Year Established: 2017 under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2305; the Assembly was inaugurated on 1 June 2018 after being carved out of the former East Akim Municipal Assembly.
The Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly (ANMA) is one of the administrative municipalities located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Municipality was carved out of the former East Akim Municipal Assembly as part of Ghana’s decentralisation reforms and was established under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2305 of 2017. It was inaugurated on 1 June 2018, with Kukurantumi serving as the administrative capital. The creation of the Municipality established a distinct local government structure for the northern portion of the former East Akim area.
The Municipality is situated in the central-eastern part of the Eastern Region. It shares boundaries with Fanteakwa North District to the north, New Juaben North Municipal Assembly to the south-east, Suhum Municipal Assembly to the west, and Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly to the south and west. Its location also places it within convenient reach of Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, and other important commercial centres. This strategic position supports inter-district trade, agricultural marketing and the expansion of residential and commercial activities.
In terms of land area, the Municipality covers approximately 311 square kilometres. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 91,297, comprising 44,374 males and 46,923 females. Females therefore constituted approximately 51.4% of the population, compared with 48.6% males. About 74,796 people lived in urban areas, while approximately 16,501 lived in rural areas, making Abuakwa North one of the more urbanised municipalities in the area.
The economy of Abuakwa North is predominantly driven by agriculture, commerce, agro-processing, services and small-scale enterprise. Agriculture remains a major source of employment, with cocoa, oil palm and coconut cultivated as important cash crops alongside cassava, maize, plantain, vegetables, rice, cocoyam, sweet potato and yam. The Municipality also has considerable potential for agricultural value addition. The presence of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at New Tafo has contributed to agricultural research, technology development and agro-processing activities within the Municipality.
Kukurantumi is the Municipality’s principal administrative centre, while New Tafo, Old Tafo and Osiem are among its other major urban and commercial communities. Other important settlements include Anyinasin, Anweabeng, Ettokrom, Ahenbronom, Ati-Ahenbronom, Ati-Amanfrom, Nobi-Bayera, Sokode-Juaso, Mangoase and Abaase. These communities support a mixture of agricultural production, trading, processing, public services and residential activities.
Administratively, the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the Municipality. The Assembly exercises deliberative, legislative and executive functions and is responsible for local governance, development planning, spatial planning, infrastructure provision, agricultural development, environmental management, sanitation, public health and internal revenue mobilisation. The Municipality operates through three Zonal Councils: Tafo, Kukurantumi and Osiem, bringing local administration and development activities closer to residents.
The Assembly’s governance structure comprises 24 Assembly Members, of whom 16 are elected and 8 are Government Appointees. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) serves as the political and administrative head, while the Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa North Constituency is a non-voting member of the Assembly. The General Assembly is chaired by a Presiding Member elected from among the Assembly Members and performs its functions through the Executive Committee and various sub-committees.
Abuakwa North possesses important agricultural, scientific, cultural and tourism assets. One of its most significant institutions is the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at New Tafo, which contributes to agricultural research, innovation and the development of cocoa and other crops. The Municipality also has the CRIG golf course and recreational facilities, which provide opportunities for educational, institutional and leisure tourism. Old Tafo, in particular, is historically significant as the traditional home of the Ohum Festival, one of the major festivals of Akyem Abuakwa.
The Municipality’s cultural heritage is strongly associated with the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area. The annual Ohum Festival, celebrated in Old Tafo, attracts visitors and provides opportunities for cultural tourism, hospitality and local commerce. The Municipality’s traditional palaces, markets, historical settlements and agricultural landscapes complement its tourism potential. The availability of hotels and guest houses in places such as New Tafo and Kukurantumi also provides a foundation for further development of the hospitality sector.
The Municipality faces a number of development challenges, including poor feeder roads, inadequate drainage, pressure on urban infrastructure, limited agro-processing capacity and the need to improve access to social and economic services in rural communities. Agricultural development is particularly affected by the condition of feeder roads, which can make it difficult for farmers to transport produce to markets. The Assembly has therefore continued to prioritise road maintenance, drainage improvement, agricultural extension and infrastructure development.
Abuakwa North nevertheless has strong opportunities for commercial agriculture, agro-processing, palm oil production, cocoa value addition, tourism, research-based agricultural enterprise, commerce and small and medium-scale businesses. Palm oil processing is already an important local economic activity, particularly in Tontro, New Tafo, Old Tafo and Kukurantumi, with processing groups supplying markets within Ghana and neighbouring countries. The Assembly has also supported farmers through the distribution of coconut and oil palm seedlings, with the aim of expanding commercial agriculture and creating sustainable raw materials for industry.
With Kukurantumi as its administrative capital, the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly occupies an important position in the Eastern Region. Its combination of agricultural resources, CRIG’s scientific and research presence, strong traditional heritage, expanding urban settlements, palm-oil processing activities and proximity to Koforidua makes it an important agricultural, commercial and institutional hub. Continued investment in feeder roads, agro-processing, tourism, urban infrastructure and local enterprise development will be central to unlocking the Municipality’s full economic potential.
Key Profile Data
Population: 91,297
Male: 44,374
Female: 46,923
Female population share: 51.4%
Male population share: 48.6%
Urban population: 74,796
Rural population: 16,501
Land area: 311 km²
Capital: Kukurantumi
Zonal Councils: 3
Tafo Zonal Council
Kukurantumi Zonal Council
Osiem Zonal Council
Electoral Areas: 16
Assembly Members: 24
16 elected
8 Government Appointees
Parliamentary Constituency: 1 (Abuakwa North Constituency)
Year established: 2018
Establishing legislation: L.I. 2305 of 2017
Region: Eastern Region
Parent Assembly: East Akim Municipal Assembly
Major communities: Kukurantumi, New Tafo, Old Tafo, Osiem, Anyinasin, Anweabeng, Ettokrom, Ahenbronom, Ati-Ahenbronom, Ati-Amanfrom, Nobi-Bayera, Sokode-Juaso, Mangoase and Abaase
Major economic sectors: Agriculture, commerce, agro-processing, services and small-scale enterprise
Major cash crops: Cocoa, oil palm and coconut
Major food crops: Cassava, maize, plantain, rice, cocoyam, sweet potato, yam and vegetables
Major institutional asset: Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), New Tafo
Major tourism/cultural assets: CRIG golf facilities, traditional palaces and the Ohum Festival
Population: 91,292 (2021 Population and Housing Census).
Major Towns/Communities: Kukurantumi, New Tafo, Old Tafo, Osiem, Anyinasin, Ati, Ettokrom, Ahenbronom, Apotosu, Nobi-Bayera, Mangoase, Sokode-Juaso, Aboabo and Anweabeng.
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE): Hon. Charles Darko Yeboah.
Presiding Member: Hon. William Adu Obiri, Assembly Member for the Anyinasin Electoral Area.
Member of Parliament: Hon. Nana Ampaw Kwame Addo-Frempong, MP for Abuakwa North Constituency.
Assembly Structure: The Municipal Assembly is the highest political and administrative authority in the municipality. It performs deliberative, legislative and executive functions through the General Assembly, Executive Committee and statutory sub-committees, supported by the Municipal Coordinating Directorate and decentralized departments. The municipality is divided into three Zonal Councils: Tafo, Kukurantumi and Osiem.
Assembly Membership: The Assembly comprises 24 Assembly Members, made up of 16 elected members and 8 government appointees. The MCE forms part of the Assembly, while the Member of Parliament is a non-voting member. The municipality has 16 electoral areas.
Agriculture & Agribusiness – Cocoa, oil palm, cassava, maize, and vegetable farming; promotion of irrigation, mechanization, and agro-processing.
Infrastructure & Transport – Road rehabilitation, bridges, and drainage systems to connect farming communities to Kukurantumi and other markets.
Health & Social Services – Expansion of CHPS compounds, upgrading of Kukurantumi Health Centre, and improved sanitation systems.
Education – Classroom expansion, ICT integration, and vocational training for youth.
Local Economic Development – MSME support, entrepreneurship training, and revenue mobilization.
Environmental Management – Waste management, afforestation, and climate adaptation programmes.
Flagship Projects & Programmes:
Agriculture: Establishment of cassava and palm oil processing centres; farmer support with improved seedlings and mechanization.
Infrastructure: Rehabilitation of feeder roads linking Kukurantumi, New Tafo, and surrounding farming communities; construction of bridges and culverts to reduce flooding.
Health: Upgrading Kukurantumi Health Centre, expanding CHPS compounds, and maternal health outreach programmes.
Education: ICT labs for schools, vocational training centres, and classroom blocks in rural and peri-urban communities.
Local Economic Development: Business counselling for MSMEs, entrepreneurship training, and automation of IGF collection.
Environment: Waste segregation and recycling projects, afforestation campaigns, and flood control measures.
SDGs Alignment:
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Agricultural modernization and agro-processing to improve food security.
SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being): Strengthening healthcare facilities and maternal health services.
Agriculture – Cocoa, oil palm, cassava, maize, plantain, and vegetable farming dominate, with Kukurantumi and surrounding communities serving as production hubs.
Trading & commerce – Local markets in Kukurantumi, New Tafo, and Osiem facilitate vibrant trade in food crops, livestock, and household goods.
Agro-processing – Cassava flour, palm oil extraction, gari production, and maize milling are common small-scale processing activities.
Artisanal activities – Carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, and small-scale manufacturing provide livelihoods.
Tourism & hospitality – Cultural heritage sites, eco-tourism initiatives, and hospitality services attract visitors.
Key Investment Opportunities:
Agro-processing plants – Expansion of cassava, palm oil, and maize processing facilities for local consumption and export.
Market infrastructure – Modernization of Kukurantumi Market and satellite markets to boost trading activities.
