Geophysical Characteristics
Date - 14/Sep/2016
TheDistrict lies in the north western corner of the Upper West Region of Ghana between Longitude 2°25 W and 2°45W and Latitude 10°20 N and 11°00 S. It is bounded to the East and South by the Lambussie and Jirapa Districts respectively and to the North and West by the Republic of Burkina Faso. The total area of the District is put at 567.6 square km. This constitutes about 3.1% of the Region’s total land area. The District is constituted by 84 communities with 86% of the inhabitants living in rural areas. The population density is about 89 per square kilometer. It is the most densely populated District in the region. Below is a map showing location of the District in Ghana. Its closeness to Burkina Faso offers it a strategic location for international interactions and exchanges. It however poses a challenge related to the influx of Fulani herdsmen into the district from the Sahel.
Relief and Drainage
The topography of the district could be described as gently undulating. Generally, the district is located about 180 meters above sea level with a few isolated hills. The relative plain topography is suitable for road construction, distribution of utility lines and general construction works.
The District is poorly endowed with water bodies. This is attributed to the low underground water table. The only natural water bodies are a few interconnected streams flow into the black volta which cuts through the district. The black volta river is considered by the district as a potential for aquaculture.
There are a number of dams and dugouts which provide water for irrigation, domestic chores, construction, and animals on graze. The interconnected water bodies in the district facilitate storm water drainage, thus making the district less floodable, except in few low lying areas. Though the water bodies in the District have a potential for supporting agricultural activities in the dry season, they equally serve as constraints in road constructions and therefore access to communities during the rainy season.
A significant characteristic of most of these rivers and streams is the perennial nature of their flows. Many of these water bodies are reduced to intermittent pools in the dry season while others completely dry up. Many of these streams could be developed to support dry season farming.