Year Established:2012, under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2077. The District was created from the former North Tongu District following its division.
The Central Tongu District Assembly (CTDA) is one of the administrative districts located in the Volta Region of Ghana. The area was originally constituted as part of the former Tongu District and later became the North Tongu District, established on 10 March 1989 with Adidome as its capital. Following the creation of the present North Tongu District in 2012 under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2081, the remaining area was re-designated as the Central Tongu District and established under L.I. 2077 of 2012, with Adidome retained as its administrative capital.
The District is situated in the south-eastern portion of the Volta Region. It shares boundaries with Adaklu District to the north, South Tongu District to the south, North Tongu District to the west, and Akatsi South Municipal to the east. Its location places it within the wider Volta Delta and lower Volta basin, giving it important agricultural, riverine and transportation linkages with surrounding districts. The District is also relatively accessible from both Ho and Accra, contributing to its role as an important local administrative and commercial centre in the Tongu area.
In terms of land area, the District covers approximately 682.22 square kilometres. The 2021 Census recorded a total population of 83,803, comprising 39,436 males and 44,367 females. Females therefore constituted approximately 52.9% of the population, compared with 47.1% males. The District is predominantly rural, with approximately 72,517 people, or 86.5% of the population, living in rural localities, while about 11,286 people live in urban localities.
The economy of Central Tongu is predominantly driven by agriculture, fishing, livestock production, trading and small-scale enterprise. Agriculture remains a major source of livelihoods, with farmers cultivating crops such as rice, maize, cassava, vegetables and other food crops. Rice and chilli pepper production have been identified as areas with potential for commercial expansion and investment. The District’s extensive rural landscape and agricultural communities also provide opportunities for irrigation, agro-processing, storage, marketing and value addition.
Adidome is the District’s principal administrative, commercial and institutional capital. Other important communities and settlements include Mafi-Kumase, Mafi-Avedo, Mafi-Sasekpe, Kpedzeglo, Avakpedome, Devime, Anfoe, Mawoekpor, Agorve, Fiekpe, Agoe, Tsakpo, Gidikpoe, Dzogadze, Bakpa Avedo, New Bakpa and Mafi Zongo. Mafi-Kumase is an important secondary centre, while the numerous Mafi and Bakpa communities form a substantial part of the District’s rural settlement network. The District contains more than 200 communities distributed across its decentralised administrative structures.
Administratively, the Central Tongu District Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the District. The Assembly is responsible for local governance, development planning, infrastructure provision, social service delivery, environmental management, sanitation, revenue mobilisation and the coordination of decentralised government functions. The District operates through four Area Councils, namely the Adidome Area Council, Mafi-Kumase Area Council, Kpedzeglo Area Council and Bakpa Area Council, which help bring local administration and development planning closer to communities.
The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the District’s electoral areas, Government Appointees, the District Chief Executive (DCE) as the administrative head, and the Member of Parliament for the Central Tongu Constituency. The General Assembly serves as the principal local decision-making and policy-formulating organ. As of 2026, Hon. Adison Mornyuie Dodzie serves as the District Chief Executive, while Hon. Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze represents the Central Tongu Constituency in Parliament. The Assembly’s current published membership list includes representatives from 27 electoral areas.
Central Tongu possesses important educational, cultural, agricultural and natural assets. Adidome and Mafi-Kumase host the District’s two senior high schools, Adidome Senior High School and Mafi-Kumase Senior High Technical School, alongside an extensive network of basic schools. The District also contains important riverine and lowland landscapes associated with the Volta system, while its numerous traditional communities preserve the cultural heritage of the Tongu people. The agricultural character of the District, particularly its rice-growing areas, further forms an important part of its economic and cultural identity.
The District’s natural environment, however, also exposes it to significant climate and development pressures. Low-lying communities and settlements along river channels are vulnerable to flooding, while some island and seasonally isolated communities experience difficulties with transportation and access to social services. The District has also identified inadequate road infrastructure, drainage, water and sanitation facilities, agricultural infrastructure, and access to reliable information and services in some rural communities as continuing development concerns. Recent interventions have included improved water facilities, sanitation infrastructure, local planning and support for education and livelihoods.
Despite these challenges, Central Tongu has considerable opportunities for sustainable economic development. Its extensive agricultural lands provide opportunities for commercial rice and vegetable production, irrigation, agro-processing and agricultural value addition, while its proximity to major population centres provides markets for agricultural products. The District’s riverine environment also presents opportunities for fisheries and aquaculture. Improvements in roads, drainage, water supply, flood management and rural infrastructure could further strengthen the District’s agricultural economy and improve connectivity between its numerous communities.
With Adidome as its administrative capital, the Central Tongu District Assembly occupies an important position in the Volta Region. Its predominantly rural agricultural economy, extensive network of communities, strategic location within the lower Volta basin, educational institutions and strong Tongu cultural heritage make it an important administrative, agricultural and emerging local economic centre in south-eastern Ghana.
Key Profile Data
Population: 83,803
Male: 39,436
Female: 44,367
Female population share: 52.9%
Male population share: 47.1%
Land area:682.22 km²
Capital: Adidome
Parliamentary Constituency: 1, Central Tongu Constituency
District Chief Executive: Hon. Adison Mornyuie Dodzie
Member of Parliament: Hon. Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze
Member of Parliament:Hon. Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze, (MP for Central Tongu Constituency)
Assembly Structure: The Assembly operates through the General Assembly, Presiding Member, Executive Committee, statutory sub-committees, District Coordinating Directorate and decentralised departments and units. Its sub-district structure comprises four Area Councils: Adidome, Mafi-Kumase, Bakpa and Kpedzeglo.
Assembly Membership: The Assembly has 40 electoral areas. Available Assembly records indicate 27 elected members and 13 government-appointed members, giving 40 elected and appointed members, with the DCE and MP forming part of the broader institutional composition.
Adidome Government Hospital – The main referral hospital in the district, offering general medicine, surgery, maternal and child health, laboratory, and emergency services.
Mafi Adidome Health Centre – Provides outpatient care, antenatal services, and child welfare clinics.
Mafi Kumase Health Centre – Serves farming communities with basic health services and referrals.
CHPS Compounds – Located in communities such as Mafi Dove, Mafi Kumase, and Adidome outskirts, focusing on primary healthcare, immunization, and health education.
Private Clinics & Maternity Homes – Small facilities in Adidome and surrounding towns offering specialized maternal care and minor surgical procedures.
Challenges – Shortage of medical staff, inadequate equipment, limited ambulance services, and high patient-to-doctor ratios.
Educational Institutions:
Adidome Senior High School – The main second-cycle institution in the district, offering general arts, science, business, and technical programmes.
Adidome Farm Institute – A specialized agricultural training centre providing practical skills in crop production, animal husbandry, and agribusiness.
Basic Schools – Numerous public and private primary and Junior High Schools spread across communities such as Adidome, Mafi Kumase, Mafi Dove, and surrounding villages.
Vocational/Technical Training Centres – Skills development centres focusing on carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, ICT, and agro-processing.
Private Schools – Complement public education by offering alternative learning environments, especially in Adidome township.
Challenges – Inadequate classroom blocks, shortage of furniture, high student-teacher ratios, and limited ICT facilities in rural schools.
Road Network Condition:
Major Roads – Roads linking Adidome to Ho, Accra, and other regional centres, though some sections suffer potholes and erosion.
Feeder Roads – Many rural roads are untarred, becoming impassable during rainy seasons.
Ongoing Works – Rehabilitation projects, culvert construction, and road safety sensitization.
Challenges – Poor maintenance, flooding, and limited connectivity between farming communities and markets.
Water & Sanitation Coverage:
Boreholes – Widespread reliance on boreholes, with ongoing repairs and new installations.
Toilet Facilities – Public toilets in towns, but rural areas still face open defecation challenges.
Waste Management – Sanitation exercises, fumigation, and refuse collection services.
Water Management Teams – Community-based groups trained to oversee water systems.
Challenges – Inadequate coverage, poor maintenance, and need for improved hygiene education.
