Gushiegu is a municipal district in the Northern Region of Ghana. Its capital is Gushegu. It had a population of 153,965 at the 2021 census, up from 111,259 in 2010.
| Region | Northern Region |
|---|---|
| District capital | Gushegu |
| Status | Municipal District |
| Population (2021 census) | 153,965 |
| Population (2010 census) | 111,259 |
Towns and Communities in Gushiegu
This directory lists 50 towns and communities in Gushiegu, in alphabetical order.
- Bakpoli
- Bambuli
- Bankali
- Batani
- Bawgo
- Betei
- Bienda
- Biyemba
- Blachoni
- Bolalagole
- Boma
- Bulugu
- Bundure
- Chakoja
- Damdabole
- Dekpunga
- Dinyogo
- Djimbele
- Djun
- Dogutetiego
- Dunjocho
- Fietole
- Funga
- Ga
- Gabawni
- Gariwe
- Gbambu
- Gbane
- Gbogo
- Genguna
- Gorugu
- Gula
- Gungula
- Gushegu
- Ischie
- Jakpa
- Jaktende
- Jibliga
- Jimbala
- Jimbale
- Jirimbale
- Junjungo
- Kalamoago
- Kantanbuguri
- Katani
- Kenka-Jamponyinga
- Klukpanga
- Kobali
- Koliki
- Komia
Geography
Gushiegu sits in the north-eastern part of the Northern Region. The land is flat to gently rolling guinea savanna, broken by seasonal streams that feed the Oti and White Volta systems. Grass, shea and dawadawa trees cover most of the countryside, with denser woodland along the watercourses.
The district borders Karaga to the west, Mion to the south and Saboba to the south-east. The North East Region lies across its northern boundary. Rain falls in one season, roughly May to October, and the dry Harmattan runs from November to February.
Settlement follows the same pattern across the district: compound houses of mud brick and thatch or zinc, grouped in family sections, with farmland worked outward from the village. Water comes from boreholes and dugouts, and the smaller communities listed here are hamlets of a few hundred people rather than towns.
Economy and Local Life
Farming supports most households. Yam, maize, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, cowpea and rice in the low-lying valleys make up the bulk of production. Households also gather shea nuts and dawadawa pods, which women process into butter and seasoning for sale.
Cattle, sheep, goats and guinea fowl are kept in almost every settlement and act as savings as much as food. Gushegu holds the main market, where traders from Tamale buy yam, grain and livestock. Dagbani is the everyday language across the district.
The farming year runs on one cycle. Land is cleared and burned in March and April, planting follows the first steady rains, and harvest runs from September into December. Between January and April many young people travel south for work and return for the next planting season.
Getting There
Gushegu is reached from Tamale, the regional capital, by road running north-east through Savelugu and Karaga, or east through Yendi. Both approaches include long unpaved stretches that slow down after heavy rain. Shared taxis and minibuses run from Tamale most mornings.
FAQ
What is the capital of Gushiegu?
Gushegu is the district capital. It holds the assembly offices and the main market.
Which region is Gushiegu in?
Gushiegu is in the Northern Region of Ghana.
What is the population of Gushiegu?
153,965 at the 2021 census, compared with 111,259 at the 2010 census.
How many towns and communities are listed for Gushiegu?
This page lists 50 settlements in Gushiegu.
When does it rain in Gushiegu?
Gushiegu has one rainy season, running roughly between May and October. The dry Harmattan season follows, from November to February, and farming largely pauses until the next rains.
Is Gushiegu a district or a municipal district?
Ghana’s census records classify it as a municipal district. Local government is handled by its own assembly, based at Gushegu.