Abofour

Abofour is a town in the Offinso Municipality in Ashanti Region of Ghana.[1][2]


Abofour
Country Ghana
RegionAshanti Region

History

It was founded around the year 1700 by a group of hunters working for the then Asantehene. 'Abofour,' means 'hunters'.

Demographics

The town has a population of about 25000, with a slight majority (58%) belonging to the Ashante ethnic group.[3] The rest of the population are mainly of Northern descent, such as Mande (Wangara), Mossi, Mamprusi, Wala, Dagaare, Dagomba, Kotokoli and Eves.

Education

The St. Jerome Secondary School is a Catholic-run institution assisted by the government. The town has about twelve public basic schools and about five private basic schools. The school is a second cycle institution.[4]

Economy

Abofour has a market on every Thursday. The market is attended by people from all parts of Ghana and neighboring countries. It is perhaps the fourth largest in Ghana in terms of size and patronage. Until 2017, the market operated along the main Kumasi-Techiman highway which endangered traders and caused traffic congestion. In November 2017, the government relocated the market to avoid such problems and enable the completion of a redevelopment. Currently, the new market is highly attended by people from all parts of Ghana and neighboring countries.

It is one of the country's largest maize-producing areas. On market day, thousands of tonnes of maize are carted to different parts of the country, including Kumasi, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Obuasi, and Accra, among others. Plantain, cassava, and yams are also grown in large quantities by farmers in the town.

Infrastructure

It has a branch of Otuasekan Rural bank. Abofour has a police station with about ten officers.

The town is connected to the national power grid, driven by the main power line that carries electric power to the northern part of Ghana as well as Burkina Faso.

Pipe-borne water is unavailable and water is drawn from groundwater.

Geography

The town is about 45 km and about an hour's drive from Kumasi, the regional capital. It is located along the main Kumasi-Techiman highway, a first-class road that links the Southern and northern parts of the country and neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and northern Togo.

The town is drained by the Ode and Opro rivers and their tributaries. Abofour hosts one of the largest forest reserves in Ghana, namely Afram Head Waters and the Opro forest reserves.

Governance

The town is headed by the traditional ruler whose title is Nana Abofohene. The Abofohene is Nana Ofobiri Ti( II), an ex-serviceman and former chief of staff under the N.R.C government of General Kutu Acheampong. Second in command is the Kontihene, Nana Osei Darko. Nana Kofi Agyeman is the Nifahene, Nana Owusu Amponsah is the Akwamuhene, and Nana Osei Asante is the Benkum Hene.

Traditionally this town is part of the Offinso Traditional area, which is traditionally ruled by Offinsomanhene Nana Wiafe Akenten (III).

The town has four electoral areas (councils), each headed by an assembly member. Assembly members are elected through popular elections, and serve a minimum of one four-year term. The electoral areas are Abofour Junction, represented by Anthony Ohene-Peprah. The other areas are Buasi-Asuboi, Wawasee, and Dumasua.

Notables

Notable citizens include:

  • S.N Darkwa, former Clerk of Ghana's Parliament
  • Abdallah Banda, member of parliament for Offinso South Constituency
  • Barbara Serwaa, deputy minister for lands and forestry
  • Anthony Panin the Dean of the faculty of Social Science at Central University College.
  • Armand Forster, civil affairs coordinator of the Department for Peace Keeping Operations (UN-DPKOP) of the UN
  • Stephen Dwamamena, opinion leader

Health care

The town has a health centre which is located along the main Kumasi-Techiman Highway, and it is currently under the care of a medical superintendent. The centre handles emergency cases, maternity care, and general outpatient services.

References
  1. "Educational Institutions". www.centralregion.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  2. "References ยป Schools/Colleges". www.modernghana.com. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  3. "2010 Population & Housing Census - District Analytical Report Offinso Municipality" (PDF). Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  4. "List of Secondary Schools in Ghana". www.ghanaschoolsnet.com/. Retrieved 12 August 2011.

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