overview
Population estimates in this profile were based on the estimates given by the Ghana Statistical Service. The various population variables are in relation with the performance targets set by the Ghana Health Service to achieve its sector-wide strategic objectives.
Health Infrastructure
The following are the facilities in the district, by type and ownership. Our lady of Grace Hospital, the only CHAG hospital in the district serving as the district hospital, Two (2) public Polyclinics at Brakwa and Jamra, Three (3) health centres located at Odoben, Asikuma and Bedum, thirty (30) functional CHPS and two (2) private maternity homes. The district is further sub-divided into six (6) subdistricts namely; Asikuma,Odoben,Brakwa, Bedum,Amanfopong and Anhwiam.
Currently the district has Doctor to population ratio of 1:10,213, nurse to population ratio of 1:290 and midwife to WIFA population of 1:343. There are total number of 132 basic schools in the district with 3 senior high schools. 44 chemical shops or over the counter medical shops are located within the district.
Physical Features
The Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District is located on the north-central portion of the Central Region of Ghana. It is bordered on the North by Birim South District of the Eastern Region, on the South by Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District, on the West by Assin North and Assin South Districts and on the East by the Agona East District.The district covers a land area of about 884.84sqkm. Proportion of land area to region is 9% of the total land area of the Central Region. The district capital is Breman Asikuma.
Demographic Characteristics
Total estimated population is 139,496 which includes Women in Their Fertility Ages (WIFA) 33,479; children 0-11 months 5,580; and children 0-59 months 27,899. The number of expected pregnancies is about 5,580. Percentage distribution: Male 48.17, female 51.83%. About 65% of the projected total population lives in the rural areas.
There is a total number of 245 settlements, which have further been organised into 183 communities. There are three urban centres, thus Breman Asikuma, Agona Odoben and Breman Brakwa.
Climate
The District lies in the semi-equatorial climatic zone. Monthly temperature ranges from 340C in the hottest (March) to about 260C in August. Mean annual rainfall range from 120 centimetres in the south east to 200 centimetres in the North West. The district experiences double maxima rainfall with peaks in May-June and September- October. Relative humidity during the rainy season is high around 80 percent but falls between 50 percent and 60 percent during the dry hot season.
Vegetation
The forest and savannah type of soils found in the District are suitable for the cultivation of a variety of cash crops including cocoa, citrus, oil palm and staple crops such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, maize, rice and vegetables. The district contributes significantly to the production of industrial crops such as cocoa, pawpaw and oil palm and also has a substantial share in the district production of maize, cassava, and oil palm. Available also in the district are exotic crops such as black and white sweet pepper, rubber and mangoes, which are all gaining importance as export commodities. The vegetation, which basically semi-deciduous forest, contains commercial trees such as Odum, Mahogany, Wawa and other hard wood.
Economy
The district is richly endowed with human and natural resources, particularly mineral deposits, forest and timber species, rich soil and good climatic conditions. The district produces large quantities of cassava, maize, rice, plantain, cocoyam and vegetables. Cocoa and palm nuts are the major cash crops. The district has diverse occupational structure.
However, the informal sector takes the majority of the employed population with the formal sector absorbing the rest. The major occupation in the district is agriculture which employs 65 percent of the labour force. About 52 percent of those engaged in other occupation still takes up agriculture as a secondary occupation. This is primarily because of the favourable climatic conditions prevailing in the District. Crop farming is the major Agricultural activities carried out in the district.
