Stories and facts
Situated within the Longitudes 0.30E and 1.05E and Latitudes 5.45N and 6.005N, it resides eastward of the Volta estuary, positioned approximately 160 kilometres to the east of Accra, accessible via the Accra-Aflao main road. Keta, serving as the administrative hub, encapsulates the essence of the Keta Municipal.
Geographical Landscape
Covering a total surface area of 1,086 square kilometres, a notable portion of approximately 362 square kilometres (30 percent) is embraced by water bodies. Predominantly, the Keta Lagoon, extending 32 kilometres in length and boasting a width of 12 kilometres at its broadest section, exemplifies the largest of these water bodies. This configuration results in a land area of 446 square kilometres, fostering constraints on land accessibility for developmental endeavors. Despite this, the potential for fishing and water-based transportation remains substantial.
Keta Municipality shares its boundaries with the Akatsi South Municipal to the north, Ketu South Municipal to the east, South Tongu District to the west, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south, thus contributing to its unique geographical and social fabric.
Population Dynamics
As per the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the population of Keta Municipality stands at 147,168 individuals, constituting 7.0 percent of the regional populace. Within this demographic, males represent 46.4 percent while females account for 53.6 percent. Urban areas accommodate the majority (53.3%) of the population, culminating in a sex ratio of 86.7, indicative of 87 males for every 100 females. With 34.6 percent of the population below 15 years, the municipality portrays a youthful population structure. Simultaneously, the elderly population (aged 60 years and older) constitutes 12.1 percent, generating a population pyramid with a broad base that tapers upwards. The overall age dependency ratio rests at 77.5.
Demographic Measures
The Municipality's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is documented at 3.1, slightly below the regional rate of 3.4. The General Fertility Rate (GFR) indicates 88.7 births per 1000 women aged 15-49 years. Correspondingly, the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) stands at 21.7 per 1000 population. In terms of mortality, the crude death rate is 12.3 per 1000. With regard to migration, the majority (54.4%) of residents living in the Municipality were born within the Volta region, while 45.6 percent hail from other regions.
Household Composition
Within Keta Municipality, there exists a household population of 144,747 distributed across 37,705 households, yielding an average household size of 3.8 persons. Children constitute the largest proportion of the household population, accounting for 33.3 percent, while spouses form about 8.1 percent. Nuclear households, comprising the head, spouse(s), and children, constitute 18.3 percent of the Municipality's household configuration.
Marital and Nationality Status
The population aged 12 years and older reflects diverse marital statuses: 45.4 percent married, 35.4 percent never married, and 10.1 percent widowed. Moreover, 93.3 percent of individuals aged 12-14 years have never married, while 0.7 percent are in an informal or consensual union. In terms of nationality, the majority (99.6%) of the populace are Ghanaians, with 0.4 percent being non-Ghanaians.
Literacy and Education
Among individuals aged 11 years and older, 75.1 percent exhibit literacy, while 24.9 percent lack literacy skills. A gender disparity is evident, with literate males (87.0%) surpassing literate females (65.4%). Within the Municipality's population aged 3 years and older, 38.8 percent are presently attending school, an equivalent proportion have attended school previously, and 22.4 percent have never attended school.
Economic Engagement
Approximately 63.9 percent of those aged 15 years and older are actively engaged in economic activities, leaving 36.1 percent economically inactive. Of the economically active segment, 93.5 percent are employed, whereas 6.5 percent are unemployed. Females exhibit a higher rate of economic inactivity (37.0%) compared to males (35.0%). The economically inactive group comprises 45.4 percent students, 18.4 percent involved in household duties, and 8.2 percent facing disabilities or health constraints. Additionally, 55.0 percent of the unemployed population are actively seeking work for the first time.
Occupational Diversity
Among the employed population, 34.8 percent are skilled in agricultural, forestry, and fishery activities, 21.8 percent engage in service and sales roles, 25.4 percent are involved in craft and related trades, while 2.3 percent are managerial positions.
Employment Categories
Within the population aged 15 years and older, 70.9 percent are self-employed without employees, 6.9 percent are contributing family workers, 3.4 percent operate as casual workers, and 0.5 percent hold domestic employee roles. The private informal sector dominates as the leading employer in the Municipality, employing 91.1 percent of the population, followed by the public sector at 5.6 percent.
The profile of the Keta Municipal encapsulates its geographical, demographic, and socioeconomic essence. The municipality's unique blend of urban and rural characteristics, combined with its distinct population dynamics and economic engagement patterns, paint a comprehensive picture of its role within the broader Ghanaian landscape.
