Wa, Ghana

Short description: Town in Upper West Region, Ghana

Template:Use Ghanaian English

Town

View of a high street in Wa

Etymology: Dagbani: Wa ("te wa kaa yeng seore", English: "we came to watch a dance")[1]

Location of Wa in Upper West Region

Coordinates:  [ ⚑ ] 10°4′N 2°30′W﻿ / ﻿10.067°N 2.5°W﻿ / 10.067; -2.5
Country| Ghana
Region| Upper West Region
District| Wa Municipal District
Elevation

| 305 m (1,001 ft)
Population

(2021)

• Total| 200,672[2]
Time zone| GMT
• Summer (DST)| GMT
Postal code|

Area code(s)| 039
Website| No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Wa is a town and the capital of the Wa Metropolitan Assembly[3] and the Upper West Region of Ghana.[4] It has a population of 200,672 people according to the 2021 census.[5][6]

The town is a transportation hub for the Upper West region, with major roads leading north to Hamile, and northeast to Tumu and the Upper East Region. There is also a small airport, named the Wa Airport.[7]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Etymology
* 1.2 Formation
* 2 Administration
* 3 Economy
* 4 Demographics
* 5 Transportation
* 6 Geography
* 6.1 Climate
* 7 Culture
* 7.1 Festivals
* 7.2 Cuisine
* 8 Human resources
* 8.1 Health
* 8.2 Education
* 9 Notable people
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 11.1 Citations
* 11.2 Bibliography
* 12 External links

## History

### Etymology

Wa is a Dagbani word meaning te wa kaa yeng seore ('we came to watch a dance').[1]

### Formation

Wa emerged as an important center of trade.

Under the Northern Protectorates, the town experienced slow infrastructure development due to neglection by the colonial administration.[8]

## Administration

Wa has a mayor–council form of government. The mayor is appointed/approved by the town council, the Wa Municipal Assembly. The current mayor of Wa is Hon. Tahiru Issahaku Moomin.[9]

## Economy

Despite its urban status, Wa is in many ways still an agricultural community with the majority of the town's population engaged in small scale farming. Main crops grown include corn, millet, yams, okra and groundnuts. The town also grows cash crops, which include soya beans, and groundnuts, bambara beans.[10][6]

## Demographics

Template:Historical population In 1880, it was estimated that Wa had about 8,000 people. This number is thought to have fallen to 2,000 by 1900. In the 1921 census, the population of the town was 2,806. The population had risen to 5,207 by 1931. In that same year, the Wa district, which was now a part of the Wala Native Authority had a population of 13,025. In 1948, Wa had a population of 14,406 while the district had 15,827 people. In 1960 the population was 14,406. In 1970 the population had risen to 13,740.[11][8] In the 2000 census, the town's population was 66,644 while in the 2010 census the population was 125,479.[12][13]

Islam is the largest religion in the town making up 65.9% of the population. This is followed by Christianity (29%), traditionalists (4.1%), and other religions (0.4%).[6] Major ethic groups who resided in Wa include the Wala, the Sisaala, and the Dagaaba.[14]

## Transportation

There is public transport from Wa to major cities such as Accra; Kumasi, Mim, Ahafo; Cape Coast, Sunyani; Tamale; Tema; Ho; Bolgatanga; Elubo; Aflao, and Techiman.[6]

## Geography

A plant in Wa

Wa is located in the north-western part of Ghana. It has a size that covers a total land area of 579.86 km2 (223.89 sq mi). The average land height of the town sits between 160 mm (0.52 ft) and 300 mm (0.98 ft) above sea level.[8] The municipal share surrounding borders Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District to the north-west, Nadowli-Kaleo District to the north-east, Wa East District to the east and to the west and south the Wa West District.[6]

### Climate

Wa has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The wet season usually occurs between March and July while the dry season can happen from September to November. The mean maximum temperatures can range from 34–40 °C (93–104 °F) whilst the mean minimum temperatures can reach 29 °C (84 °F). The average monthly relative humidity stands around 40.67%.[15]

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## Culture

Front view of Wa Naa's Palace

The Wa Naa's Palace, located in Wa, is home to chief (Wa Naa) of the Wala people. Cattle is a symbol of wealth in the town and is sometimes used for marriage payment.[18]

### Festivals

The Damba festival is an annual event celebrated in the town and throughout Northern Ghana. It is typically held in late September.[19] The Dumba festival is another annual event celebrated in the town. It is usually celebrated in the month of September or October.[20]

### Cuisine

## Human resources

### Health

Wa has a total of 26 health facilities, including community health planning services and four private facilities.[8] The largest hospital in the town is the Wa regional hospital. It is a 160-bed facility that opened in 2019 with a project cost of GH₵5,254,500,000 (US$339 million).[21]

### Education

The town is the educational hub of the region. University for Development Studies, Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education and Wa Polytechnic have branches or are located in Wa.[8] The Wa Technical University, formerly Wa Polytechnic, was established in 1999 and begin program offerings in 2004. There are currently 600 students enrolled in the institution.[22]

The following is a list of educational institutions in Wa:[23]

Senior high schools

* Wa Islamic Senior High School
* Jamiat Al-Hidayyat Al-Islamiat Girls Senior High School
* Northern Star Senior High School
* St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary
* Wa Senior High School
* Wa Senior High Technical School
* Wa Technical Institute
* T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School

Colleges/Universities

* SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
* Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education
* Wa Nursing Training College
* Wa Technical University (formally Wa Polytechnic)

## Notable people

* Wiyaala
* Samini
* Mohammed Kudus
* Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo
* Salma Mumin
* Abdul Haye Mumin
* Shamima Muslim

## See also

* Lobi people
* Wala people
* Roman Catholic Diocese of Wa

## References

### Citations

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Awedoba 2009, p. 47.
2. ↑ ﻿Population of Regions and Districts﻿ (Report). Ghana Statistical Service. November 2021. https://statsghana.gov.gh/gssmain/fileUpload/pressrelease/2021 PHC General Report Vol 3A_Population of Regions and Districts_181121.pdf. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
3. ↑ "Wa Metropolitan". https://www.ghanadistricts.com/Home/District/168.
4. ↑ "Campaign on effective handling of food items held in Wa". https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/campaign-on-effective-handling-of-food-items-held-in-wa.html?template=graphictv&is_preview=on.
5. ↑ "Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana". https://www.ghanadistricts.com/Home/District/168.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "2010 Population and Housing Census – Wa Municipal". Ghana Statistical Service. https://www2.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010_District_Report/Upper West/WA MUNICIPAL.pdf.
7. ↑ Touring Ghana – Upper West Region . touringghana.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Ahmed, A.; Korah, P.; Dongzagla, A.; Nunbogu, A.; Niminga-Beka, R.; Kuusaana, E.; Abubakari, Z. (2020). "City profile: Wa, Ghana". Cities 97. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2019.102524. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264275119309813. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
9. ↑ "Upper West Regional Peace Council". National Peace Council, Ghana. https://www.peacecouncil.gov.gh/upperwest/.
10. ↑ Naazie, G.; Agyemang, I.; Tampah-Naah, A. (2024). "Characterization of urban agriculture and farmers' climate change adaptation: the case of Urban Wa, Ghana". Discover Sustainability 5 (58). doi:10.1007/s43621-024-00227-0. Bibcode: 2024DiSus...5...58N. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-024-00227-0. Retrieved 20 July 2024. ""...The Wa Municipality has about 200,672 residents with 143,358 urban dwellers. Also, out of about 70% who engage in agricultural activities, only 30.2% are direct food crops..."".
11. ↑ Wilks 2002, pp. 11–13.
12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `2000 census`
13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `2010 population census`
14. ↑ Awedoba 2009, p. 39.
15. ↑ Bessah, E.; Amponsah, W.; Ansah, S.; Afrifa, A.; Yahaya, B.; Wemegah, C.; Tanu, M.; Amekudzi, L. et al. (2022). "Climatic zoning of Ghana using selected meteorological variables for the period 1976–2018". Meteorological Applications 29 (1): 2049. doi:10.1002/met.2049. Bibcode: 2022MeApp..29.2049B.
16. ↑ "Wa Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Ghana/CSV/Wa_65404.csv.
17. ↑ "Klimatafel von Wa / Ghana" (in de). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world. Deutscher Wetterdienst. http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_654040_kt.pdf.
18. ↑ Wilks 2002, pp. 5–7.
19. ↑ "Damba as a festival and dance form". 2014-07-11. http://artsghana.org/damba-as-a-festival-and-dance-form/.
20. ↑ "At the peak of Dumba Festival". https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/features/at-the-peak-of-dumba-festival.html.
21. ↑ "Nana Addo commissions Upper West Regional Hospital". Citi Newsroom. 18 August 2019. https://citinewsroom.com/2019/08/nana-addo-commissions-upper-west-regional-hospital/.
22. ↑ "Where's Wa?". Saskatchewan Polytechnic. https://saskpolytech.ca/programs-and-courses/international/projects/ghana-wheres-wa.aspx.
23. ↑ "Senior High Schools in Upper West Region of Ghana". https://www.schoolsingh.com/senior-high-schools/regions/upper-west.

### Bibliography

* Awedoba, A. K. (2009). An Ethnographic Study of Northern Ghanaian Conflicts. Sub-Saharan Publishers. ISBN 9789988647384.
* Wilks, Ivor (4 July 2002). Wa and the Wala: Islam and Polity in Northwestern Ghana. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521894340.

## External links

* No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.
* Ghana-pedia webpage – Wa
* Wa, Ghana oriented website

Places adjacent to Wa, Ghana

| Charia |
| Kperisi

|
|

Siriyiri |

Kapaguri | Kpongu | Bamahu

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