About Us

Establishment

The current Krachi West District with Kete Krachi being its capital town is the remnant of the former Krachi District that was created since independence. The administrative and political jurisdiction of the Krachi District has undergone remarkable changes over the years. The Krachi District was re-established by Legislative Instrument 1501 (L.I.1501) on March 10, 1989 after Jasikan and Nkwanta Districts had been carved out of it. It was one of the oldest districts created at the beginning of the Decentralisation Programme in 1988. The District was further split into two districts, namely, Krachi West District and Krachi East District on August 4^th, 2004, The Krachi West District Assembly was subsequently established by Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 1747. In June, 2012, the Krachi Nchumuru District was further carved out of the Krachi West District and the original Krachi West District was re-established by LI 2078.

Location/Size

Krachi West District is located at the north-western corner of the Volta Region. It lies between longitudes 0º 25’West and 0º 20’East and latitudes 7º 65’North and 8º 25’ North. It is bounded to the east by the Oti River that separates it from the Krachi East District, to the north by the Krachi Nchumuru District and to the south and west by the Volta Lake which also separates it from the Sene District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

It has a total surface area of about 3,130 sq km of which about 25 percent is covered by water. (KWD – DMTDP, 2014 – 2017). The District in the national context and a sketch map of the District are shown in Figures 1a and 1b respectively.

The District lies in the transitional zone between the Savannah Zone in the north and the Forest Zone in the south of the country. It enjoys maximum rainfall from mid-August to mid-September and has a mean maximum temperature of 30 ºC (March), and a minimum temperature of 25.5 ºC (August). There is a long dry season from October to early April with a rainy season lasting from late April to late September. About 75 percent of the District is covered by grassland (KWD–DMTDPT, 2014 – 2017).

Demographic Characteristics

There are at least 100 human settlements in the District including over 30 island communities distributed all over the numerous islands on the Volta Lake. The 2010 Population and Housing Census put the population of the District at 122,105 before the re-demarcation of the District in 2012. The population distribution in the district shows that 50.8 percent of the population (62,019) is males while 49.2 percent (60,086) is female. The Ghana Statistical Service estimated that the population of Krachi West District (excluding Krachi Nchumuru District) to be 49, 417 of which 25, 370 were males and 24,047 were females. The Krachi West District is predominantly rural with a whopping 80.4 per cent of the total population (39,371) living in rural settlements (Ghana Statistical Service, 2012). The population density in the District is estimated to be 39 persons per square kilometre of land (122,105 persons/3,130 sq. km of land) while the dependency ratio and average household size in the district are 59:1 and 5.5 respectively.

The indigenes or true custodians of Krachi land are the Krachis of the Guan ethnic group who speak the Kaakyi language. Other major tribal or ethnic groups found in the District are the Hausas and Konkombas whilst minor tribes such as the Nchumurus, Kotokolis, Basares, Tongus/Ewes, Frafras, Dagombas, and a variety of Akans are found in scattered settlements in the District (KWD- MTDP, 20104- 2017).

4 Socio-economic Characteristics

The dependency ratio in the District is 59:1. The greatest potential of the District is agriculture and the people are predominantly farmers. About 70 percent of the population is actively engaged in agricultural related ventures with about 65 percent into subsistence rain fed agriculture activities. The main foodstuffs grown are yam, cassava, cowpeas, rice, guinea corn, maize and groundnuts (in order of importance).

Mission Statement

To ensure efficient mobilization and utilization of financial and human resource for the overall development of the district and working in partnership with the private sector in the provision of basic socio-economic infrastructure to improve the wellbeing of the people.

Vision

To create a conducive environment to attract the best calibre of human resource and promote investment drive of the district through private sector participation.

Functions

By the tenets of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution, the Local Government Act, 1993, Act 462, and Legislative Instrument 2027, the Krachi West District Assembly constitutes the highest political, planning, and administrative authority in the District. When seated in conference, the Krachi West District Assembly is the highest decision making authority within the political and geographical jurisdiction of the District. The District Assembly is charged with three (3) statutory functions, namely executive, legislative and deliberative functions. It is quasi-autonomous with corporate status. The Assembly can sue and can be sued.

By this, the District Assembly among others;

Implements and supervises governmental policies, plans and programme at the District and local level.
Ensures the creation of a congenial environment for the overall development of its territorial jurisdiction.
Enacts by-laws and prepares budget estimates. (ultimately responsible for delivering services to communities and equitably allocating limited resources to meet the prioritized development needs of the district)
Formulates, and executes development plans, programmes and strategies for the effective mobilisation of resources necessary for the overall development of the District.
Promotes and supports productive activity and socio-economic development.
Initiates programmes for the development of basic infrastructure.
Co-ordinates, integrates, facilitates and harmonises the execution of programmes and projects under approved development plans for the District and other development programmes promoted or carried out by Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Services and other Statutory Bodies and Civil and Non-Governmental Organisations in the District.

District Assembly Committees

The Office of the District Assembly represents the Secretariat of the District General Assembly. The Office of the District Assembly houses the Central Administrative Department of the Local Government Service. The Central Administrative Department headed by the District Co-ordinating Director provides secretarial and advisory services to the District Assembly through its various committees. It performs the day-to-day functions of the District Assembly and advises the Executive Committee on planning, programming and budgeting. The District General Assembly operates two committees that is Public Relation and complaints Committee (PRCC) which is chaired by Honourable Presiding Member (PM) and the Executive Committee which is chaired by the Honourable District Chief Executive.

The Executive Committee, which is chaired by the District Chief Executive, performs the day-to-day executive and administrative functions of the General Assembly. The Executive Committee operates five (5) statutory Sub-Committees and five (2) discretionary Sub-Committees.

These Sub-Committees guide the General Assembly in decision making. They are responsible for deliberations on specific subjects and submitting recommendations to the Executive Committee for consideration.

The Executive Committee collates proposals and recommendations from the various sub-committees and further passes them unto the General Assembly for consideration and approbation for implementation.

The five (5) statutory Sub-Committees are:

Finance and Administration

Development Planning

Works

Social Services

Justice and Security

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462) which gives the District Assemblies the discretion of forming other Sub-Committee peculiar to their environment and nature for the efficient and effective enhancement of its operations, the District Assembly has prudently constituted the following essential discretionary Sub-Committees

Agriculture and Environment

Medium and Small Enterprises

The Assembly is empowered by the Public Procurement Act 2003, Act 663 to set up a District Entity Tender Committee and Tender Review Board to advise the Assembly on matters relating to the procurement of goods, services, works, and consulting services, and award of contracts.

The following mandatory committees of the District Assembly are also operative in the District:

District Statutory Planning Committee (DSPC)

District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC)

District Security Council (DISEC)

District Environment Management Committee (DEMC)

District Assembly Committees

The Executive Committee collates proposals and recommendations from the various sub-committees and further passes them unto the General Assembly for consideration and approbation for implementation.

The five (5) statutory Sub-Committees are:

Finance and Administration

Development Planning

Works

Social Services

Justice and Security

Agriculture and Environment

Medium and Small Enterprises

The following mandatory committees of the District Assembly are also operative in the District:

District Statutory Planning Committee (DSPC)

District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC)

District Security Council (DISEC)

District Environment Management Committee (DEMC)