Year Established:2012, under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2019. The District was carved out of the former Mpohor Wassa East District and was among the 46 new districts created in 2012.
The Mpohor-Fiase District Assembly is one of the administrative districts located in the Western Region of Ghana. The District was originally known as the Mpohor District and was carved out of the former Mpohor Wassa East District in 2012 under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2019, as part of the nationwide creation of new districts. The District was formally inaugurated on 28 June 2012, with Mpohor serving as its administrative capital. In 2024, following a request from traditional authorities in the area, the District adopted the name Mpohor-Fiase District Assembly, reflecting the historical and traditional identity of the Fiase area. The current legal framework for the Assembly is reflected in L.I. 2482 of 2023, which commenced in March 2024.
The District is situated in the south-eastern part of the Western Region. It shares boundaries with the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly to the north, Wassa East District to the north-east, Ahanta West Municipal Assembly to the south-west, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to the south, and Shama District Assembly to the south-east. Mpohor, the District capital, is located approximately 19 kilometres from the Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta highway, giving the District relatively close access to the commercial and industrial activities of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolitan area.
In terms of land area, the District covers approximately 524.5 square kilometres. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 52,473, comprising 26,979 males and 25,494 females. Males therefore constituted approximately 51.4% of the population, while females accounted for 48.6%. The District has a predominantly rural settlement pattern, with agriculture and natural-resource-based livelihoods playing an important role in the lives of its communities.
The economy of Mpohor-Fiase is predominantly driven by agriculture, forestry, agro-processing, commerce and related rural economic activities. Agriculture is the mainstay of the District, with about 63.9% of households engaged in agricultural activities. Major food crops include cassava, plantain, maize, cocoyam and vegetables, while important cash crops include rubber, cocoa and oil palm. Commercial oil-palm production is associated with enterprises such as Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP), NORPALM and Ayiem Oil Mills. Livestock and fish farming also contribute to the agricultural economy.
Mpohor is the District’s principal administrative and commercial capital. Other major communities and settlements include Manso, Adum Banso, Ayiem, Adum Dominase, Adansi, Bopp, Angu, Botodwina and Mampong. These communities serve as important centres for agriculture, local commerce and social services. Markets in Mpohor, Manso, Adum Banso and Adansi provide outlets for agricultural produce, while traders from nearby urban centres such as Agona Nkwanta, Sekondi, Shama and Takoradi participate in the local agricultural trade.
Administratively, the Mpohor-Fiase District Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the District. The Assembly is responsible for coordinating development planning, implementing infrastructure and social-service programmes, supporting productive activities, managing human settlements and the environment, mobilising local resources, and supporting public safety. The District operates through four Area Councils, namely the Mpohor Area Council, Adum Banso Area Council, Manso Area Council and Ayiem Area Council, which facilitate decentralised administration and community-level participation in local governance.
The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the electoral areas, Government Appointees, the District Chief Executive (DCE) as the political and administrative head, and the Member of Parliament for the Mpohor Constituency. The General Assembly serves as the principal local decision-making and policy-formulating organ. The current DCE is Hon. Sophia Aubyn, who was confirmed in 2025, while Hon. Godfred Henry Bentil is the Member of Parliament for the Mpohor Constituency. The Assembly’s 2023 budget structure identified 21 Assembly Members, comprising 15 elected members and 6 Government Appointees, alongside the DCE and MP in the wider Assembly structure.
Mpohor-Fiase possesses important cultural, agricultural and environmental assets. The District has a strong traditional identity centred around the Mpohor and Fiase traditional areas, with the Odwira Festival forming part of its cultural heritage. The Apaho Festival of Adum Banso, introduced in 2022, further highlights the traditional history and cultural identity of the Fiase area. The District’s tropical rainforest environment, rivers and agricultural landscapes also provide opportunities for ecological and community-based tourism. Its proximity to the wider Western Region tourism corridor provides additional potential for linking local attractions with established destinations around the coast and the Sekondi-Takoradi area.
The District faces a number of development challenges, including poor road networks, inadequate drainage systems, limited access to potable water and sanitation facilities, inadequate health and educational infrastructure, and weaknesses in local market facilities. The District’s road network extends for approximately 498.3 kilometres, with more than 80% consisting of feeder roads, many of which become difficult to access during the rainy season. Water and sanitation remain significant concerns, while frequent electricity outages also affect small and medium-sized businesses. The District is also addressing environmental pressures associated with resource extraction, forestry and agricultural development.
Despite these challenges, Mpohor-Fiase has considerable opportunities for sustainable economic development. Its agricultural base provides opportunities for cocoa, rubber, oil palm and food-crop production, as well as agro-processing and value addition. The presence of established oil-palm enterprises creates opportunities for expanding agricultural value chains, while livestock and fish farming can contribute to livelihood diversification. The District also has emerging mineral-resource prospects, including iron ore exploration around Adum Banso, alongside opportunities for responsible resource development. Improved roads linking Mpohor with neighbouring commercial centres could further strengthen agricultural marketing, local commerce and access to services.
With Mpohor as its administrative capital, the Mpohor-Fiase District Assembly occupies an important position in the south-eastern part of Ghana’s Western Region. Its combination of fertile agricultural lands, established oil-palm and rubber production, forest resources, traditional heritage and proximity to Sekondi-Takoradi gives the District a diverse foundation for development. Continued investment in roads, water, sanitation, education, health, agriculture and responsible natural-resource development can further strengthen the District’s role as an agricultural and socio-economic hub within the Western Region.
Assembly Structure: The Assembly is the highest political and administrative authority in the District. Its structure comprises the General Assembly, Presiding Member, Executive Committee, statutory sub-committees, District Coordinating Directorate and decentralised departments. It operates through four Area Councils: Mpohor, Adum-Banso, Manso and Ayiem.
Assembly Membership: The current legal framework under L.I. 2482, which commenced in March 2024, provides for an Assembly comprising the DCE, elected representatives from each electoral area, Government appointees and the Member of Parliament as an ex-officio member. The Assembly’s current members list includes 21 elected representatives and Government Appointees, but does not provide a single consolidated current numerical breakdown.
Mpohor Health Centre – The main facility in the district capital, offering outpatient services, maternal and child health, antenatal care, and minor surgical procedures.
Adum Banso Health Centre – Provides primary healthcare, antenatal services, and immunization programmes for surrounding farming communities.
CHPS Compounds – Located in villages such as Ayiem, Banso, and other rural settlements, delivering basic health services including family planning, immunization, and health education.
Private Clinics – Small privately owned facilities in Mpohor township offering laboratory services, dental care, and maternal health support.
Community-based outreach services – Mobile health teams conduct immunization campaigns, malaria prevention, and health education in remote farming villages.
Challenges:
Shortage of medical doctors and midwives, with most facilities staffed by physician assistants and nurses.
Limited ambulance services for emergency referrals to Sekondi-Takoradi hospitals.
Inadequate medical equipment and supplies, especially in rural CHPS compounds.
Educational Institutions:
Mpohor Senior High School – The main second-cycle institution, offering general arts, science, and business programmes.
Basic Schools – Numerous public and private primary and JHS across Mpohor township and farming villages.
Vocational & Technical Training Centres – Centres offering carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, ICT, and artisanal training for youth.
Private Schools – Located mainly in Mpohor township, providing alternative education options with emphasis on ICT and modern teaching methods.
Challenges: Overcrowding in SHS classrooms, inadequate classroom blocks in rural basic schools, and limited ICT and science labs.
Road Network Condition:
Major Roads – The Mpohor–Takoradi corridor serves as a key transport route, though some sections suffer potholes and erosion.
Township Roads – Rehabilitation projects ongoing in Mpohor 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 Mpohor 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 – Traditional gatherings in Mpohor township and surrounding villages where chiefs, Assembly members, and residents deliberate on development priorities.
Town hall meetings – Quarterly forums organized by the Assembly to present budgets, project updates, and receive citizen feedback.
Radio and local media – Local FM stations broadcast Assembly announcements, civic education, and interactive programmes for community input.
Participatory planning – Citizens involved in prioritizing projects such as road rehabilitation, school expansion, and sanitation initiatives.
Feedback mechanisms – Suggestion boxes at the Assembly office, complaint desks at zonal councils, and liaison officers documenting 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, farmer cooperatives, 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 cooperatives – Platforms for women traders, farmers, and processors 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.
