Year Established:1989, under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1466.
The South Tongu District Assembly (STDA) is one of the administrative districts located in the Volta Region of Ghana. The District was established in 1989 under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1466, as part of Ghana’s decentralisation programme, with Sogakope serving as its administrative capital. The establishment of the District was intended to bring local governance, development planning and the delivery of public services closer to communities within the southern portion of the Lower Volta Basin.
The District is situated in the southern part of the Lower Volta Basin. It shares boundaries with Central Tongu and North Tongu Districts to the north, Akatsi South District to the east, Ada East District in the Greater Accra Region to the west, and Anloga District and a short coastline to the south. The District’s location gives it an important position along the coastal and Lower Volta corridor, while the ECOWAS highway linking Tema to Aflao passes through the District, connecting communities such as Sogakope and Dabala to major commercial centres in Ghana and neighbouring Togo.
In terms of land area, the District covers approximately 665 square kilometres, representing about 7.0% of the land area of the Volta Region. The landscape encompasses savannah woodland in the northern areas, wetlands, swamps, lagoons and riverine environments towards the south. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 113,114, comprising 52,488 males and 60,626 females. Females therefore constituted approximately 53.6% of the population, compared with 46.4% males. The District has a mixed urban-rural character, with the 2026 budget noting significant population concentration in towns such as Sogakope, Sokpoe, Tefle and Vume.
The economy of South Tongu is predominantly driven by agriculture, fisheries, livestock production, commerce, agro-processing and small and medium-scale enterprises. Agriculture employs approximately 46.7% of the economically active population and includes the cultivation of cassava, maize, rice, beans, okra, pepper, groundnut, garden eggs, sugarcane, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and mangoes. Commercial rice production occurs around Fievie and Kpenu, while pepper production is important in communities including Agbakope, Agbagorme, Hikpo, Sasekope, Dendo and Tsavanya. The Volta River, creeks and lagoons support fishing and fish farming, particularly the production of tilapia and freshwater clams. Livestock production, especially cattle and poultry, is also an important component of the local economy.
Sogakope is the District’s principal administrative, commercial and service centre. Other major communities and settlements include Dabala, Sokpoe, Tefle, Vume, Agorkpo, Adutor, Kpotame, Agbakope, Fievie-Dugame, Dendo and Yorkutikpo. Sogakope and Dabala host the District’s two principal markets and serve as important centres for agricultural produce, retail trade and other commercial activities. The District also has a growing base of small and medium-scale industries involved in cassava, fish and soybean processing, soap and detergent production, baking and confectionery, pottery, mat weaving, batik and tie-dye, crop drying, water purification and metal fabrication.
Administratively, the South Tongu District Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the District. It is responsible for local development planning, infrastructure provision, spatial planning, environmental management, public health, education, sanitation, agricultural development, local economic development and revenue mobilisation. The District operates through four Area Councils, namely the Sogakope Area Council, Dabala Area Council, Larve Area Council and Agave-Afedume Area Council. These decentralised structures help extend local governance and development planning to communities throughout the District.
The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing 40 electoral areas, Government Appointees, the District Chief Executive (DCE) and the Member of Parliament for the South Tongu Constituency. The General Assembly serves as the principal deliberative and decision-making organ and operates through statutory sub-committees and an Executive Committee chaired by the DCE. The Assembly has 60 members, including the MP and DCE. The current DCE is Hon. Victoria Dzeklo, who was confirmed in 2025 and continues to serve as of 2026. Hon. Mensah Kwaku Kudze is the current Presiding Member, while Hon. Maxwell Kwame Lukutor is the current Member of Parliament for the South Tongu Constituency.
South Tongu possesses significant natural, ecological, cultural and tourism assets. The Lower Volta River, its islands, creeks and lagoons provide opportunities for water-based tourism, boating, fishing and recreational activities. The Avu Lagoon near Adutor supports diverse birdlife and is noted for the presence of the endangered sitatunga, while the wetlands and waterways around Agave-Afedume provide habitat for waterfowl. The District also has a sandy beach environment around Agorta, the Vume pottery industry, and tourism and hospitality facilities concentrated around Sogakope and other communities. The lower Volta landscape and its waterways provide a foundation for eco-tourism and hospitality development.
The District faces several development challenges, including poor feeder roads, inadequate road maintenance, limited agricultural technology, inadequate storage facilities, post-harvest losses, gaps in rural healthcare and education infrastructure, water and sanitation challenges, and uneven access to reliable electricity in some rural communities. Many feeder roads become difficult to use during the rainy season, affecting the movement of agricultural produce and access to markets and public services. The District also faces environmental pressures associated with deforestation, reliance on wood fuel and charcoal, inadequate sanitation, flooding and pressures on wetlands and water bodies. Recent flooding has also affected communities and infrastructure within the District.
Despite these challenges, South Tongu has considerable opportunities for commercial agriculture, rice and vegetable production, agro-processing, fisheries and aquaculture, livestock production, tourism, hospitality, commerce and small-scale manufacturing. The District’s extensive water resources create opportunities for fish farming and water-based tourism, while its agricultural base supports expansion of value-added processing. The strategic ECOWAS highway corridor strengthens the commercial position of Sogakope and Dabala. Current development initiatives also include the Dabala 24-hour economy market, tourism promotion, SME support and aquaculture development, while the Assembly’s 2026 budget identifies tourism, trade, industrial development and agricultural services as areas for continued investment.
With Sogakope as its administrative capital, the South Tongu District Assembly occupies an important position within the Lower Volta Basin and the southern Volta Region. Its combination of fertile agricultural lands, extensive rivers and wetlands, fisheries resources, commercial markets, transport connections, tourism assets and growing agro-processing activities provides a foundation for diversified local economic development. The sustainable development of agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, infrastructure, commerce and environmental resources remains central to strengthening livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities across the District.
Key Profile Data
Population: 113,114
Male: 52,488
Female: 60,626
Female population share: 53.6%
Male population share: 46.4%
Rural population: 68.9%
Urban population: 31.1% according to the 2021 PHC-based district profile
Land area: 665 km²
Capital: Sogakope
Area Councils: 4
Sogakope Area Council
Dabala Area Council
Larve Area Council
Agave-Afedume Area Council
Parliamentary Constituency: 1 (South Tongu Constituency)
Year established: 1989
Establishing legislation: L.I. 1466
Region: Volta Region
Major natural resources: Volta River, creeks, lagoons, wetlands and coastal resources
Key tourism assets: Avu Lagoon, Lower Volta waterways and islands, Agorta beach environment, Vume pottery industry and Sogakope hospitality facilities
Population:113,114 according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, comprising 52,488 males and 60,626 females. The Assembly projected the population at 118,825 in 2025.
District Chief Executive (DCE):Hon. Victoria Dzeklo, the current DCE. She was confirmed by the Assembly in April 2025 and remains in office as of September 2026.
Presiding Member:Hon. Mensah Kwaku Kudze, re-elected as Presiding Member in April 2026.
Member of Parliament:Hon. Maxwell Kwame Lukutor, Member of Parliament for the South Tongu Constituency.
Assembly Structure: The Assembly is the highest political and administrative authority in the District. Its structure comprises the General Assembly, Presiding Member, Executive Committee chaired by the DCE, five statutory sub-committees, other supporting committees, the District Coordinating Directorate and decentralised departments. The five principal statutory sub-committees are Development Planning, Finance and Administration, Justice and Security, Works, and Social Services. The District operates through four Area Councils: Sogakope, Dabala, Larve and Agave-Afedume.
Assembly Membership: The District has 40 electoral areas, and has 58 Assembly Members, comprising the 40 elected and appointed members, with the DCE and MP bringing the broader Assembly composition to 60 members. The Assembly also has four Area Councils.
Sogakope District Hospital – The main referral hospital offering general medicine, surgery, maternal and child health, and laboratory services.
CHPS Compounds – Spread across rural communities such as Dabala, Agave, and Tordome, providing primary healthcare, immunization, and family planning.
Health Centres – Facilities in Dabala and Agave serve as outpatient and maternal health centres.
Private Clinics – Complement public facilities with laboratory services, maternal care, and minor surgical procedures.
Challenges: Shortage of medical staff, inadequate equipment in rural facilities, and limited ambulance services.
Educational Institutions:
Senior High Schools – Institutions such as Sogakope Senior High School and Dabala Senior High School provide second-cycle education.
Basic Schools – Numerous public and private primary and JHS across Sogakope, Dabala, Agave, and surrounding villages.
Vocational & Technical Training – Centres offering carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, ICT, and artisanal training.
Teacher Training Colleges – Colleges in the district provide professional development for educators.
Challenges: Overcrowding in urban schools, inadequate classroom blocks, and limited ICT facilities in rural schools.
Road Network Condition:
Major Roads – The Accra–Aflao corridor passes through Sogakope and Dabala, serving as a key transport route, though some sections suffer potholes and erosion.
Township Roads – Rehabilitation projects ongoing in Sogakope and Dabala to improve mobility.
Feeder Roads – Many rural roads remain untarred, becoming impassable during rainy seasons, especially in farming and fishing 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 Sogakope and Dabala, 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 Sogakope, Dabala, and Agave 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, 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 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.
