Year Established:2012, under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2083. The District was carved out of the former Ho Municipal Assembly and inaugurated in 2013.
The Ho West District Assembly (HWDA) is one of the administrative districts located in the Volta Region of Ghana. The District was carved out of the former Ho Municipal Assembly in January 2012 and formally established under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2083 of 2012, with its inauguration taking place in June 2012. Dzolokpuita serves as the administrative capital of the District. The Ho West District Assembly is the highest political and administrative authority responsible for coordinating local governance, development planning, and the delivery of public services within the District.
The District is located in the central-western portion of the Volta Region, within the transition between the mountainous areas of the Togo Range and the relatively fertile plains of the Volta landscape. It shares boundaries with Adaklu District to the south, Afadzato South District to the north, Ho Municipal Assembly and the Republic of Togo to the east, and South Dayi District to the west. With its position between Ho, the mountainous communities of the Avatime and Amedzofe areas, and the Togo border, Ho West occupies an important geographical and economic position within the Volta Region.
In terms of land area, the District covers approximately 1,002.79 square kilometres and contains about 203 communities. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 82,866, comprising 39,992 males and 42,894 females. Females therefore constituted approximately 51.8% of the population, compared with 48.2% males. The District has a predominantly rural character, although Dzolokpuita, Tsito, Kpedze, Abutia, Amedzofe and other major settlements function as important administrative, commercial, educational and service centres.
The economy of Ho West is predominantly driven by agriculture, commerce, small-scale enterprise and tourism. Agriculture remains the principal economic activity, with about 74.5% of the population engaged in the sector. The District’s extensive arable lands support the cultivation of maize, cassava, yam, cocoyam, plantain, guinea corn, millet, vegetables and fruits such as banana, pineapple, mango, cashew, pear and orange. Agricultural production is complemented by livestock and poultry activities, while markets at Abutia Kissiflui, Dededo, Tsito and Kpedze provide important outlets for agricultural produce and commercial activity. Recent initiatives have also sought to strengthen poultry production and agricultural value chains within the District.
Dzolokpuita is the District’s principal administrative capital, while other major communities and settlements include Tsito, Kpedze, Abutia, Anyirawase, Amedzofe, Avatime, Akome, Saviefe, Weto, Holuta, Aflakpe, Kpoeta, Hlefi, Dzolo, Dededo and Anfoeta. The District has eight decentralised Town and Area Councils, namely Abutia, Anyirawase, Avatime, Kpedze, Tsito, Holuta/Aflakpe, Weto and Yingor, which facilitate local administration and community-level development.
Administratively, the Ho West District Assembly is the highest political, administrative, and planning authority within the District. It is responsible for local development planning, infrastructure provision, social services, environmental management, economic development, public health, spatial development and revenue mobilisation. The Assembly operates through its Town and Area Councils and various decentralised departments to bring governance and public services closer to residents. Its development priorities include improving access to roads, potable water, education, healthcare, electricity, sanitation and agricultural infrastructure.
The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the District’s electoral areas, Government Appointees, the District Chief Executive (DCE), the Presiding Member and other institutional representatives. The 2025-2028 planning documentation identifies 25 elected Assembly Members and 12 appointed members, giving a 37-member legislative structure. The current DCE is Hon. Profer Francis Dusey, who has served in the position since April 2025, while Hon. Adamu Kasim serves as Presiding Member. The District forms the Ho West Parliamentary Constituency, currently represented in Parliament by Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah.
Ho West possesses significant natural, historical, cultural and tourism assets. The District’s most prominent attractions include Mount Gemi and the Canopy Walkway at Amedzofe, waterfalls at Honuta, Amedzofe, Akome and Kpoeta Ashanti, ancestral caves at Amedzofe and Gbadzeme, the Kalakpa Resource Game Reserve at Abutia, and historic colonial buildings and the German Cemetery at Amedzofe. The District also has a rich cultural heritage expressed through the Yam Festival of the Awudome Traditional Area, the Kimini Festival of Avatime, and traditional dances such as Adabatram, Zigi, Borborbor and Zagada. These attractions provide considerable scope for eco-tourism, cultural tourism and community-based tourism development.
The District faces a number of development challenges, including inadequate social amenities in some hard-to-reach communities, limited access to potable water, gaps in healthcare provision, and poor road access to farming communities. The extensive rural road network remains particularly important because many communities depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and require reliable transport links to markets. Environmental pressures also include bushfires, charcoal production, sand winning, logging, stone mining and unsustainable farming practices. Recent community engagements have further highlighted concerns relating to school infrastructure, healthcare, electricity and road accessibility.
Despite these challenges, Ho West has considerable opportunities for sustainable development. Its extensive agricultural land provides opportunities for agro-processing, food production, poultry and livestock development, while its mountainous landscapes, waterfalls, forests, cultural heritage and existing tourism facilities provide a strong foundation for tourism investment. The District’s proximity to Ho, its road connections and access to traditional landholding areas also create opportunities for commerce, industry and private-sector investment. Recent investment promotion efforts have specifically highlighted agriculture, tourism, culture and industry as areas with significant development potential.
With Dzolokpuita as its administrative capital, the Ho West District Assembly occupies an important position in the Volta Region. Its combination of extensive agricultural resources, mountainous landscapes, cultural heritage, tourism attractions and strategic proximity to Ho and the Togo border gives it a distinctive development profile. The District’s future growth potential lies particularly in connecting its agricultural production base with agro-processing, improving rural infrastructure and expanding sustainable tourism around Amedzofe, Avatime, Abutia and its other culturally and environmentally significant communities.
District Chief Executive (DCE):Hon. Prosper Francis Dusey
Presiding Member:Hon. Adamu Kasim Osman
Member of Parliament:Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, (MP for Ho West 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. The 2025-2028 budget identifies five principal sub-committees: Development Planning, Finance and Administration, Social Services, Justice and Security, and Works. The Assembly also operates through Town and Area Councils and Unit Committees.
Assembly Membership: The Fourth Assembly comprises 16 elected members and 12 government-appointed members, giving 28 elected and appointed Assembly Members. The DCE and MP form part of the broader institutional structure, with the MP serving as an ex-officio member without voting rights.
Agriculture – Coffee (leading producer in Ghana), cocoa expansion, rice farming, and food crop production.
Roads & Infrastructure – Rehabilitation of feeder roads linking Juapong–Abutia–Bame and Bame–Avenui–Anyrawase to open food-producing areas.
Tourism & Culture – Leveraging scenic beauty and eco-tourism potential, including Amedzofe zip walkway and cultural festivals.
Markets & Trade – Establishment of a modern 24-hour economic market at Tsito along the Ho–Accra highway.
Social Services – Completion of stalled projects like Avenui school block, CHPS compounds, and staff bungalows.
Environmental Management – Sanitation programmes, afforestation, and flood control.
Flagship Projects & Programmes:
Agriculture: Coffee expansion, cocoa cultivation support, rice farming promotion, and participation in the national “Feed Ghana” initiative.
Roads: Contracts awarded for Juapong–Abutia–Bame and Bame–Avenui–Anyrawase road networks to ease transportation of farm produce.
Tourism: Development of eco-tourism projects such as the Amedzofe zip walkway in partnership with Herp Conservation Ghana.
Markets: Construction of a 24-hour Tsito Economic Market on a four-acre site, designed as a modern trading hub.
Social Services: Completion of legacy projects including Avenui CHPS compound (85% complete), Tsito Town Council building, and staff bungalows for Assembly officials.
Sanitation: Flexible arrangements for sanitation exercises to align with farming schedules.
SDGs Alignment:
SDG 1 (No Poverty): Modern market infrastructure and SME support to boost livelihoods.
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Agricultural modernization through coffee, cocoa, and rice expansion.
SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being): Completion of CHPS compounds and improved healthcare access.
SDG 4 (Quality Education): Completion of stalled school blocks and improved learning facilities.
SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth): Tsito market hub, tourism development, and agro-processing.
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure): Road rehabilitation and modern trading facilities.
Refuse collection points – Designated collection sites in Tsito, Avenui, and Abutia where waste is gathered before transportation to disposal sites.
Waste disposal sites – Open dumping grounds exist in communities like Bame and Anyrawase, but they lack engineered landfill structures, leading to environmental risks.
Sanitation exercises – Monthly clean-up campaigns organized by the Assembly in collaboration with chiefs, schools, and youth groups to reduce indiscriminate dumping.
Door-to-door collection – Limited pilot services in Tsito township, but not yet scaled to rural communities.
Community-based sanitation committees – Local groups trained to oversee boreholes, monitor refuse collection, and educate households on hygiene practices.
Waste segregation initiatives – Small-scale programmes encouraging households to separate plastics from organic waste, though adoption remains low.
Partnerships with private contractors – The Assembly collaborates with private waste companies for refuse collection in larger towns.
Challenges – Inadequate coverage in rural areas, poor segregation practices, lack of engineered landfill sites, and limited logistics such as waste trucks and bins.
Climate Adaptation Efforts:
Tree planting campaigns – Afforestation initiatives in Amedzofe and Abutia to restore degraded lands.
Climate-smart agriculture – Farmer training on soil conservation, irrigation, and drought-resistant crops such as cocoa, coffee, and rice.
Disaster risk reduction – Flood control projects, dredging of drains, and sensitization on disaster preparedness.
Renewable energy promotion – Encouraging solar energy adoption for households, schools, and irrigation systems.
Watershed protection – Safeguarding rivers and streams from pollution and overuse, especially in farming zones.
Eco-tourism integration – Linking conservation efforts with tourism sites such as Amedzofe zip walkway and cultural heritage attractions.
Environmental Challenges:
Deforestation – Logging, farming expansion, and charcoal production contribute to forest loss.
Flooding – Poor drainage and heavy rainfall cause seasonal floods in low-lying areas.
Community durbars – Held in towns like Tsito, Avenui, and Abutia, where chiefs, Assembly members, and residents meet to discuss development priorities, accountability, and local challenges.
Town hall meetings – Quarterly forums in Tsito and Amedzofe where Assembly officials present budgets, project updates, and gather citizen feedback.
Radio and local media – Community FM stations broadcast Assembly announcements, civic education, and interactive programmes allowing residents to call in with concerns.
Participatory budgeting – Community representatives are invited to contribute to the District Assembly’s annual budget, ensuring local priorities such as roads, schools, and sanitation are reflected.
Feedback mechanisms – Suggestion boxes at the Assembly office, complaint desks at zonal councils, and liaison officers who document and escalate community concerns.
Digital platforms – WhatsApp groups for youth and traders, Facebook pages for Assembly updates, and SMS alerts for sanitation exercises or health campaigns.
Stakeholder consultations – Engagement with NGOs, CSOs, religious leaders, and traditional authorities to co-design development programmes.
Youth & Women Inclusion Mechanisms:
Youth empowerment programmes – Skills training in ICT, carpentry, tailoring, and entrepreneurship, with youth involvement in decision-making committees.
Women’s groups and cooperatives – Platforms for women traders, farmers, and artisans to access credit, training, and advocacy.
Gender mainstreaming – Ensuring women’s representation in Assembly sub-committees and leadership roles.
Youth councils – Formal structures for young people to contribute to local governance and community development.
Social protection initiatives – Targeted support for vulnerable women and youth, including livelihood programmes, scholarships, and microfinance access.
