Eastern Region (Ghana)

Eastern Region
Region
Tourists enjoying themselves at Umbrella Rock
Location of Eastern Region in Ghana
Country	Ghana
Capital	Koforidua
Districts	26
Government
• Regional Minister	Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong[1]
Area
• Total	19,323 km2 (7,461 sq mi)
• Rank	Ranked 6th
Population  (2021 Census)
• Total	2,925,653
• Rank	Ranked 3rd
• Density	150/km2 (390/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2013
• Per capita	$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
• Year	2013
• Per capita	$2,500
Time zone	GMT
Area code	034
ISO 3166 code	GH-EP
HDI (2017)	0.590[2] medium · 5th

The Eastern Region is located in the Eastern part of Ghana and is one of the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana. Eastern region is bordered to the east by the Lake Volta, to the north by Bono East Region and Ashanti region, to the west by Ashanti region, to the south by Central region and Greater Accra Region. Akans are the dominant inhabitants and natives of Eastern region and Akan, Ewe, Krobo, Hausa and English are the main spoken languages. The capital town of Eastern Region is Koforidua.The Eastern region is the location of the Akosombo dam and the economy of the Eastern region is dominated by its high-capacity electricity generation. Eastern region covers an area of 19,323 square kilometres, which is about 8.1% of Ghana's total landform.^[3]

Hydro project

High-capacity electricity generation Akosombo Hydroelectric Project contains three main tributaries: the Black Volta; the White Volta and the Red Volta and the Akosombo Hydroelectric Project flows into the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean.^[4] The Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965 as part of the Volta River Project. The dam measures at 440 ft (134 m) above ground level. The large electric power generating capacity is 912 megawatts. The dam helps supplies electricity to an economically important town called Tema.^[5]

Wide dynamic range of Akosombo Hydroelectric Project: hydroelectric dam on Lake Volta in Akosombo, Eastern region, Akosombo canyon. The construction of the dam in the Volta Basin resulted in the subsequent creation of Lake Volta.^[4] Lake Volta is the Earth's largest man-made lake and artificial lake, covering 8,502 square kilometres (3,283 sq mi), which is 3.6% of Ghana's landform.^[4]

Education

Senior High Schools

The region also boasts of some quality basic schools such as Hecta School Complex, established in 1962, and others.

Colleges

• Kibi Presbyterian College of Education
• Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong
• Presbyterian Women's College of Education
• Mount Mary College of Education, Somanya
• Seventh Day Adventist College of Education, Asokore
• Abetifi Presbyterian College of Education

Universities

• Ashesi University
• All Nations University
• University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies
• Koforidua Technical University
• Presbyterian University College (Abetifi Kwahu)
• Presbyterian University college (Akropong)
• University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya

Districts

District changes

Achiase District was carved out of the existing Birim South District and inaugurated on 22 February 2019.^[6] The Afram Plains District has since been split into two and renamed as Kwahu Afram Plains North District with its capital being Donkorkrom and Kwahu Afram Plains South District with its capital also being Tease.^{[citation needed]} The Akuapim South District, East Akim District and Kwahu West Districts have been upgraded to Municipal status with the addition of Birim Central Municipal District which is entirely new. Other new districts include Akyemansa District and Kwahu East District. The Manya Krobo District has been split into Lower Manya Krobo District and Upper Manya Krobo District.^[7]

Administrative divisions

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 33 MMDA's (mMDAsMd by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The MMDA's were increased from 9 to 15 in 1988; then from 15 to 17 in 2004; then from 17 to 21 in 2008; then from 21 to 26 in 2012; and recently from 26 to 33 in 2018. The current list is as follows:

Culture

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2021)

Tourist Sites

• Aburi Botanical Garden

• Boti Waterfalls
• Akosombo Dam
• Shai Hills Resource Reserve
• Umbrella Rock
• Atewa Range Forest Reserve
• Lake Volta
• The Big Tree at Oda
• Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm
• Bead Factory
• Dodi Island

• Adomi Bridge
• Akaa Waterfalls
• Ghana Bike and Hike Tours
• Kwahu plateau
• Akwawa Mountain Peak

Famous native citizens

References

Works cited

• Fobil, J.N., D.K. Attaquayefio, and Volta Basin Research Project [VBRP]. 2003. Remediation of the environmental impacts of the Akosombo and Kpong dams. HORIZON Solutions Site: Public Health. Yale University Department of Biology: HORIZON International.

6°30′N 0°30′W / 6.500°N 0.500°W / 6.500; -0.500