Northern Region (Ghana)

Northern Region, Dagbon
Region
Location of Northern Region in Ghana
Districts of Northern region, Dagbon
Country	Ghana
Capital	Tamale
Districts	20
Government
• Regional Minister	Limuna Mohammed Muniru
Area
• Total	70,384 km2 (27,175 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)
• Total	2,479,461
• Density	35/km2 (91/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2013
• Per capita	$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
• Year	2013
• Per capita	$2,500
Time zone	GMT
Area code(s)	037
ISO 3166 code	GH-NP

The Northern Region is located in North Ghana. It is the largest of ten regions coverings an area of 70,384 square kilometers or 31 percent of Ghana's area . Northern Region is divided into 26 districts. The Northern Region's capital is Tamale.

Geography and climate

Location and size

The Northern Region is precisely located in the Kingdom of Dagbon and the Northern region is bordered on the north by the Upper West region and the Upper East region, on the east by the eastern Ghana-Togo international border, on the south by the Black Volta River and the Volta region, and on the north-west by the Upper West region and Burkina Faso, and on the west by the western Ghana-Ivory Coast international border. Northern region is the largest region in total area, and is made up of 20 districts.

Climate and Vegetation

A baobab tree

The Northern Region is much drier than southern areas of Ghana, due to its proximity to the Sahel, and the Sahara. The vegetation consists predominantly of grassland, especially savanna with clusters of drought-resistant trees such as baobabs or acacias. Between January and March is the wet season, with an average annual rainfall of 750 to 1050 mm (30 to 40 inches). The dry season is between about July and December. The highest temperatures are reached at the end of the dry season, the lowest in December and January. However, the hot Harmattan wind from the Sahara blows frequently between December and the beginning of February. The temperatures can vary between 14 °C (59 °F) at night and 40 °C (104 °F) during the day.

Tourism

Elephants at Mole National Park

Parks

• Mole National Park

Economy

Agribusiness Factory in Tamale, Northern region. Agriculturist workers at Agriculture Factory in Tamale, Northern region.

More than 75% of the economically active population are agricultural. The low population density is partly caused by emigration.

Demographics

The Northern Region has a low density, and along with the official language of English most inhabitants (52%) speak a language of the Oti–Volta subfamily in the Niger–Congo languages.

Districts

The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 20 districts. Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Area, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves.

Districts in Northern region, Dagbon
#	District	Capital	Population
1	Bole	Bole
2	Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo	Bunkpurugu
3	Central Gonja	Buipe
4	Chereponi	Chereponi
5	East Gonja	Salaga
6	East Mamprusi	Gambaga
7	Gushegu	Gushegu
8	Karaga	Karaga
9	Kpandai	Kpandai
10	Nanumba North	Bimbilla
11	Nanumba South	Wulensi
12	Saboba	Saboba
13	Savelugu-Nanton	Savelugu
14	Sawla-Tuna-Kalba	Sawla
15	Tamale Metropolitan	Tamale
16	Tolon	Tolon
17	West Gonja	Damongo
18	West Mamprusi	Walewale
19	Yendi Municipal	Yendi
20	Zabzugu	Zabzugu
21	Kumbungu	Kumbungu
22	Mankragu/ Moagduri	Yagaba
23	Sagnarigu	Sagnarigu
24	Mion	Sang
25	Tatale/Sanguli	Tatale
26	North Gonja	Daboya
Total

Famous citizens

Famous native citizens of Northern region, Dagbon
#	Citizen	Settlement
1	John Dramani Mahama	Damongo
2	Aliu Mahama	Yendi
3	Wakaso	Tamale
4	Majeed Waris	Tamale

References

• Districts of Ghana at statoids.com
• GhanaDistricts.com

External links

• GhanaDistricts.com – Northern Region