Stories and facts

When Ghana attained independence on 6 March 1957, the nation was divided into five administrative regions: Ashanti, Eastern, Northern, Western, and Volta, the latter combining parts of the former Trans-Volta Togoland with coastal areas.

These regions had emerged from territories once known as the Northern Protectorate, the Ashanti Colony, alongside sections of British Togoland and the Gold Coast Colony.

Over the decades, Ghana’s regional map has undergone several changes. The first alteration after independence occurred in April 1959, when the Brong-Ahafo Region was carved out of the Ashanti Region under the Brong-Ahafo Region Act No. 18.

On 1 July 1960, the Northern Region was divided to create the Upper Region, bringing the total to seven.

Before the 1970 census, the Western Region was split to form the Central Region. Later, PNDC Law 26, enacted in July 1982, granted Greater Accra official status as a separate region, detaching it from the Eastern Region.

In 1983, the Upper Region was split into two parts: Upper East and Upper West, increasing the total number of regions to ten. The most recent expansion took place after a referendum held on December 27, 2018, which received strong support from voters. This led to the creation of six new regions: Oti, Savannah, North East, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western North. As a result, the total number of regions in Ghana has now reached sixteen.

Today, each region operates as a distinct administrative entity with its own capital and regional minister.

The journey from five to sixteen regions mirrors Ghana’s ongoing social and political development, a clear expression of its efforts to decentralise governance and ensure that public administration remains accessible and responsive to local needs.

Explore the 16 regions of Ghana to find out what makes each region unique: