Upper Denkyira West Municipal District

Isaiah Nsiah as the current District Chief Executive of Upper Denkyira West District

Isaiah Nsiah was confirmed as District Chief Executive in April 2025, receiving overwhelming support from the Assembly. Within days of assuming office, he toured the Diaso market and pledged to upgrade its facilities, focusing on sanitation, accessibility, and fairness in stall allocation. His development agenda prioritizes road rehabilitation, improved sanitation, expanded education infrastructure, and enhanced healthcare delivery. Nsiah has emphasized inclusive governance and collaboration with traditional authorities, aiming to transform the district’s social services and unlock its economic potential.

About Upper Denkyira West Municipal  District

Upper Denkyira West District is located in the northwestern part of Ghana’s Central Region, with Diaso as its administrative capital. It was officially established on 29 February 2008 through Legislative Instrument 1848, following the division of the former Upper Denkyira District. The district spans 579.21 square kilometers, representing about 3 percent of the Central Region’s land area. It shares boundaries with Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai to the north, Amansie West and Amansie Central to the east, Wassa Amenfi East and West to the west, and Upper Denkyira East to the south.

According to the 2021 census, the district has a population of 91,025, with a relatively youthful demographic—over 40 percent are under the age of 15. The population is predominantly rural, with major settlements including Diaso, Ayanfuri, Dominase, Nkotumso, and Ntom. The district exhibits ethnic diversity, with Denkyira people forming the indigenous base, alongside Ashanti, Fante, Akuapem, Ewe, Nzema, and Sefwi communities.

Agriculture is the district’s economic backbone, engaging over 80 percent of households. Key crops include cocoa, oil palm, citrus, cassava, plantain, maize, cocoyam, pepper, garden eggs, okra, and tomatoes. Livestock rearing is also prominent, with poultry, goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle. The district has emerging ventures in snail farming, apiculture, and aquaculture, especially along rivers Offin and Dia. Mining—both large-scale and artisanal—is a significant economic activity, particularly in Ayanfuri and Denkyira Obuasi.

Upper Denkyira West experiences a bi-modal rainfall pattern, with major rains from April to July and minor rains from September to November. Annual rainfall ranges from 900 mm to 1,600 mm, and temperatures average between 24°C and 30°C. The district’s terrain is an undulating forest-dissected plateau, with semi-deciduous vegetation and rich soils suitable for diverse crops. However, illegal mining has led to environmental degradation, prompting reforestation and land reclamation efforts.

The district has about 47 feeder roads totaling 135 km, though many remain unpaved. Electricity coverage exceeds 85 percent, and water access is primarily through boreholes. Health infrastructure includes two health centers, ten CHPS zones, and three private clinics, but no government hospital. Education facilities comprise over 150 basic schools and two senior high schools—Diaso SHS and Ayanfuri SHS.

Four key development projects are shaping the district’s transformation. The Diaso market is undergoing redevelopment to improve sanitation, accessibility, and stall allocation fairness, including drainage upgrades and enhanced security. Road rehabilitation efforts are focused on the Diaso–Dominase and Ayanfuri–Denkyira Obuasi corridors, with the Assembly lobbying for heavy equipment to support internal construction. Education infrastructure is expanding through new classroom blocks, ICT centers, and teacher accommodations in Dominase, Ntom, and Adaboi. Agricultural value chain support under the PERD initiative includes the distribution of 10,000 oil palm seedlings and plans for an oil palm processing mill at Nkwantanum, aligned with the 1D1F policy.