Upper East Region

Last updated
Upper East Region, Dagbon
Region
Rocks in the Tongo Hills, Gorogo, Upper East Region, Ghana.JPG
Rock formation in the Tongo Hills near Gorogo
Ghana-UpperEastRegion.png
Location of Upper East Region in Ghana
Country Ghana
Capital Bolgatanga
Districts10
Government
 •  Regional Minister Akamugri Donatus Atanga [1]
Area
[2]
 • Total
8,842 km2 (3,414 sq mi)
 • Rank Ranked 9th
Population
 (2021 Census) [3]
 • Total
1,301,226
 • Rank Ranked 9th
 • Density147.2/km2 (381.2/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$2,500
Time zone GMT
Area code 039
ISO 3166 code GH-UE
HDI (2017)0.520 [4]
low · 8th

The Upper East Region is located in the northern part of Ghana, [5] and it is the third smallest of the 16 administrative regions in Ghana. Despite its relatively small size, the region holds an outsized significance in the nation's cultural heritage and historical narrative. It occupies a total land surface of 8,842 square kilometers, hence constituting a modest 2.7% of Ghana's total land area. The regional capital is Bolgatanga, which is sometimes referred to as Bolga. [6] [7] It is a major center for the production and sale of beautifully woven baskets, leather goods, and straw handicrafts. Bolga serves as the administrative and commercial heartbeat of the region. Other major towns in the region include Navrongo, Paga, Sandema, Bawku, Zebilla, Tempane, Pusiga, Garu, Pwalugu, and Widana. [8]

Contents

Geography

Location and size

The Upper East Region is located in the north-eastern corner of Ghana and is bordered by Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east. It lies between longitude 0° and 1° West and latitudes 10° 30′N and 11°N. The region shares boundaries with Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, Upper West Region to the west, and the Northern Region to the south. The Upper East Region is divided into 15 districts, each headed by a district chief executive. [9] [10]

The region's landscape is predominantly characterized by gentle slopes mixed with rock outcrops and uplands and the dramatic escarpments of the Gambaga Scarp 2. This geography is part of the broader Sudanian Savanna ecosystem, featuring sparse drought-resistant trees such as baobabs, acacias, and shea trees. The climate of Upper East is hot and semi-arid, with a single, highly unpredictable rainy season from May to October. The long, intense dry season (November to April) makes the region one of the most vulnerable to climate variability in Ghana. [11]

Tourism

Recreation areas

Historic sites

Festivals

The region plays host to many festivals throughout the year, most of which are either to bring a good planting season or celebrate the harvest.

Other tourist attractions

Demographics

Population

The center of population of the Upper East Region is located in its capital of Bolgatanga, which serves as the primary hub for commerce, administration, and services, naturally attracting a concentration of people from the surrounding areas.

The population is overwhelmingly rural. With 79% of its population living in rural areas, it holds the distinction of being the least urbanized region in Ghana. The rural population was 87.1 percent in 1984 and 84.3 percent in 2000. There was, thus, a 2.8 percentage point reduction in the rural share of the population between 1984 and 2000 and a further 5.3 percent reduction between 2000 and 2010. [3]

With only 21 percent of the population living in urban areas, the region is the least urbanized in Ghana. In fact, together with Upper West, they are the two regions with less than 20 percent urban population.

Ghanaian citizens by birth, childhood, or parenthood constitute 92.5 percent of the population of the Upper East region. Naturalized Ghanaian citizens constitute 5.3 percent.

The Upper East Region has a total population of 1,301,221, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service, indicating that the Upper East Region represents 4.2 percent of Ghana’s population.

The region has a total of 631,963 males and 669,963 females, representing 48.5 and 51.5 percent of the population, respectively. [13]

Transportation

Three national highways— N2, N10, and N11—and a few regional highways, such as the R113, R114, R116, and R181, serve the region.

The N10 originates from Yemoransa in the Central Region and connects through Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and terminates at Paga in the Upper East Region. The national capital of Accra is also connected to the region by the N2, which terminates in Kulungugu in the Upper East Region. Both these national routes are connected by the N11, which links the regional capital of Bolgatanga to Bimpiela, also in the region.

Administrative divisions

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 15 MMDAs (made up of 0 metropolitan, 4 Municipal and 15 ordinary assemblies). [14] Each District, Municipal, or Metropolitan Assembly is administered by a Chief Executive, who represents the central government but derives authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:

Old Map of the Districts of the Upper East Region (2016) Districts of the Upper East Region (2012).svg
Old Map of the Districts of the Upper East Region (2016)
Districts of the Upper East Region [15]
#MMDA NameCapitalMMDA TypePopulation
1 Bawku Bawku Municipal
2 Bawku West Zebilla Ordinary
3 Binduri Binduri [16] Ordinary
4 Bolgatanga Bolgatanga Municipal
5 Bolgatanga East Zuarungu Ordinary
6 Bongo Bongo Ordinary
7 Builsa North Sandema Municipal
8 Builsa South Fumbisi [17] Ordinary
9 Garu Garu Ordinary
10 Kassena Nankana East Navrongo Municipal
11 Kassena-Nankana West Paga Ordinary
12 Nabdam Nangodi Ordinary
13 Pusiga Pusiga [18] Ordinary
14 Talensi Tongo Ordinary
15 Tempane Tempane Ordinary

Education

Senior high schools

Tertiary Institutions

Sports

Notable native citizens

Notable native citizens of Upper East region
#CitizenSettlement
1 Joseph Kofi Adda Navrongo
2 Roland Agambire Sirigu
3 Roger A. Agana Soe
4 David Atanga Namoo
5 Theresa Lardi Awuni Winkongo
6 Adam Kwarasey Navrongo
7 Abedi Pele Paga
8 Mark Woyongo Navrongo
9 Hawa Yakubu Pusiga
10 Stephen Yakubu Binduri
11 Adabere Adabre Donald Bolgatanga
12 John Akparibo Ndebugre Bawku
13 Cletus Apul Avoka Bawku
14 Mahama Ayariga Bawku
15 Awini Emmanuel Ayonde Bawku
16 Laadi Ayi Ayamga Pusiga
17 Rev. Professor John Azumah Bawku
18 Simon Atingban Akunye Pusiga
18 Dr.Kingley Akurugu Bawku
19 Dominic Akuritinga Ayine Zuarungu
20Eastwood Anaba Bolgatanga

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-03. Retrieved 2019-07-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ "Upper East Region". Ghanadistricts.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  3. 1 2 "Upper East Region – Population" (PDF). statsghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  4. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  5. ↑ "Upper East Region: Group pushes for sex education to reduce teenage pregnancies". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  6. ↑ "The cultural centre in Bolga". Graphic Online. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. ↑ "Mahama's SpeakOut train hits Bolgatanga - MyJoyOnline" . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  8. ↑ "Directory of Cities and Towns in Upper East". www.fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  9. ↑ "Upper East - National Road Safety Authority". nrsa.gov.gh. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  10. ↑ "Election Nerve Centre :: Asaase Radio". elections.asaaseradio.com. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  11. ↑ https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tourism/UpperEast.php
  12. ↑ "Festivals in the Upper East Region - Ghana Embassy Berlin". Ghanaemberlin Germany. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "2021 PHC results: Upper East constitutes 4.2% of Ghana's population - A1 Radio Bolgatanga". Radionline. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  14. ↑ "Upper East". GhanaDistricts. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Upper East Region – Districts
  16. ↑ "Ghana Districts - A repository of all districts in the republic of Ghana". GhanaDistricts. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18.
  17. ↑ "Ghana Districts - A repository of all districts in the republic of Ghana". GhanaDistricts. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18.
  18. ↑ "Ghana Districts - A repository of all districts in the republic of Ghana". GhanaDistricts. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18.
  19. ↑ "Senior High Schools in Upper East Region of Ghana". schoolsInGh. Retrieved 2024-07-13.

Sources

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