Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is one of the metropolitan local government authorities located in the Western Region of Ghana. Its administrative history dates back to the establishment of the Sekondi Town Council in 1903, with Takoradi subsequently incorporated into the administrative area. Sekondi-Takoradi was elevated to city status in 1962 and later became the Shama-Ahanta-East Metropolitan Assembly under L.I. 1497 of 1989. Following the creation of the Shama District and subsequent administrative restructuring, the metropolis was renamed the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly under L.I. 1928. The Assembly was subsequently re-established in its present configuration under L.I. 2262 of 2017, following the carving out of the Effia-Kwesimintsim area to form the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly.

The Metropolis is situated along the southern coast of the Western Region and encompasses the historic twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi, which also serve as the regional capital. It shares boundaries with the Mpohor District to the north, Shama District to the east, Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly to the west, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. Its coastal position, deep-water harbour, road and railway connections, and proximity to Ghana’s oil and gas producing areas give Sekondi-Takoradi considerable strategic importance as a transportation, industrial, commercial, and maritime centre. The Metropolis also lies along the proposed Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, further strengthening its potential role as a regional transportation and logistics hub.

In terms of land area, current official planning and Assembly-related sources commonly place the Metropolis at approximately 119 square kilometres, making it one of the smallest but most densely populated metropolitan areas in the Western Region. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 245,382, comprising 119,344 males and 126,038 females. Females therefore constituted approximately 51.4% of the population, compared with 48.6% males. The entire population was classified as urban in the 2021 Census, reflecting the highly urbanised character of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolitan area.

The economy of Sekondi-Takoradi is highly diversified and is driven principally by services, commerce, industry, fishing, transport and logistics, port-related activities, oil and gas services, construction, manufacturing, and real estate. Assembly development documents indicate that services account for approximately 59.9% of economic activity, agriculture about 21%, and industry about 19.1%. Major activities include fishing and fish processing, food production, palm oil cultivation and processing, cement and flour manufacturing, metal fabrication, hospitality, transport and logistics, freight forwarding, harbour and port services, bulk oil storage and distribution, and commerce. The discovery of offshore oil in the Western Region has also strengthened the metropolis’s role as a centre for oil and gas ancillary services and related investment.

Sekondi serves as the administrative capital of the Metropolis, while Takoradi functions as a major commercial, industrial, maritime, and business centre. Other major communities and urban settlements include Essikado, Ketan, Kojokrom, Mpintsin, Kansaworado, Anoe, Nkontompo, Adiembra, Kweikuma, New Takoradi, Amanful, Chapel Hill, Effia Nkwanta, and Essikafoambantem. Takoradi is particularly significant because of its harbour and associated industrial and commercial activities, while Sekondi retains substantial historical, administrative, cultural, and naval importance.

Administratively, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly is the highest political, administrative, and planning authority within the Metropolis. The Assembly is responsible for local governance, spatial and physical development planning, infrastructure provision, sanitation and environmental management, revenue mobilisation, social services, economic development, and the coordination of decentralised government functions. The Metropolis operates through three Sub-Metropolitan District Councils: Sekondi, Takoradi, and Essikado-Ketan, supported by lower-level Town, Urban and Unit Committee structures that facilitate local administration and community participation.

The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the various electoral areas, Government Appointees, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), and Members of Parliament representing the three parliamentary constituencies within the Metropolis. The General Assembly serves as the principal deliberative and policy-formulating organ, while the Executive Committee, now referred to as the Metropolitan Authority, coordinates the implementation of Assembly decisions. The Metropolis has 36 electoral areas and three parliamentary constituencies: Sekondi, Takoradi, and Essikado-Ketan. The current Metropolitan Chief Executive is Hon. Fredrick Faustinus Faidoo, while Hon. Patrick Brempoh serves as the Presiding Member.

Sekondi-Takoradi possesses significant historical, cultural, maritime, and tourism assets. These include Fort Orange and the historic colonial buildings of Sekondi, the Bisa Abrewa Museum, Takoradi Monkey Hill, the former Takoradi Harbour area, and other sites associated with the development of Ghana’s coastal trade and colonial history. The Metropolis also has a strong cultural identity expressed through events such as the Kundum Festival, masquerade celebrations, and other traditional and community festivals. Its coastal setting, historic architecture, harbour, museums, beaches, and urban entertainment facilities provide opportunities for the development of both heritage and leisure tourism.

The Metropolis faces a number of urban development challenges associated with its rapid population growth, high population density, and expanding economic activity. These include traffic congestion, inadequate drainage, flooding, waste management pressures, sanitation challenges, urban congestion, pressure on land and infrastructure, and the need for improved roads and public facilities. The decline of some traditional industries, including railway-related and wood-processing activities, has also affected sections of the local economy, although the emergence of oil and gas services has created new economic opportunities. The Assembly is consequently pursuing measures relating to improved waste management, infrastructure development, digital connectivity, urban planning, and climate resilience.

Despite these challenges, Sekondi-Takoradi possesses substantial opportunities for continued economic transformation. Its deep-water harbour, oil and gas industry, industrial base, transport infrastructure, commercial networks, fishing sector, hospitality industry, and strategic coastal location provide a strong foundation for investment and employment creation. Opportunities also exist in oil and gas ancillary services, logistics and freight forwarding, manufacturing, agro-processing, fisheries, tourism, real estate, digital services, and the development of modern urban infrastructure. Recent initiatives involving improved waste management, broadband infrastructure, investment partnerships, and urban development further demonstrate the Metropolis’s potential to strengthen its position as a major economic centre in Ghana.

With Sekondi as its administrative capital and Takoradi as a major commercial and maritime centre, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly occupies a strategically important position in Ghana’s national economy. Its identity as the historic Twin City, its role as the capital of the Western Region, its port and industrial infrastructure, and its connection to Ghana’s oil and gas economy make it an important urban, commercial, industrial, and coastal hub. Its combination of maritime heritage, economic infrastructure, cultural resources, and strategic location gives the Metropolis considerable significance within Ghana’s western corridor.

Key Profile Data

• Population: 245,382
• Male: 119,344
• Female: 126,038
• Female population share: 51.4%
• Male population share: 48.6%
• Land area: 119 km²
• Capital: Sekondi
• Major twin city: Sekondi-Takoradi
• Sub-Metropolitan District Councils: 3, namely Sekondi, Takoradi, and Essikado-Ketan
• Electoral Areas: 36
• Year re-established in current configuration: 2017
• Establishing legislation: L.I. 2262
• Original Sekondi-Takoradi establishment legislation: L.I. 1928
• Region: Western Region