Stories and facts
This transition elevated the remaining segment to municipal district assembly status, renaming it as the Ho Municipal District. Positioned at the heart of the Volta Region, the district assembly's headquarters resides in the central hub, Dzolokpuita.
Geographical Neighbors
Bordered by various districts, Ho West District forms a dynamic geographical mosaic. To its south lies the North Tongu District, while the Asuogyaman District finds its place to the southwest. On the northern frontier stands the Afadzato South District. The eastern borders are shared with the Ho Municipality, the Adaklu District, and the Republic of Togo, while the western boundaries are adjacent to the South Dayi District.
Population Insights
Drawing data from the 2010 Population and Housing Census, Ho West District was home to approximately 94,600 individuals. Within this population, males and females constituted 48% and 52%, respectively. This demographic division extended into urban and rural areas, with percentages of 10.9 and 89.1. The youthful nature of the district was evident, as the age group between 0 and 14 made up 36.5% of the population. This demographic pyramid depicted a broad base that tapered to a smaller number of elderly individuals. The overall age dependency ratio was 81.9, with a higher ratio for males (86.2) than for females (78), and a rural-urban dependency ratio split of 82.6 and 76.3, respectively.
Fertility, Mortality, and Migration Trends
The Total Fertility Rate for Ho West District was 3.6, and the General Fertility Rate stood at 104.6 births per 1000 women aged 15-49 years, surpassing the regional rate of 99.2. The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) was recorded at 24.2 per 1000 population, while the Crude Death Rate was 12.5 per 1000. Migration patterns indicated that a significant portion (74%) of migrants within the district originated from the same region, while the rest came from other regions. Notably, a notable percentage of external migrants hailed from the Greater Accra region (6.4%).
Households and Marital Dynamics
Ho West District accommodated a household population of 93,523, distributed across 23,875 households, with an average of 4.0 persons per household. Children formed the predominant group within households, constituting 36.8% of the structure. The nuclear household arrangement, comprising the head, spouse(s), and children, accounted for 24.2% of the total households.
Marital Diversity and Economic Involvement
Marital statistics unveiled a diverse landscape, with 38.1% of individuals aged 12 and older married, 35.5% never married, 10% in consensual unions, 8.1% widowed, 3.6% divorced, and 4.7% separated. Educational status had varying impacts, as 17.9% of married individuals lacked education, and 4.4% of never-married individuals were similarly uneducated. Employment rates among the married were notably high, at 82.5%, while 2.1% were unemployed and 15.3% were economically inactive.
Nationality and Literacy Proficiency
A significant majority (92.1%) of the district's population were Ghanaians by birth, while 1.7% had acquired citizenship through naturalization. Non-Ghanaians represented 0.8% of the population. Regarding literacy, 85.9% of individuals aged 11 and older were literate, with males (91.5%) outpacing females (80.9%). Moreover, 66.2% of the population reported proficiency in both English and Ghanaian languages. School attendance was noteworthy, with 46.2% of individuals three years and older currently attending primary school.
Economic Participation and Occupational Spectrum
Economic activity was vibrant, encompassing 69.5% of individuals aged 15 and older who were economically active, leaving 30.5% economically inactive. Among the economically active segment, 95.9% were employed, while 4.1% were unemployed. For those not engaged in economic activities, 59.4% were students, 17.5% performed household duties, and 11% faced disabilities or health constraints.
Occupations and Employment Dynamics
Within the employed population, occupations varied widely, with 58.4% engaged in skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery work, 13% in service and sales roles, 16% in craft and related trades, and 7.4% serving as managers, professionals, and technicians combined.
Employment Status and Sectors
Analyzing the employment landscape, 77.5% of individuals aged 15 and older were self-employed without employees, while 10% were employees, 7.6% were contributing family workers, 0.6% were casual laborers, and 0.4% were domestic employees. The private informal sector emerged as the leading employer, absorbing 91.4% of the workforce, followed by the public sector at 6.1% and the private formal sector at 2.1%.
In conclusion, Ho West District thrives as a diverse and dynamic district within the Volta Region of Ghana, characterized by its demographic diversity, economic engagement, and evolving landscape of occupations and industries.
