Denkyembour is a district in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Its capital is Akwatia. It had a population of 77,029 at the 2021 census, compared with 78,841 in 2010. Akwatia is the historic centre of Ghana’s diamond fields.
| Region | Eastern Region, Ghana |
|---|---|
| District capital | Akwatia |
| Status | District |
| Population (2021 census) | 77,029 |
| Population (2010 census) | 78,841 |
Towns and Communities in Denkyembour
The following 12 towns and communities are recorded in Denkyembour, listed A to Z.
- Akwatia
- Apinamang
- Asuboni
- Bawdua
- Kokoasi
- Kusi
- Pampetia
- Soabe
- Subinso
- Takrowasi
- Tapiramang
- Wanchi
Geography
Denkyembour lies in the west of the Eastern Region, in the forest zone on the Birim River. The valley
floor is flat and gravelly, which is why the diamond workings concentrate here; the ground rises into farmed
hills on either side. Akwatia, Kusi and Takrowasi lie along the road between Kade and Oda.
Neighbouring districts in the region include Birim North to the north-east and
Birim South to the south-east.
Rainfall is high and comes in two seasons, from March to July and again in September and October, and
the Birim carries water year round. The valley gravels that hold the diamonds also make parts of the land
difficult to farm once they have been worked over.
Akwatia grew as a company mining town, so its layout, bungalows and social facilities differ from the
farming villages around it. Kusi, Wanchi and Takrowasi lie on the roads out of the town.
Economy and Local Life
Diamond mining shaped Akwatia. Alluvial gravels along the Birim have been worked industrially and by
hand for decades, and small-scale winning still employs a large number of people, with buying and cutting done
in the town. Farming carries the rest of the district: cocoa and oil palm as cash crops, plus plantain,
cocoyam, cassava and maize. Akwatia’s market and lorry station serve the surrounding villages, and mining
wages keep more trade in the town than its population alone would support.
Akwatia carries the district offices, a hospital, banks and second-cycle schools, and its market serves
the surrounding villages. Reclaiming worked-out mining land and controlling river siltation are standing local
concerns, since the same ground supports both mining and farming.
Outside mining and farming, residents work in trading, transport, milling and repair workshops, and a share
of young people travel to Oda, Kade or Accra for work.
Getting There
Akwatia is about 15 km from Kade and 30 km from Oda, both by tarred road, and roughly 100 km from
Koforidua. Trotros and shared taxis run to Kade, Oda and Asamankese, and long-distance vehicles from Accra
come through Nsawam and Asamankese.
FAQ
What is the capital of Denkyembour?
Akwatia is the district capital.
Which region is Denkyembour in?
It is in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
What is the population of Denkyembour?
The 2021 census recorded 77,029 people. The 2010 census recorded 78,841.
How many towns and communities are listed for Denkyembour?
This page lists 12 towns and communities.