CHAPTER TWO
Date - 14/Sep/2016
CHAPTER TWO
2.0. Demographic Characteristics
2.1. Population Size
The 2010 National Population and Housing census results put the District’s population at 46,040 with a growth rate of 1.9% which is below the national growth rate and an average household size of 4.1. This comprises 21,915 males and 24,125 females representing 47.6% and 52.4% respectively (GSS, March 2012). By estimation, however, the population of the district was about 48,740 in 2013.
The age structure of the district’s population is largely youthful. The age cohort of 15 -64 years constitute 54.7 % of the population which indicate an age dependency of 82% or 1 active person is expected to take care of 0.83 inactive people. Though the age dependency looks so remarkably depicting a dependent society, it should be noted that, the categorisation of the working class from the age of 15 is misleading as compared to the reality. Most members of this working class are school going children and as such the actual dependency rate in the district is higher than what is quoted based on the standard formula. The planning and provision of social facilities and services in the District will also have to take into consideration the age distribution of the population. For instance a significant child population of 18,179will require pre-schools and basic schools. More income generating opportunities will have to be created to provide job opportunities for the teeming and high youthful populace.
Table 3: Age Structure of the Population of Nandom District (2013)Concerns
Source: GSS, 2014
2.2. Spatial Distribution of the Population
The distribution of the population into rural and urban is 41,916 (86%) and 6,824 (14%) respectively. The population is distributed among eighty four (84) communities. Only ten localities in the District have population above one thousand (1000). Figure 2 is a map showing the communities in the District.
With respect to religious composition, Christians dominate with a figure of 41770 (85.7%). Muslims constitute 3,217(6.6%) whiles Traditional African Religion constitutes 2,778 (5.7%). The religious analysis helps to determine the consumption pattern of some goods which are associated with religious beliefs. Some of such goods include religious ornaments, foods, drinks etc.
Source: GSS, 2014
The most predominant tribe in the District is the Dagaaba. They are however with dialectical variations. There are other minor tribes such as the Hausa, Mossi and Sissala, .Though there are diverse religions at play in the District, the district experiences an absence of religious disputes and conflicts. There exists a very peaceful co-existence among all groups.There is therefore social stability for investment consideration.
The District as previously indicated shares boundaries with Burkina Faso. This makes it one of the transit districts for migrants from Burkina Faso and the Sahelian countries. There is therefore a considerable population of people of Burkinabe, Nigerien and Malian backgrounds in the district.
Out-migration among the people is also a common phenomenon. Due to the low soil fertility in the district coupled with the long dry season, some of the people usually migrate to the south of the country for agricultural activities. Some of the youth also migrate to the south, especially Accra and Kumasi in search of greener pastures. Another major cause of out-migration is the pursuance of higher education. Many of the natives who pursue education beyond the boundaries of the district end up settling outside the district. The Nandom District therefore has a significant population in the Diaspora.
The promotion of coping strategies to the soil degradation and the promotion of an enabling environment for the creation of small and micro enterprise can be harnessed to reduce out migration and its effect on the development of the district.
2.5. Land Use Management
In terms of physical development planning, Nandom District is still being monitored by the Town and Country Planning Department and its collaborating land sector agencies in her parent district, the Lawra District. The absence of designated and well-resourced land sector agencies is severely affecting development control in the district. Poor physical development planning and control in the district has resulted in chaotic physical development leading to incompatible land uses.
Public use areas are encroached upon, land litigation is not uncommon, and houses are constructed in some locations without regard for building regulations. The situation is even dire in the rural communities where development control seems to be completely lacking. Efforts are therefore required to guide physical growth and development in the district for safety, convenience, economy, aesthetics and accessibility.
Settlements in the District are basically the rural type with residents engaged mainly in agriculture. The few urban dwellers in the district are mainly into commerce and services. It is common among the people to leave large expanses of land around their houses for the cultivation of crops. This practices leads to disperse morphologies of most of the settlement in the district, a phenomenon that makes utility service provision difficulty.
2.6. Housing
Typical of most northern cultures, a male family-head usually heads each compound in the Nandom district which ranges from 5 to 17 people. Essentially, the head of the family controls the resources of the compound. A compound comprises of smaller units based on the number of closely related adult married men (father, sons and brothers). This pattern of household formation is gradually being washed away by modernization which encourages smaller and nuclear families. Nandom has an average of 4.1 people in a household.
There are four main types of dwelling units in the district. These are separate isolated houses (Self-Contained), semi-detached houses, separqate room(s) within a compound usually with shared urinal and toilet facilities commonly called compound houses, and several huts or buildings within a common compound. The huts roofed with thatch are the commonly used residential houses in the rural communities in the District. The self-contained housing is associated with the professional or high income class. Majority of the people in the urban areas however living in compound houses where toilet, bath and kitchen structures are shared with a common court yard.
Table 5 presents the dwelling types in the district.
Table 5: Types of Occupied Dwellings in Nandom District
Source: GSS-Nandom District (2014)
Urban housing is a real concern in Nandom district. This is exacerbated by the increasing educational role of Nandom and the assumption of district status. Rent is exorbitant, considering the income levels of the people in the District. Room occupancies are high among low income urban households who are gradually being pushed away by the escalating housing market.
In the rural settlements, the vegetation provides many families building materials in the form of thatch and earth, which are considered better protectors of heat, especially for poor households. There is however a gradual improvement in the housing sector even in the rural areas. Most of the traditional house types with earth and thatch roofs are giving way to landcrete and blockhouses with zinc and aluminium roofing sheets. There has also been remarkable improvement in the quality and design of privately owned houses. The use of cement blocks in construction of houses has increased and provision of wide windows has improved ventilation in the houses. This has positive implications on the health of the people since it will minimize the spread of diseases including Tuberculosis and other air-borne diseases.
Town and Area Councils
Administratively, the Nandom District is made up of 0ne (1) Town Council and Three (3) Area Councils.
Staff of the Town Area Councils is composed of the Convenor, Administrative Secretary, the Treasurer, Typist and a Cleaner.
Under the DSDA II Programme under the then Lawra District Assembly, the capacity of the staff at the Town/Area Council levels were built. However, ever since the programme folded up in 2004, staff of the area councils has ceased to be effective except a few ones.
It is in this light that efforts are being put in place by the Assembly to revitalize them to make them alive to their mandate. The Assembly in 2013 procured motor bikes for them to assist them in their activities particularly in revenue mobilization. This notwithstanding, the Town and Area Councils still have some challenges such as;
Efforts are however being put in place to build the capacity of these staff and appropriate sanctions are also being developed to ensure discipline at work.
District Decentralized Departments
In addition to the District Assembly, there are also departments of district assembly which are involved in the administration and execution of development functions. However, the district does not have a full complement of all these departments, as show in the Table below. This insufficiency sometimes creates responsibility gaps in the administration of development of the district. Coordination of development data for planning and budgeting has been a challenge due to this gap. Efforts are therefore in place to establish the non-existent departments of the district assembly.