East Akim is a municipal district in the Eastern Region of Ghana, at the heart of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area. It has since been split into Abuakwa South Municipal, with its capital at Kibi, and Abuakwa North Municipal, with its capital at Kukurantumi. At the 2021 census Abuakwa North had 91,297 residents and Abuakwa South had 73,949.
| Region | Eastern |
|---|---|
| Municipal capitals | Kibi (Abuakwa South), Kukurantumi (Abuakwa North) |
| Status | Municipal district, since split in two |
| Population (2021 census) | Abuakwa North 91,297; Abuakwa South 73,949 |
| Population (2010 census) | Abuakwa North 89,548; Abuakwa South 78,348 |
Towns and Communities in East Akim
This directory lists 24 towns and communities recorded in East Akim, sorted A to Z.
- Adadientem
- Adonkwanta
- Ajapoma
- Akoko
- Amangfrom
- Anyinasin
- Apapam
- Apedwa
- Asafo
- Asiakwa
- Atukrom
- Bunsu
- Kibi
- Kukurantumi
- Maase
- New Tafo Akyem
- Nkronso
- Odumasi
- Old Tafo
- Oseem
- Pawtroasi
- Sajumasi
- Tafo
- Tete
Geography
The area sits on the western flank of the Atewa Range, in closed forest country cut by the Birim River and its headwater streams. Kibi lies at the foot of the range; Kukurantumi, Bunsu and New Tafo Akyem stand along or near the Accra to Kumasi highway to the north. Rainfall is high and the soils carry heavy tree cover where farming has not cleared it. East Akim borders Atiwa to the east, Fanteakwa to the north-east and West Akim to the south-west.
Several forest reserves sit on the range and its foothills, and the streams rising there supply towns well outside the municipality.
Economy and Local Life
Cocoa dominates, with oil palm, plantain, cassava and citrus grown alongside it. New Tafo Akyem hosts the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, whose plant breeding and disease work reaches farmers across the country. Kibi is the seat of the Akyem Abuakwa paramountcy, and its annual Ohum festival draws people home from Accra and abroad. Bauxite in the hills above Kibi has been prospected for decades and is still debated against the forest and water it sits on. Timber, transport and highway trade fill out local incomes.
The road towns handle most of the trade, with Kukurantumi and Bunsu markets buying farm produce and selling inputs, tools and household goods back to the villages.
Getting There
Kibi lies roughly 30 km north-west of Koforidua and about 100 km from Accra. The N6 Accra to Kumasi highway passes through Bunso junction, from where a short road runs down to Kibi; Kukurantumi and New Tafo Akyem sit on the highway itself. Buses on the Accra to Kumasi run stop at the junction towns through the day.
FAQ
What is the capital of East Akim?
The former East Akim Municipal now has two capitals: Kibi for Abuakwa South and Kukurantumi for Abuakwa North.
Which region is East Akim in?
East Akim is in the Eastern Region of Ghana, west of the Atewa Range in Akyem Abuakwa.
What is the population of East Akim?
At the 2021 census Abuakwa North had 91,297 residents and Abuakwa South had 73,949.
How many towns are listed for East Akim?
This page lists 24 towns and communities in the East Akim area, sorted A to Z.