Upper Denkyira West District Assembly

The Upper Denkyira West District Assembly (UDWDA) is one of the administrative districts located in the Central Region of Ghana. The District was established in November 2007 under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1848, following the carving out of the north-western portion of the former Upper Denkyira District. It was subsequently inaugurated in 2008, with Diaso serving as its administrative capital. The creation of the District formed part of Ghana’s decentralisation programme aimed at bringing governance, development planning, and public services closer to local communities.

The District is situated in the north-western part of the Central Region, within the forest belt of Ghana. It shares boundaries with Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality to the north, Amansie West and Amansie Central Districts to the east, Wassa Amenfi East and Amenfi West Municipalities to the west, and Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly to the south. The District is strategically connected to the Dunkwa-on-Offin to Sefwi Bekwai road corridor, with the major highway passing from Ayanfuri through Diaso towards Sefwi Bekwai and Sefwi Asawinso. This corridor provides an important link between the agricultural and mining communities of the District and neighbouring areas in the Central, Ashanti, and Western regions.

In terms of land area, the District covers approximately 579.21 square kilometres, representing about 3% of the total land area of the Central Region. The landscape is characterised by forest vegetation, fertile agricultural lands, rolling terrain, and numerous farming settlements. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 91,025, comprising 48,137 males and 42,888 females. Males therefore constituted approximately 52.9% of the population, compared with 47.1% females. The District also has a relatively youthful population, with persons below 15 years accounting for approximately 41.9% of the population.

The economy of Upper Denkyira West is predominantly driven by agriculture, mining, trading, livestock production, and related rural economic activities. Agriculture is the main occupation, with about 82.9% of households engaged in some form of agricultural activity and agriculture employing approximately 71.1% of the employable population. The fertile soils and vegetation support the cultivation of cocoa, oil palm, plantain, cassava, maize, citrus, and horticultural crops. Livestock activities include poultry, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, rabbits, grasscutter, and snail rearing. The District is also endowed with mineral resources including gold, gravel, sand, clay, kaolin, and silica, making mining an important component of the local economy.

Diaso is the District’s principal administrative and commercial centre. Other major communities and settlements include Ayanfuri, Dominase, Nkotumso, Ntom, Maudaso, Bethlehem, New Obuasi, Nkronua Anafo, Akwaboso, Afiefiso, Besease, Jameso Nkwanta, Nyinawusu-Awiaso, Ameyaw, Ayanfuri-Gyaman, Kwameprakrom, Abora, Treposo, and Breman. Ayanfuri and Diaso are particularly important centres along the principal road corridor, while the surrounding communities serve predominantly agricultural and mining functions.

Administratively, the Upper Denkyira West District Assembly is the highest political, administrative, and planning authority within the District. The Assembly is responsible for local governance, development planning, infrastructure provision, spatial planning, environmental management, agricultural development, public health, education, sanitation, and local revenue mobilisation. The District operates through three Area Councils: Ayanfuri, Diaso, and Subin-Hill, which facilitate grassroots administration and help bring local governance and development planning closer to communities.

The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the District’s 16 electoral areas, Government Appointees, the District Chief Executive (DCE) as the political and administrative head, and the Member of Parliament for the Upper Denkyira West Constituency. The General Assembly serves as the principal deliberative and decision-making organ, supported by the Executive Committee and statutory sub-committees responsible for areas including finance and administration, development planning, works, social services, and other aspects of local governance.

Upper Denkyira West possesses significant natural, agricultural, mining, and tourism assets. One of its notable attractions is the natural site at New Obuasi, where large rock formations and substantial volumes of flowing water create a distinctive landscape with tourism potential. The District’s forest environment, agricultural landscapes, rivers and streams, and traditional settlements also provide opportunities for eco-tourism and cultural tourism. The District’s location along the Ayanfuri-Diaso-Sefwi Bekwai corridor further enhances its potential as a centre for trade, transport, agriculture, and related services.

The District faces several development and environmental challenges, including poor feeder roads, inadequate educational and health infrastructure, insufficient market facilities, environmental degradation associated with illegal mining, inadequate electricity extension to newly developing communities, poor waste disposal infrastructure, limited revenue mobilisation, and chieftaincy disputes in some communities. The District has about 40 feeder roads covering approximately 360 kilometres, many of which become difficult to use during the rainy season, affecting the movement of farmers, produce, and other goods. The absence of a government district hospital also means that some patients have to be referred to health facilities outside the District.

Despite these challenges, Upper Denkyira West has considerable opportunities for agricultural development, agro-processing, livestock production, mining, commerce, tourism, and rural enterprise development. Its strong cocoa, oil-palm, and food-crop production base provides opportunities for value addition and agro-processing, while the District’s mineral resources support mining-related economic activities. The development of the Diaso and Ayanfuri markets, expansion of local market infrastructure, rehabilitation of feeder roads, and development of the New Obuasi tourism site could further strengthen economic activity and improve livelihoods. The District has also identified opportunities around a proposed Ayanfuri market and broader commercial development under the 24-hour economy initiative.

With Diaso as its administrative capital, the Upper Denkyira West District Assembly occupies an important position in the north-western part of the Central Region. Its strong agricultural base, mineral resources, strategic road connections, forest environment, growing commercial centres, and tourism potential provide a foundation for sustainable economic development, improved local service delivery, and stronger integration with neighbouring districts and regions.

Key Profile Data

• Name of MMDA: Upper Denkyira West District Assembly
• Region: Central Region
• Type of Assembly: District
• Capital: Diaso
• Year Established: 2007
• Establishing Legislation: L.I. 1848
• Population: 91,025
• Male: 48,137
• Female: 42,888
• Male Population Share: 52.9%
• Female Population Share: 47.1%
• Land Area: 579.21 km²
• Area Councils: 3 (Ayanfuri, Diaso, Subin-Hill)
• Electoral Areas: 16
• Parliamentary Constituency: 1 (Upper Denkyira West Constituency)