Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly

• Name of MMDA: Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly
• Region: Eastern Region
• Type of Assembly: District Assembly
• Capital: Asesewa
• Year Established: 2008. The Upper Manya Krobo District was carved out of the then Manya Krobo District under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1842 as part of Ghana’s decentralisation programme. The district’s capital is Asesewa.

The Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly (UMKDA) is one of the administrative districts located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The District was created in 2008, when the then Manya Krobo District was divided to create the Upper Manya Krobo District, with Asesewa serving as its administrative capital. The District was established under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1842 and remains a district assembly rather than a municipality. Its creation was 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-eastern part of the Eastern Region, between latitudes approximately 6°20′ North and 6°50′ North and longitudes 0°30′ West and 0°00′ West. It shares boundaries with the Volta Lake to the north, Fanteakwa South District to the west, Asuogyaman District to the east, Yilo Krobo Municipal to the south-west, and Lower Manya Krobo Municipal to the south-east. Its location along the Volta Lake and its connections with neighbouring districts give it an important position for agriculture, fishing, local trade and inter-district economic activity.

In terms of land area, the District covers approximately 885 square kilometres, representing about 4.8% of the total land area of the Eastern Region. The landscape consists of agricultural land, savannah and semi-deciduous vegetation, riverine areas and communities bordering the Volta Lake. The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded a total population of 70,676, comprising 35,620 males and 35,056 females. Males therefore constituted approximately 50.4% of the population, compared with 49.6% females. The District remains predominantly rural, with the 2021 population structure indicating that approximately 87% of residents lived in rural localities, compared with about 13% in urban localities.

The economy of Upper Manya Krobo is predominantly driven by agriculture, livestock production, fishing, aquaculture and commerce. Agriculture employs a large proportion of the population, with farmers cultivating maize, cassava, plantain, vegetables, rice, oil palm and mango. Plantain production is particularly associated with the Asesewa and Sekesua areas, while rice is cultivated around Anyaboni. Vegetable and pepper production is also undertaken in several communities. Livestock farming involves cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and grasscutters, while fishing and fish production are important economic activities for communities along the Volta Lake and rivers.

Asesewa is the District’s principal administrative and commercial capital. Other major communities and settlements include Akateng, Anyaboni, Akorkorma, Sisiamang, Sekesua, Otrokper, Mensah Dawa, Ternguanya, Bisa, Akotoe, Sutapong, Ketedorm, Dawatrim, Adensu, Esuom, Akatawia and Konkoney. Communities such as Akateng have particular importance as fishing and marketing centres, while Asesewa serves as the busiest commercial market centre in the District. Major markets are also found at Akateng and Sekesua, supporting the exchange of agricultural produce, livestock, fish, foodstuffs and manufactured goods.

Administratively, the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly is the highest political, administrative and planning authority within the District. It is responsible for local governance, development planning, spatial planning, infrastructure delivery, agricultural development, environmental management, public health, sanitation and internal revenue mobilisation. The District is decentralised through six Area Councils: Asesewa, Bisa/Anyaboni, Sekesua, Mensah Dawa, Ternguanya and Konkoney/Sisiamang. These structures are intended to bring local administration and development planning closer to residents in the predominantly rural communities.

The Assembly’s governance structure comprises elected Assembly Members representing the various electoral areas, Government Appointees, the District Chief Executive (DCE) as the political and administrative head, and the Member of Parliament for the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency. The General Assembly serves as the principal deliberative and policy-formulating organ of the District. The District has 33 electoral areas and one parliamentary constituency, providing the framework for political representation and grassroots participation in local governance.

Upper Manya Krobo possesses considerable agricultural, fisheries, natural and cultural assets. The Volta Lake provides opportunities for fishing and aquaculture, with communities such as Akateng, Akorkorma, Battorkope, Akrusu and Ponponya participating in fishing activities. Cage fish production is also practiced around Akateng and surrounding communities. The District’s extensive agricultural land provides opportunities for commercial farming and agro-processing, while its rural landscape and proximity to the Volta Lake offer potential for eco-tourism, waterfront recreation and community-based tourism.

The District’s traditional and cultural heritage is closely associated with the Manya Krobo people and the wider Krobo traditional area. Local festivals, traditional institutions, markets and community activities provide opportunities for cultural tourism and local economic development. Asesewa, historically an important trading settlement, continues to function as the District’s main commercial centre and a meeting point for farmers and traders from surrounding communities.

The District faces a number of development challenges, including poor road infrastructure, inadequate agricultural storage facilities, post-harvest losses, limited agro-processing capacity, inadequate social infrastructure and environmental degradation. Several feeder roads connecting farming and fishing communities are in poor condition, affecting the movement of agricultural produce and access to markets and social services. The lack of adequate storage facilities for fruits, vegetables and other perishable produce also contributes to post-harvest losses, forcing many farmers to sell produce immediately after harvesting.

Environmental pressures are also significant. The gradual degradation of vegetation through farming, charcoal production and lumbering has contributed to the conversion of portions of the natural vegetation into savannah and shrubland. The District’s dependence on agriculture and natural resources makes sustainable land management, climate resilience, improved farming practices and environmental conservation important components of its development agenda.

Upper Manya Krobo nevertheless has strong opportunities for commercial agriculture, agro-processing, fisheries, aquaculture, livestock production, tourism and rural enterprise development. The availability of extensive arable land, the Volta Lake fisheries, established markets at Asesewa, Akateng and Sekesua, and opportunities for value addition in rice, maize, cassava, plantain, mango, oil palm, vegetables and fish provide a strong foundation for local economic development. Improved roads, storage facilities, irrigation, agricultural technology and access to finance could significantly increase productivity and household incomes.

With Asesewa as its administrative capital, the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly occupies an important position in the Eastern Region. Its extensive agricultural land, predominantly rural population, Volta Lake frontage, fishing communities, livestock resources and vibrant local markets make it an important agricultural, fisheries and rural commercial hub. Its future development will depend significantly on improving transportation infrastructure, agricultural productivity, storage and processing capacity while protecting the District’s natural resources and strengthening access to basic social services.

Key Profile Data

• Population: 70,676
• Male: 35,620
• Female: 35,056
• Male population share: 50.4%
• Female population share: 49.6%
• Land area: 885 km²
• Capital: Asesewa
• Area Councils: 6
  • Asesewa Area Council
  • Bisa/Anyaboni Area Council
  • Sekesua Area Council
  • Mensah Dawa Area Council
  • Ternguanya Area Council
  • Konkoney/Sisiamang Area Council
• Electoral Areas: 33
• Parliamentary Constituency: 1 (Upper Manya Krobo Constituency)
• Year established: 2008
• Establishing legislation: L.I. 1842
• Region: Eastern Region
• Major economic sectors: Agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, livestock, commerce and agro-processing
• Major crops: Maize, cassava, plantain, rice, vegetables, oil palm and mango
• Major livestock: Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and grasscutters
• Major fishing communities: Akateng, Akorkorma, Battorkope, Akrusu and Ponponya
• Major markets: Asesewa, Akateng and Sekesua
• Major geographical feature: Volta Lake
• Major towns/communities: Asesewa, Akateng, Anyaboni, Akorkorma, Sisiamang, Sekesua, Otrokper, Mensah Dawa, Ternguanya, Bisa and Konkoney