Wa is a municipal district in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Its capital is Wa. The district had a population of 200,672 at the 2021 census, up from 107,214 in 2010. Wa is the regional capital and the largest urban centre in the Upper West Region.
| Region | Upper West, Ghana |
|---|---|
| District capital | Wa |
| Status | Municipal district |
| Population (2021 census) | 200,672 |
| Population (2010 census) | 107,214 |
Towns and Communities in Wa
50 towns and communities in Wa are listed below, in alphabetical order.
- Anhiwienu
- Bakpong
- Bamano
- Bise
- Boli
- Botonoyiri
- Buro
- Busa
- Chansa
- Charia
- Chegli
- Dandafure
- Danko
- Dapoha
- Darigiayiri
- Dergu
- Dinaso
- Dodoyiri
- Duuli
- Gberu
- Gogi
- Gulli
- Gurumuni
- Jingu
- Jinkpan
- Jongo
- Kadoli
- Kagu
- Kampaha
- Kanbale
- Kolikpara
- Konbiahe
- Konjiasi
- Kpaguri
- Kpalsaka
- Kpongu
- Kponpala
- Kunfabiala
- Loggopara
- Mango
- Nakori
- Nyagili
- Nyogolu
- Perisi
- Piisi
- Sako
- Samanbo
- Sambo
- Sanchigu
- Wa
Geography
Wa sits at the centre of the Upper West Region, on the plateau between the Black Volta
to the west and the Kulpawn headwaters to the east. The municipality is compact: the built-up town
and its ring of farming villages sit within a short drive of the central market.
Wa East District adjoins it to the east and
Wa West District to the west. Nadowli-Kaleo adjoins the municipality to the north.
The land is Guinea savanna: open grass, scattered shea and dawadawa trees, one rainy season from May
to October and a long dry Harmattan season after November.
Economy and Local Life
Wa combines a farming hinterland with the region’s main service economy. Villages around
the town grow maize, millet, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpea and yam, and keep cattle, goats, sheep and
guinea fowl. Shea nut picking and shea butter processing give women a cash income through the dry
season. In town, public administration, teaching, health services, transport and trade employ most
wage earners; the Wa central market draws traders from across the region and from Burkina Faso. The
Wa Naa’s palace, built in the Sudanese mud-and-timber style, stands as the seat of the Waala
traditional council.
Wa town is the meeting point of the region’s languages. Waali is the town’s own tongue; Dagaare, Sisaala, Hausa and English are heard daily in the market and the lorry park. Wa hosts the regional hospital, the regional coordinating council and a university campus, so students and public servants make up a visible share of the population. That service base explains the municipality’s growth: it nearly doubled between the 2010 and 2021 censuses.
Getting There
Wa is reached from the south on the Wa–Sawla road, the main link to Kumasi and Accra, and
from Tamale by road through Sawla or through Bole. A trunk road runs north from Wa through Nadowli,
Jirapa, Lawra and Nandom to the Hamile border crossing, and another runs east through Han to Tumu.
Wa has a small airstrip on the edge of town.
FAQ
What is the capital of Wa?
Wa is the district capital and the seat of the district assembly.
Which region is Wa in?
Wa is in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
What is the population of Wa?
The 2021 census recorded 200,672 people. The 2010 census recorded 107,214.
How many towns and communities are listed for Wa?
This page lists 50, sorted A–Z.