Year Established:2007, under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1843. It was inaugurated on 15 March 2018 following its elevation to municipal status under L.I. 2282 of 2017
The Ketu North Municipal Assembly (KNMA) is one of the administrative municipalities located in the Volta Region of Ghana. Originally created in 2007 under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1843, the area was carved out of the former Ketu Municipal Assembly. It was subsequently elevated to municipal status in 2017 under L.I. 2282 and inaugurated on 15 March 2018, with Dzodze serving as its administrative capital. The Municipality forms an important part of Ghana’s south-eastern border area and plays a significant role in agriculture, commerce and cross-border economic activity.
The Municipality is situated in the south-eastern portion of the Volta Region, between the coastal plains and the inland agricultural areas of the region. It shares boundaries with Akatsi North District to the north, Keta Municipal Assembly to the south-west, Ketu South Municipal Assembly to the south, Akatsi South Municipal Assembly to the west, and the Republic of Togo to the east. Its strategic location along the Ghana-Togo corridor, including the ECOWAS joint border at Akanu, gives it an important position for cross-border trade, transportation and regional commerce.
In terms of land area, the Municipality covers approximately 423.8 square kilometres, representing about 2.1% of the total land area of the Volta Region. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 114,993, comprising 53,998 males and 60,995 females. Females therefore constituted approximately 53.0% of the population, compared with 47.0% males. The Municipality has a predominantly rural character, with 67,731 people living in rural localities and 47,262 in urban localities. Its population density is approximately 462 persons per square kilometre.
The economy of Ketu North is predominantly driven by agriculture, commerce, cross-border trade and small-scale enterprise. Agriculture forms the backbone of local livelihoods and employs approximately 80% of the economically active population. Crop production accounts for a substantial share of agricultural activity, with maize, cassava, rice, sweet potato and cowpea cultivated in commercial quantities. Maize and cassava are particularly widespread across the Municipality. Agricultural production supports vibrant market activity in Dzodze, Weta, Afife, Penyi and Tadzewu, while the ECOWAS joint border at Akanu facilitates trade with neighbouring Togo and the wider sub-region.
Dzodze is the Municipality’s principal administrative, commercial and traditional capital. Other major communities and prominent settlements include Weta, Afife, Penyi, Tadzewu, Dekpor, Klikor, Kporkploe, Kave, Tsiame, Agbozume and Akanu. The Municipality operates through four Zonal Councils, with Weta and Afife among the zonal structures that have been formally inaugurated to strengthen decentralised governance and bring administration closer to residents. Major trading centres in Dzodze, Weta and Afife support the movement of agricultural produce and consumer goods across the Municipality.
Administratively, the Ketu North Municipal Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the Municipality. The Assembly is responsible for local governance, spatial planning, infrastructure development, social service delivery, environmental management, local economic development and internal revenue mobilisation. It operates through its Zonal Councils and decentralised departments to bring governance and development interventions closer to communities. Recent initiatives include improvements in water supply, education, healthcare, roads, sanitation and market infrastructure, including the proposed 24-hour economy market at Kave in Dzodze.
The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the various electoral areas, Government Appointees, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the Presiding Member and the Member of Parliament for the Ketu North Constituency. The General Assembly has 55 members, comprising 38 elected and 17 appointed members. Rev. Martin Prince Amenaki is the current Municipal Chief Executive, while Mr. Edward Seke serves as Presiding Member. The Municipality forms the Ketu North Parliamentary Constituency, currently represented in Parliament by Mr. Eric Edem Agbana.
Ketu North possesses important natural, cultural and socio-economic assets. Tourism attractions include the Roman Catholic Church Grotto at Dzodze-Tornu, Dekpor Dam, the Afife-Weta wetlands and the Ramsar site at Atiteti. The Municipality also has a rich traditional heritage reflected in festivals such as Anyigbla Za of the Afife Traditional Area, Deza of the Dzodze Traditional Area, Denyaza of the Weta Traditional Area and Nugoryiza of the Penyi Traditional Area. These cultural celebrations, together with the Municipality’s wetlands and religious sites, provide opportunities for cultural, religious and eco-tourism development.
The Municipality faces a number of development challenges, including poor feeder roads, inadequate water coverage, environmental degradation, climate variability, limited logistics and shortages of skilled professionals. The road network includes 24 feeder roads covering approximately 277.9 kilometres, many of which become difficult or impossible to use during the rainy season. The Municipality has also experienced serious flooding, with the 2026 floods destroying farmlands, damaging property and affecting hundreds of residents. Water supply remains a concern, with the Assembly undertaking new borehole projects and seeking to restore the Dzodze water system.
Despite these challenges, Ketu North has considerable opportunities for sustainable economic development. Its extensive agricultural base provides opportunities for agro-processing, rice and maize production, cassava value addition, livestock development and agricultural market expansion. Its location on the Ghana-Togo border creates opportunities for cross-border commerce and logistics, while the ECOWAS joint border at Akanu provides an important platform for regional trade. Tourism development around the Afife-Weta wetlands, Atiteti Ramsar site, Dekpor Dam, religious sites and traditional festivals could further diversify the local economy. The proposed ECOWAS and 24-hour economy markets also provide opportunities to strengthen commercial activity and employment.
With Dzodze as its administrative capital, the Ketu North Municipal Assembly occupies an important position in the Volta Region and along Ghana’s eastern frontier. Its combination of a strong agricultural base, vibrant market centres, cross-border trading opportunities, wetlands, cultural heritage and strategic proximity to Togo makes it an important administrative, agricultural and commercial hub. The Municipality’s future development potential lies particularly in strengthening agricultural value chains, improving rural roads and water infrastructure, expanding cross-border trade and developing its cultural and eco-tourism assets.
Key Profile Data
Population: 114,993
Male: 53,998
Female: 60,995
Female population share: 53.0%
Male population share: 47.0%
Land area: 423.8 km²
Capital: Dzodze
Zonal Councils: 4
Electoral Areas: 38
Assembly membership: 55 (38 elected + 17 appointed)
Parliamentary Constituency: 1 (Ketu North Constituency)
Municipal Chief Executive: Rev. Martin Prince Amenaki
Population:114,993, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
Major Towns/Communities: Dzodze, Penyi, Afife, Weta, Tadzewu, Wuti, Ehie, Xipe, Anfoe, Ehie, Dekpor, Ametsrikasa, Kave, Agbozume and surrounding communities. Agriculture and cross-border trade are important economic activities, with the Akanu border facilitating trade with Togo.
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE):Hon. Rev. Martin Prince Amenaki
Presiding Member:Hon. Edward Seke
Member of Parliament:Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, (MP for Ketu North Constituency)
Assembly Structure: The Assembly operates through the General Assembly, Presiding Member, Executive Committee, five statutory sub-committees, Municipal Coordinating Directorate and decentralised departments and units. The 2026 Composite Budget states that the Assembly has 11 decentralised departments, coordinated by the Municipal Coordinating Director. It also operates through zonal councils, including the Weta and Afife Zonal Councils.
Assembly Membership: The 2026 Composite Budget records 55 Assembly Members, comprising 38 elected members and 17 government-appointed members. The MCE and MP participate in the broader Assembly structure, with the MP serving as an ex-officio member. At the inauguration of the Fifth Assembly in February 2024, 56 members were sworn in, including the MCE and MP.
Agriculture – Cocoa, maize, cassava, rice, and vegetable farming dominate livelihoods, with livestock rearing (goats, sheep, poultry) also common.
Trading & commerce – Dzodze Central Market and satellite markets in Penyi and Tadzewu serve as major trading hubs for food crops, livestock, and household goods.
Dzodze Health Centre – The main municipal health facility, providing outpatient services, maternal and child health, minor surgeries, and serving as a referral point for surrounding communities.
Penyi Health Centre – Offers general outpatient care, antenatal services, and child welfare clinics.
Tadzewu Health Centre – Provides basic healthcare, maternal services, and immunization programmes for rural populations.
Adzoatsi CHPS Compound – Community-based health facility offering preventive care, family planning, and immunization.
Wuti-Kutsinu CHPS Compound – Provides primary healthcare, health education, and referral services.
Private Clinics – Several small private facilities in Dzodze and Penyi deliver maternal care, laboratory services, and minor surgical procedures.
Pharmacies – Located mainly in Dzodze township, supplying essential drugs and basic health advice.
Educational Institutions:
Senior High Schools – Institutions such as Dzodze-Penyi Senior High School and Tadzewu Senior High School provide second-cycle education.
Basic Schools – Numerous public and private primary and JHS across Dzodze, Penyi, and surrounding communities.
Vocational & Technical Training – Centres offering carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, ICT, and artisanal training.
Teacher Training Colleges – Institutions like Law Memorial College provide teacher education and professional development.
Challenges – Inadequate classroom blocks, overcrowding in urban schools, and limited ICT facilities in rural schools.
Road Network Condition:
Major Roads – Dzodze–Penyi–Tadzewu corridor serves as a key transport route, though some sections suffer potholes and erosion.
Township Roads – Ongoing rehabilitation projects within Dzodze township to improve mobility.
Feeder Roads – Many rural roads remain untarred, becoming impassable during rainy seasons, especially in farming communities.
Challenges – Poor maintenance, flooding, and limited connectivity between farming communities and markets.
Water & Sanitation Coverage:
Boreholes – Mechanized boreholes provide water to peri-urban and rural communities.
Public Toilets – Available in urban centres, though rural areas still face open defecation challenges.
Waste Management – Refuse collection services concentrated in Dzodze township, with sanitation exercises in smaller communities.
Drainage Systems – Ongoing construction of storm drains to reduce flooding in low-lying areas.
Challenges – Inadequate coverage, poor maintenance, and need for improved hygiene education.
Community durbars – Organized in Dzodze, Penyi, and Tadzewu, where chiefs, Assembly members, and residents meet to discuss development priorities and accountability.
Town hall meetings – Quarterly forums in Dzodze township and surrounding communities, focusing on budget discussions, project updates, and citizen feedback.
Radio and local media – Local FM stations broadcast Assembly announcements, civic education, and interactive programmes where residents call in with concerns.
Participatory budgeting – Community representatives contribute to the Municipal 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.
