Akuapem South District - Climatic Conditions - Page 3 of 3
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Climatic Condition Akuapem South District
Akuapem South District - Page 3
Geographically the District lies in the West semi-equatorial climate, which experiences double maximum annual rainfall. As a result there are two farming seasons in the district. The study area also lies in the Savannah zone and it will
be best described as semi-arid. The mean annual rainfall is about 800mm and this occurs in two raining seasons. The first season accounts for about 67% of the annual rainfall, which begins in March and ends in mid July. The second begins in mid August and ends in October. The rainfall data for Nsawam from
1994 to 2000 is presented in Table 1.
be best described as semi-arid. The mean annual rainfall is about 800mm and this occurs in two raining seasons. The first season accounts for about 67% of the annual rainfall, which begins in March and ends in mid July. The second begins in mid August and ends in October. The rainfall data for Nsawam from
1994 to 2000 is presented in Table 1.
Climatic Condition Akuapem South District
The rainfall data for Nsawam from
1994 to 2000 is presented in Table 1.
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There is very little variation in temperature throughout the year. The mean monthly temperature is estimated as 26.70C. The mean monthly data is presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Mean Monthly Maximum Temperatures oC, Nsawam7 
Table 2: Mean Monthly Maximum Temperatures oC, Nsawam7
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The relative humidity data for Nsawam covering the period of 1994 to 2000 is presented in Table 4. The maximum values of relative humidity occur in the month of August and the minimum average values in January.
Table 4: Mean Monthly Relative Humidity % 0600HRS |
Table 4: Mean Monthly Relative Humidity % 0600HRS
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Length of Day, Wind, Sunshine & Cloud Cover
The length of day is approximately 12 hours. This varies by less than 30 minutes over the whole year. The average wind speed for the area is 3m/s. The Southwest monsoon and the dry Northeast trade winds popularly called the
Hammartan are the main winds that affect the study area.
The monsoon winds from the Atlantic Ocean are predominantly over the area from April to October whilst the Hammartan from the Sahara desert influences the climate of the area from November to March. The duration of sunshine over the study area could be estimated using sunshine data from Accra.
The length of day is approximately 12 hours. This varies by less than 30 minutes over the whole year. The average wind speed for the area is 3m/s. The Southwest monsoon and the dry Northeast trade winds popularly called the
Hammartan are the main winds that affect the study area.
The monsoon winds from the Atlantic Ocean are predominantly over the area from April to October whilst the Hammartan from the Sahara desert influences the climate of the area from November to March. The duration of sunshine over the study area could be estimated using sunshine data from Accra.
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It is assumed that information at the Accra station will be applicable to Nsawam since the two towns are very close to each other and are under the same climatic conditions. The sunshine duration varies from 3hours to 8hours per day at Accra with an average value of 6.6 hours.
The mean monthly duration of sunshine is presented in Table 5 |
The mean monthly duration of sunshine is presented in Table 5
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Evaporation
Pan evaporation records from a class A pan at Dawhwenya were used to estimate evaporation rate in the study area. The mean daily pan evaporation is about 5.5mm per day. Mean monthly pan evaporation for the study area is 160mm per month. The corrected annual evapotranspiration is 1344mm / annum. Source – Meteorological Services Department |
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Vegetation Akuapem South District
The Akuapem South District has two types of vegetation i.e.
· The Most Semi-Deciduous Forests and
· The Coastal Savannah Grassland.
The forests occupy 90% of the entire District; cover the west, north and the entire ridge area in the eastern part of the District. Most of the trees in this area shed their leaves in the dry season, between the months of November and
March during the hamarttan season. The southern part of the district is found in the coastal scrub and grassland. The remaining 10% is to the south where there is the coastal scrub and grassland vegetation. This forms the transitional zone
between the coastal savannah and rain forest regions.
Natural Environment
Historically the district was producing timber for export but due to uncontrolled felling of trees for the sawmill industry and the need for fuel wood, only a few trees are found concentrated on the ridge at present
The Built Environment
The relief of the area has influenced the settlement pattern. The major towns are Nsawam, the District Capital, Adoagyiri near Nsawam, Aburi sited on the ridge and Pakro at the foot of the hill. The rest of the mountain sites such as Aburi were sought by the Akuapems when there was inter-tribal wars. Missionary activity dating back over a century has influenced the build up
environment and social life of the people with the putting up of churches and schools. Farming is the leading occupation of the people throughout the district, cultivating vegetables, tubers, cash crops such as pineapples and oranges.
Infrastructure Akuapem South District
There are 3 (three) post offices and two postal agencies in the district out of which only two provide telecommunications service (Nsawam and Aburi). There are private Communication Centres in Nswawam, Aburi and Adoagyiri.
Communication Centres Akuapem South District
Research has revealed at present there are 60 (sixty) identified communication centres in the District. 60% of these are located in Nsawam alone. 23.3% are in Adoagyiri while 6.7% are found in Aburi. The remaining 10% are scattered
over the major towns and villages in the District. 65.7% of the said communication centres in the district have telephone facilities only,18.7% have two facilities, a telephone and either one of the following i.e. a computer, manual typewriter, photocopier or fax machine. 13.3% have 3 facilities i.e. a telephone and any two of the following, a computer, photocopier or a fax machine. 3.3% have 4 (four) facilities i.e. a telephone; fax machine, photocopier and computer. (Census 2000)
Water and Electricity at Akuapem South District
The major source of water supply in the urban areas of the district is pipe-borne which serves almost 60% of urban dwellers in the district. Sakyikrom and Drobo though classified as rural settlements have access to pipe-borne water because of the proximity to the waterworks at Adoagyiri. The distribution pattern indicates 42% of the population in the rural areas rely on streams or rivers especially the Densu River; 36% on Wells and 22% on boreholes. The only exception is Aburi where water does not flow regularly through the taps owing to low pressure.
The predominant sources of energy for the people are firewood and charcoal, which accounts for 60% energy usage. 45% of the population have access to electricity.
Water and Electricity at Akuapem South District
Agricultural activities in the district centre mainly on non-traditional crops for export such as pineapple, pawpaw, pepper, garden eggs and sunflower are cultivated for export. Pineapple is the leading crop in the district, which accounts for 60% of total pineapple export (20,000 tons) per annum. The district also
produces about 55% of the total quality of pawpaw exported out of the country.
Industries Akuapem South District
Industries of various levels can be identified in the district, especially at Nsawam, Drobo, Aburi, Adoagyiri. The industrial activities are pharmaceutical, agro-based, wood/timber, manufacturing, quarrying & construction and technical and
mechanical services.
Enterprises and Products
Tourism Akuapem South District
The tourism attraction of the district lies in its cool climate and serene environment on the Akuapem Ridge. The open view of the cities of Accra and Tema in the distance is very fascinating. Ghana’s Internationally acclaimed Aburi
Botanical Gardens established in 1890 is in the district. Very rare plant species can be located in the gardens. The gardens have various species of birds and butterflies. The festivals in the district are the Odwira and Ode horo festival of
Akuapem celebrated at Aburi with the great carnival and glamour is a great attraction for tourists
The District can boast of its natural endowment i.e. the waterfalls at Mensaman near Nsawam and Boade at Nsakye. The peculiarity of the Boade waterfalls is that it flows all year round and is located in a grove, which has not been
cultivated before. The waterfalls collect down stream, which has pond containing crabs, mudfish and lobsters.
The district has a lot of mysterious natural formation of rocks with varied and intricate designs. It is fascinating and fantastic to watch the “Oboguateng”, a rock with the design of a sheep on it located at Kobiso near Aburi near Amanfro, an ancestral home of the people of Aburi.
A visit can also be made to Adade Yaw So cave which can shelter about one hundred people (100). The District has the Stone Box i.e. Oboadaka which is located in the Oboadakso grove. The area is known as Oboadaka. The
Oboadaka is a four naturally arranged coffin shaped rock lying on top of each other (10) Please see pictures attached in Appendices
The District has a natural bridge located at Papawani. This is a natural rock formation with water passing trough it. The top is utilised as an access road by vehicles plying the village.
In the Aburi township there is the Odusum lake, which has Crocodiles, Alligators and other reptiles. The lake is surrounded by green vegetation. It is believed that people can find a cure to ailments whenever they pray inside the grove. There is also a Shrine at Brekuso where the parents of the founder of Asante Kingdom Nana Osei Tutu is known to have gone to seek the blessing of the gods before giving birth to the great Asante ruler.
The Nyanao hills near the ancient Akwamu town of Sakyikrom was the first settlement point of the Akwamu’s led by Nana Ansah Sasraku. The area is a tourist attraction as there is a cave, which was utilised as a bunker by the
Akwamu warriors. Standing at the top of the Nyano hills one has a fantastic view of Accra and the Tema plains.
The districts has the well established Aburi Industrial Centre made up of wood carvers producing artefacts which are bought as souvenirs and gifts. The crafts village was established in 1979 after Ghanaians were repatriated from Nigeria.
Initially there were only 3 wood carvers. Some of the returnees settled and studied the skill of carving from the 3 woodcarvers. This Industrial Centre now has over 1000 wood carvers. The Ghana Tourist Board is in the progress of
building a crafts village for the wood carvers to move them from the side of the street in Aburi to a separate location.
The Aburi Botanical gardens and a tourist village at Konkonuru are ideal tourist attractions. Information on areas of attraction there, is a Tourist Information Centre at Aburi Botanical Gardens. Akuapem South is an ideal place to visit and
invest as it has a rich history, tradition in a cool serene environment.
The Akuapem South District has two types of vegetation i.e.
· The Most Semi-Deciduous Forests and
· The Coastal Savannah Grassland.
The forests occupy 90% of the entire District; cover the west, north and the entire ridge area in the eastern part of the District. Most of the trees in this area shed their leaves in the dry season, between the months of November and
March during the hamarttan season. The southern part of the district is found in the coastal scrub and grassland. The remaining 10% is to the south where there is the coastal scrub and grassland vegetation. This forms the transitional zone
between the coastal savannah and rain forest regions.
Natural Environment
Historically the district was producing timber for export but due to uncontrolled felling of trees for the sawmill industry and the need for fuel wood, only a few trees are found concentrated on the ridge at present
The Built Environment
The relief of the area has influenced the settlement pattern. The major towns are Nsawam, the District Capital, Adoagyiri near Nsawam, Aburi sited on the ridge and Pakro at the foot of the hill. The rest of the mountain sites such as Aburi were sought by the Akuapems when there was inter-tribal wars. Missionary activity dating back over a century has influenced the build up
environment and social life of the people with the putting up of churches and schools. Farming is the leading occupation of the people throughout the district, cultivating vegetables, tubers, cash crops such as pineapples and oranges.
Infrastructure Akuapem South District
There are 3 (three) post offices and two postal agencies in the district out of which only two provide telecommunications service (Nsawam and Aburi). There are private Communication Centres in Nswawam, Aburi and Adoagyiri.
Communication Centres Akuapem South District
Research has revealed at present there are 60 (sixty) identified communication centres in the District. 60% of these are located in Nsawam alone. 23.3% are in Adoagyiri while 6.7% are found in Aburi. The remaining 10% are scattered
over the major towns and villages in the District. 65.7% of the said communication centres in the district have telephone facilities only,18.7% have two facilities, a telephone and either one of the following i.e. a computer, manual typewriter, photocopier or fax machine. 13.3% have 3 facilities i.e. a telephone and any two of the following, a computer, photocopier or a fax machine. 3.3% have 4 (four) facilities i.e. a telephone; fax machine, photocopier and computer. (Census 2000)
Water and Electricity at Akuapem South District
The major source of water supply in the urban areas of the district is pipe-borne which serves almost 60% of urban dwellers in the district. Sakyikrom and Drobo though classified as rural settlements have access to pipe-borne water because of the proximity to the waterworks at Adoagyiri. The distribution pattern indicates 42% of the population in the rural areas rely on streams or rivers especially the Densu River; 36% on Wells and 22% on boreholes. The only exception is Aburi where water does not flow regularly through the taps owing to low pressure.
The predominant sources of energy for the people are firewood and charcoal, which accounts for 60% energy usage. 45% of the population have access to electricity.
Water and Electricity at Akuapem South District
Agricultural activities in the district centre mainly on non-traditional crops for export such as pineapple, pawpaw, pepper, garden eggs and sunflower are cultivated for export. Pineapple is the leading crop in the district, which accounts for 60% of total pineapple export (20,000 tons) per annum. The district also
produces about 55% of the total quality of pawpaw exported out of the country.
Industries Akuapem South District
Industries of various levels can be identified in the district, especially at Nsawam, Drobo, Aburi, Adoagyiri. The industrial activities are pharmaceutical, agro-based, wood/timber, manufacturing, quarrying & construction and technical and
mechanical services.
Enterprises and Products
- Adafot Sawmill Enterprise - Timber Boards
- Ghana Paper Finishing Company - Paper Products
- Aburi Industrial Centre - Art and Craft Works Artefacts
- Nsawam Cannery - Beverages & Food Products Astek Fruit Processing Company Fruit Beverages
- Agricultural Mechanisation Ltd - Tractor Servicing
- Agric Plast Limited - Rubber Products
- Tetteh Mineral Water Works - Beverages
- Treadco Limited - Tyre Rethreading
- Blue Skies Limited - Pineapple, Pawpaw, Watermelon
- Piccadilly Mineral Water Works - Beverages
- Weave Plast Limited - Sacks
- Gem Mineral Water Industry - Mineral Water
- Pam Pharmaceuticals Ltd - Pharmaceutical Products
- Densu Industries - Disinfectants, etc
- Still Pure Water - Bottled Water
- Paebo Quarry Limited - Quarry Products
Tourism Akuapem South District
The tourism attraction of the district lies in its cool climate and serene environment on the Akuapem Ridge. The open view of the cities of Accra and Tema in the distance is very fascinating. Ghana’s Internationally acclaimed Aburi
Botanical Gardens established in 1890 is in the district. Very rare plant species can be located in the gardens. The gardens have various species of birds and butterflies. The festivals in the district are the Odwira and Ode horo festival of
Akuapem celebrated at Aburi with the great carnival and glamour is a great attraction for tourists
The District can boast of its natural endowment i.e. the waterfalls at Mensaman near Nsawam and Boade at Nsakye. The peculiarity of the Boade waterfalls is that it flows all year round and is located in a grove, which has not been
cultivated before. The waterfalls collect down stream, which has pond containing crabs, mudfish and lobsters.
The district has a lot of mysterious natural formation of rocks with varied and intricate designs. It is fascinating and fantastic to watch the “Oboguateng”, a rock with the design of a sheep on it located at Kobiso near Aburi near Amanfro, an ancestral home of the people of Aburi.
A visit can also be made to Adade Yaw So cave which can shelter about one hundred people (100). The District has the Stone Box i.e. Oboadaka which is located in the Oboadakso grove. The area is known as Oboadaka. The
Oboadaka is a four naturally arranged coffin shaped rock lying on top of each other (10) Please see pictures attached in Appendices
The District has a natural bridge located at Papawani. This is a natural rock formation with water passing trough it. The top is utilised as an access road by vehicles plying the village.
In the Aburi township there is the Odusum lake, which has Crocodiles, Alligators and other reptiles. The lake is surrounded by green vegetation. It is believed that people can find a cure to ailments whenever they pray inside the grove. There is also a Shrine at Brekuso where the parents of the founder of Asante Kingdom Nana Osei Tutu is known to have gone to seek the blessing of the gods before giving birth to the great Asante ruler.
The Nyanao hills near the ancient Akwamu town of Sakyikrom was the first settlement point of the Akwamu’s led by Nana Ansah Sasraku. The area is a tourist attraction as there is a cave, which was utilised as a bunker by the
Akwamu warriors. Standing at the top of the Nyano hills one has a fantastic view of Accra and the Tema plains.
The districts has the well established Aburi Industrial Centre made up of wood carvers producing artefacts which are bought as souvenirs and gifts. The crafts village was established in 1979 after Ghanaians were repatriated from Nigeria.
Initially there were only 3 wood carvers. Some of the returnees settled and studied the skill of carving from the 3 woodcarvers. This Industrial Centre now has over 1000 wood carvers. The Ghana Tourist Board is in the progress of
building a crafts village for the wood carvers to move them from the side of the street in Aburi to a separate location.
The Aburi Botanical gardens and a tourist village at Konkonuru are ideal tourist attractions. Information on areas of attraction there, is a Tourist Information Centre at Aburi Botanical Gardens. Akuapem South is an ideal place to visit and
invest as it has a rich history, tradition in a cool serene environment.
Aburi Links:
- Aburi - Main Page (English)
- Aburi - Hauptseite (Deutsch)
- About Aburi and Aburi Botanic Gardens
- Aburi Town - History
- Akuapem South District - Page 1
- Akuapem South District - page 2
- Akuapem South District - page 3 (include. Climate)
- Akuapem South District - Investment Potential
- Present Aburihene and Adontehene of Akuapem
- Akuapem Adonten Odwira Festival in Aburi
- Streams, Lakes and Hills in and near Aburi
- Aburi Botanic Gardens - Contact
How to get to Aburi
By public transport - Mini-Bus or TroTro can be boarded at Tema Station in Accra central or at Odawna station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle or at Madina. There is also a METRO-Mass Bus from Accra, via Aburi. (Best choice)
Aburi is about 30 Km away from Accra, and can be reached via a modern dual-carry way.
By public transport - Mini-Bus or TroTro can be boarded at Tema Station in Accra central or at Odawna station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle or at Madina. There is also a METRO-Mass Bus from Accra, via Aburi. (Best choice)
Aburi is about 30 Km away from Accra, and can be reached via a modern dual-carry way.
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