Location

Birim North District is among the twenty-six districts in eastern region with its capital at New Abirem. The district shares boarders with Kwahu west to the north, Akyemansa to the south, Asante Akyem south and Adansi south to the west, and Atiwa and Kwaebibirem to the east.

Demography

Eastern region has a growth rate of 2.1 based on the 2021 population census giving a population projection of 87,988 for the year 2024.

There are three major indigenous traditional groups in the district. These are the Akim Kotokus, Akim Bosomes and Akim Abuakwas. The Akim Kotokus dominated the population as they have more settlements than the other two divisions. Other ethnic group settlers include Asantes, Kwahu, Ga Adangmes, Ewes and people of northern extraction.

Relief and Climate

Birim North district covers an estimated area of 1,250 sq km, which constitutes 6.47 of the total land surface area of the Eastern Region. The district constitutes Highland and lowland areas with deep forest zones with green leaves all year round. There are two rainfall patterns and a dry and dusty season in the district. The Birim River and river Pra are the only rivers associated with the district.

The District Assembly

The assembly is the highest political and administrative body. It is made up of two-thirds elected members from the electoral areas and one-third Government appointees from the communities. It has one constituency and represented by one Member of Parliament.

Surface Accessibility

There are three major trunk roads from the district capital New Abirem to Akim Oda, New Abirem to Kade and New Abirem to Nkawkaw capital of Kwahu West District. Roads connecting these major trunk roads to outreach communities are mainly laterite. They become dusty during the dry season, muddy and slippery during the rainy season and sometimes unmotorable. Transportation is mostly by public buses, there are however few private minibuses and taxi that ply the route. Most settlements in the communities are closely located however because of the farming activities some communities are scattered with about 5-10 houses

Telecommunication

The district is privileged to having only three of the communication networks out of the six throughout the nation, namely MTN, Airtel, Tigo and Telecel. There are no Telecel land lines in the district as compared to other districts.

Energy

The district is on the national electricity grade however not all the communities benefit from it. Those communities benefiting do not have a stable electricity.

Services

The people of the Birim North District are mostly farmers cultivating cash crops such as Cocoa, Cola nuts, Oil palm, Citrus and Rice. There are few small scale saw milling installations in the district processing wood to feed the furniture, construction and the building industries in the district. Miners have increased in the district both legal and illegal. Newmont Gold Mines have moved into the district and are exploring the mineral resources. This has given employment to many energetic youth and migration of people into the district capital and its neighbouring communities. The Public and civil service are fairly occupied by both the indigenous and visitors, however there are other indigenous also engaged in small business and trading.

Education

The district is one of the deprived districts in the country where several amenities are inadequate. It can however boast of several public and private basic schools some with boarding facilities and three second cycle institutions located in New Abirem, Amuana Praso, and Akoase sub-districts.

Water Delivery

Wells and pipe borne are the major source of water for the inhabitants. Some also harvest rainwater during the rainy season. The District can boast of 99 stand pipes, 142 boreholes and 58 hand dug wells.

Agriculture sector

The Birim North district area has an extensive plain, which is suitable for palm-nut farming. The chemical composition of the soil in terms of its fertility is suitable for palm production. There are a number of individuals already in palm-nut farming in the area.