Jaman South Municipal Assembly

• Name of MMDA: Jaman South Municipal Assembly
• Region: Bono Region
• Type of Assembly: Municipal
• Year Established: 2004 (by Legislative Instrument 1779; elevated to Municipal status in 2017 by LI 2284)

The Jaman South Municipal Assembly is one of the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana and forms part of the 12 MMDAs in the Bono Region. The Municipality traces its origins to the creation of the Jaman District in 1989, which was carved out of the former Berekum-Jaman District. Following the creation of Jaman North District in 2003, the remaining area became Jaman South District. It was subsequently elevated to Municipal status. Drobo serves as the administrative capital of the Municipality.

Jaman South Municipality is located in the western part of the Bono Region. It shares boundaries with Jaman North District to the north, Berekum West District and Berekum East Municipality to the east, Dormaa Central Municipality to the south, and Côte d’Ivoire to the west. Its position close to Ghana’s western international boundary gives the Municipality opportunities for cross-border trade and commercial interaction.

In terms of land area, the Municipality covers approximately 725 square kilometres. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Jaman South Municipality had a population of 108,388, comprising 52,567 males and 55,821 females. The Municipality has a predominantly rural population, with approximately 36% of residents living in urban areas and 64% living in rural areas.

The economy of Jaman South is predominantly agriculture-based. Major crops cultivated in the Municipality include yam, maize, cassava, rice, cocoyam and plantain, while vegetables such as pepper, groundnuts, tomatoes and garden eggs are also produced. Cashew and cocoa are important cash crops, with cashew becoming increasingly significant to the local economy. Agriculture therefore remains an important source of employment, household income and local economic activity.

The Municipality also possesses a number of tourism and natural-resource attractions. These include the Buodi Scarp, the crocodiles at Mpuasu and Zezera, the underground calving industry at Abuokrom, the rocky plain at Bodaa, and sites around Kwameseikrom and Zezera associated with the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire border. These attractions provide opportunities for tourism development and local economic diversification.

Administratively, the Jaman South Municipal Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the Municipality. The Assembly is responsible for local governance, development planning, infrastructure provision, environmental management, revenue mobilisation and the delivery of essential public services. The Municipality has 30 elected Assembly Members and 14 Government Appointees, in addition to the Municipal Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament, with the MP serving without voting rights.

The Assembly’s current membership records also demonstrate the broad geographical representation of communities across the Municipality, with electoral areas including Drobo East, Drobo West, Kwasibuokrom, Adamsu, Gonasua, Katakyiekrom, Kofiko/Baanafour, Babianiha, Awerempe, Zezera, Asuogya, Tekese and Baano, among others.

With Drobo as its administrative capital, Jaman South Municipality serves as an important agricultural, commercial and administrative centre in the western part of the Bono Region. Its sizeable population, agricultural base, border location and tourism potential give it considerable importance within the region.

Population: 108,388
Male: 52,567
Female: 55,821
Urban population: Approximately 39,000
Rural population: Approximately 69,000
Land area: 725 km²
Capital: Drobo
Elected Assembly Members: 30
Government Appointees: 14
Total Assembly Members: 44
Parliamentary Constituency: 1
Municipal status: Municipal
Original establishment: 1989
Jaman South created: 2003, following the creation of Jaman North District