Karaga is a district in the Northern Region of Ghana. Its capital is Karaga. It had a population of 114,225 at the 2021 census, up from 77,706 in 2010.
| Region | Northern Region |
|---|---|
| District capital | Karaga |
| Status | District |
| Population (2021 census) | 114,225 |
| Population (2010 census) | 77,706 |
Towns and Communities in Karaga
This directory lists 50 towns and communities in Karaga, in alphabetical order.
- Aduyili
- Bagale
- Bagurugu
- Bakuli
- Baliga
- Bediako
- Bilisinga
- Bindure
- Bugulugu
- Dagago
- Deble
- Dibulo
- Dime
- Ditane
- Djaguhuga
- Dudawge
- Duna
- Galabisi
- Gbalga
- Gbenjaga
- Gbenjaga-Binduri
- Gbonlua
- Gua
- Gunayiri
- Gundogo
- Gure
- Idua
- Jagogo
- Jankpinhi
- Jemaka
- Jemaka-Tindon
- Kamboshia
- Kaptun
- Karaga
- Kasale
- Kasiele
- Komayili
- Kopalli
- Kotiko
- Kpalpulga
- Kpalsako
- Kuduli
- Landua
- Lanobe
- Lantarni
- Lapliga
- Luluga
- Manie
- Momo
- Nabulugu
Geography
Karaga lies in the north-central part of the Northern Region. The country is open guinea savanna with light soils, seasonal streams and stands of shea and dawadawa. Water is scarce late in the dry season, and dugouts and small dams supply many villages.
The district borders Gushiegu to the east, Savelugu to the west and Mion to the south. Rain falls in a single season from about May to October.
Compounds are grouped into village sections with farmland worked outward, the standard pattern across the Dagbon countryside. Most communities on this list are small: a few hundred residents, a borehole, a primary school in the larger ones. Karaga town is the only settlement of any size.
Economy and Local Life
Yam, maize, millet, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpea and soya beans are the main crops. Shea nut collection and processing bring in cash during the dry months, and rice is grown in the valley bottoms where water collects.
Livestock matter here: cattle, sheep, goats and guinea fowl are kept in most compounds and traded at the Karaga market, which is the district’s main trading point. Dagbani is the everyday language.
The single rainy season sets a hard rhythm. Land clearing in March and April, planting from May, harvest from September to December, then a long dry stretch when many young people travel south for work. Shea collection and livestock sales carry households through those months.
Getting There
Karaga is reached from Tamale by taking the N10 north to Savelugu and then turning east, or by feeder roads from the Yendi direction. The eastern stretches are unpaved and slow in the rains. Shared taxis leave Tamale mainly in the morning.
FAQ
What is the capital of Karaga?
Karaga is the district capital. It holds the assembly offices and the main market.
Which region is Karaga in?
Karaga is in the Northern Region of Ghana.
What is the population of Karaga?
114,225 at the 2021 census, compared with 77,706 at the 2010 census.
How many towns and communities are listed for Karaga?
This page lists 50 settlements in Karaga.
When does it rain in Karaga?
Karaga 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 Karaga a district or a municipal district?
Ghana’s census records classify it as a district. Local government is handled by its own assembly.