Bono East region

The Bono East region of Ghana is a new region carved out of the existing Brong Ahafo region. The capital of the new region is Techiman.[3][4] This creation of this new region was in fulfillment of a promise made by the New Patriotic Party prior to the 2016 Ghana general election. Upon winning the elections, the President, Nana Akuffo Addo created the Ministry of Regional Reorganization to oversee policy formulation and implementation. In all six new regions are to be created from the existing ten regions of Ghana. The other regions are Bono, Western North, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, and Oti regions.[5]

Bono East region
Region
Tanoboase Rock Valley and Sacred grove
Bono East Region in Ghana
Coordinates:
Country	Ghana
Capital	Techiman
Districts	11
Government
• Regional Minister	Hon. Kofi Amoakohene [1]
Area
• Total	22,952 km^2 (8,862 sq mi)
Population  (2018)Projection[2]
• Total	1,034,421
GDP (PPP)
GDP (Nominal)
Time zone	GMT

The execution of plans for the creation of the regions was seeded to the newly created Ministry of Regional Reorganization and Development[6] which is under the leadership of Hon. Dan Botwe. Government of Ghana ministry charged with the responsibility of supervising the creation of new regions in Ghana.[6] In March 2017, the ministry sent the blue print for the creation of the region along with others to the Council of State. The council met over 36 times from the time of submission to August 2017.[7] The final stage for the creation of the region was decided through a referendum by the people within the catchment of the new region on 27 December 2018.[8][9]

History

A referendum on 27 December 2018[10] resulted in 450,812 casting their votes representing 85.82 per cent of 525,275 registered voters. 448,545 (99.50 per cent); voted in favour of the creation of the new region with 1,384 (0.31 per cent) voting against. A total of 883 (0.20 per cent) ballots were rejected.[11][12][13]

Geography and climate

Location and size

The Bono East Region borders on the north the Savannah Region, on the west the Bono Region, on the south the Ashanti region and on the east the Volta Lake.

Climate

The Bono East region is part of the vegetative belt of Ghana and enjoy a climate that is not harsh. The vegetation consists predominantly of forest and fertile soils. Between December and April is the dry season. The wet season is between about July and November with an average annual rainfall of 750 to 1050 mm (30 to 40 inches). The highest temperatures are reached at the end of the dry season, the lowest in December and January. However, the hot Harmattan wind from the Sahara blows frequently between December and the beginning of February. The temperatures can vary between 14 °C (59 °F) at night and 40 °C (104 °F) during the day.

Vegetation and agriculture

The production of yam is very high in the woodland Savannah zone in Techiman, Yeji, Nkoranza, Kintampo, Kwame Danso, Prang and others. Beans, maize, cassava, cocoyam, rice, plantains and more are produced in this region, as well as fishing activities that takes along the region's side of Lake Volta.

Tourism and park

A lot of tourist sites can be found in this area

• Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary
• Buoyem Caves and bats colony, which is within the locality of Buoyem in Techiman municipality of a dry semi-deciduous forest, house a large colony of rosetta fruit bats, caves, sandstone rocks and waterfalls.
• Kintampo waterfalls
• Bono Manso slave market, an important landmark in the history of the slave trade in the Bono East region. Located at Bono Manso on the Techiman–Kintampo road, Bono Manso was the point where slaves from the north were graded and sorted. The strongest of the captives were selected and sent to the coast leaving the weaker ones in the town. To date, African Americans and other African people in the Diaspora visit the area to learn about their origin and history.
• Kristo Boase Monastery is home to a small community of eleven Benedictine monks. The monastery is in a place of great beauty and historic interest which every year welcomes visitors from around the world.
• Tano River Sacred Fish is located at Tanoso near Techiman, it houses a pool of sacred fishes which are jealously protected by the community. Visitors always catch a glimpse of the sacred fish, said to have golden crowns.
• Nchiraa waterfalls, offers tourist a hiking adventure on a rocky and challenging footpath that leads to the waterfall. The existence of other natural and cultural tourism attractions within 10km radius makes the tour package exhilarating. It includes the Wurobo Ancestral Cave which is located about 8 km from the Nchiraa settlement. The cave is believed to be the original dwelling place of the people of Nchiraa
• Forikrom Boten Caves and shrines, is located about eight kilometers off the Techiman–Nkoranza road, is a unique range of giant rocks which forms a haven like sort of shrine and caves. It is believed that the Magic cave which is known as the biggest cave was a refuge for women and children in times of war for Bono.
• Tanoboase Sacred Grove and Shrine is located in the Techiman municipality. It is believed that the grove is the cradle of Bono civilization. The grove served as a hideout for the Bono people during the slave trade and inter-tribal wars many, many years ago. It also serves as a place for recreation and religious activities.
• Digya National Park
• Fuller falls, it falls gently from the east over a series of cascades along the Oyoko river at Yabraso of about 7 km west of Kintampo town. It flows into the Black volta at Dwire Kumbo.[14]
  

Demographics and cultural life

The Bono East region has a low population density, and most inhabitants speak the Bono dialect. Bono ancestral worship and spirituality and Christianity form the dominant religions of the region.[15][16]

Festive celebrations

• Apoo festival
• Kurubi festival, this festival is celebrated by the people of Kintampo in November and mainly to unite all Wangara descent in Ghana. Virgins normally dance on stilts as an interesting part of the festival.
• Nkyifie, the people of Prang celebrates it in September and October.[16][17][15]

Municipalities and districts

The Bono East Region of Ghana contains 11 districts.[18] They are:

	Districts	Capital
	Atebubu-Amanten Municipal	Atebubu
	Kintampo North Municipal	Kintampo
	Kintampo South District	Jema
	Nkoranza North District	Busunya
	Nkoranza South Municipal	Nkoranza
	Pru East District	Yeji
	Pru West District	Prang
	Sene East District	Kajaji
	Sene West District	Kwame Danso
	Techiman Municipal	Techiman
	Techiman North District	Tuobodom

References

1. http://www.presidency.gov.gh/index.php/briefing-room/press-releases/1091-president-akufo-addo-appoints-regional-minsters-and-deputy-regional-ministers-for-six-new-regions
2. Ghana Statistical Service
3. "Confirmed: Techiman Is The Capital Of The Bono East Region". GhanaXtra.COM. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
4. "Techiman Is The Bono East Capital". BA News. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
5. Bureau, Communications. ""Creation Of 6 New Regions in the Hands Of EC & Ghanaians" – President Akufo-Addo". presidency.gov.gh. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
6. online, myjoy. "2nd Ministerial list out: Akufo-Addo creates new ministries, re-aligns old". myjoyonline.com. myjoyonline. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
7. "Council of State met 36 times on new Regions – Nana Otuo Siriboe II". GhanaCrusader.com – Latest News in Ghana and Beyond. 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
8. ""Creation Of New Region in Your Hands" – President Akufo-Addo To Nayiri – The Presidency, Republic of Ghana". presidency.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
9. "EC sets December 27 for referendum on new regions | xxxxxxxxxxx 23 August 2018". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
10. "Referendum: Massive YES votes for 6 new regions | General News 28 December 2018". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
11. "All six proposed regions meet constitutional threshold requirements – EC". Ghana Business News. 29 December 2018.
12. Zurek, Kweku. "CONFIRMED: Results of the 2018 Referendum on new regions". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
13. "Referendum: 6 new regions get massive 'YES' votes". pulse.com.gh. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
14. "Digya National Park: unpopular but oldest wildlife park in Ghana". Ghana Talks Business. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
15. WhiteOrange. "Brong Ahafo". Ghana Tourism Authority. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
16. "REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE CREATION OF NEW REGIONS" presented to His Excellency the President of the Republic Of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, 26th day of June 2018.
17. "Hidden but alluring: Fuller Falls at Kintampo". Jetsanza.com. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
18. "The 11 Districts of the Bono East Region". banewsgh.com. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.