivory Coast. Its geography provided a home for numerous groups seeking shelter from across West Africa during the slave trade era. The original name of the settlement was Serminakuu meaning groups of 'grasses'. This name was changed to Banda, which is a corruption of 'Woanda' meaning 'they did not sleep'. Ancestors of Banda Ahenkro were allies of the Asante kingdom during wars and they provided a military force that virtually refused to sleep during at-war times. This is because they were predominantly Muslims and were found praying throughout the night. Later, 'woanda' was also corrupted by the Bono neighbours to become Banda. The settlement evolved to become the chief town or 'Ahenkro' within a collection of Nafana communities.
Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, a Ghanaian politician is the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.
Kwaku Agyemang-Manu a Ghanaian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central and was Ghana's Minister of Health between January 2017 and February 2024. He is a Chartered Management Accountant and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics from the University of Ghana in 1989.
The Ministry of Regional Re-organisation is Government of Ghana ministry charged with the responsibility of supervising the creation of new regions in Ghana. The ministry is headed by Hon. Dan Botwe. It was created in January 2017 by President Akufo-Addo.
Nana Agyemang Badu I was a traditional ruler in Ghana and Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono Region. His official title was Dormaahene - chief of Dormaa. He was the sixth president of the National House of Chiefs and served from 1978 to 1982. He was also the head of the Brong Ahafo regional House of Chiefs. He was the founding father of the Dormaa Secondary School also known as Dormas which is located in the heart of Dormaa Ahenkro Bono Region. Osagyefo was a close friend of the late Rtd.Ft. Lt.Jerry John Rawlings who was usually seen at the Kwafie Festival. In his private life, Osagyefo was a medical doctor.
Stephen Kwabena Opuni is a Ghanaian health practitioner and a former chief executive officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board.
Evans Bobie Opoku is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament and Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Asunafo North Constituency in the Ahafo Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party. In 2021, Nana Akufo-Addo appointed and sworn in him as the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports.
Kwame Boahene Yeboah-Afari was an educator and a politician. He served in various ministerial portfolios of the first republic including serving as Ghana's first Minister for Agriculture and the first Regional Minister for the Brong Ahafo Region. He also served as a member of parliament for the Sunyani East constituency.
Stephen Willie Yeboah was a Ghanaian politician. He served as a regional commissioner for the Brong Ahafo Region, the Ashanti Region and the Western Region. He also served as a member of parliament for the Sunyani West constituency and later the Dormaa constituency.
Yaw Appau is a Ghanaian judge who has served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana from July 2015 to August 2021.
The Bono East region of Ghana is a new region carved out of the Brong Ahafo region. The capital of the new region is Techiman. This creation of this new region was in fulfillment of a promise made by the New Patriotic Party prior to the 2016 Ghana general election. Upon winning the elections, the President, Nana Akuffo Addo created the Ministry of Regional Reorganization to oversee policy formulation and implementation. In all six new regions are to be created from the existing ten regions of Ghana. The other regions are Bono, Western North, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, and Oti regions.
Kwafie Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Wenchi in the Bono region and Techiman and in the Bono East Region, which were all formally Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of July. The people of Dormaa, Berekum and Nsoatre also celebrate it in November/ December.
James Oppong-Boanuh is a Ghanaian lawyer and police officer. He was appointed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service by President Nana Akufo-Addo in October 2019 and went on retirement as IGP in August 2021. Prior to being appointed as IGP, Oppong-Boanuh served in different command and staff positions including Aide-de-camp to the IGP, Chief Staff Officer to the IGP; Director-General of Welfare, Director-General of Human Resources; Regional Commander, Director-General of Legal and Prosecutions, Director-General of Administration and Deputy IGP.
Mim Bour or Mim Rocky-Mountains are located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the west of Mim in Asunafo North Municipal District of Ahafo region, Ghana.
Osagyefo OseadeeyoDr. Nana Freduah Agyemang Badu II is a Ghanaian traditional ruler who is the Omanhene of the Dormaa traditional area (Dormaaman) in Ghana. A grand durbar of chief, dignitaries, parliamentarians, government functionaries, ministers of state, Bonohene of Ivory Coast - Nana Agyeman Adinkrah II and distinguished citizens of Dormaa were present to outdoor Osagyefo, July 25, 1999. He is the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs.
Dormaa Senior High School, also known as DORMASS, is a pre-tertiary institution located in Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central, Municipality of the Bono Region of Ghana.