Location
Kasoa has territory in 1 of the 20 Metropolitan, Municipalities and Districts (MMADs) in the Central Region ofClimate
Kasoa experiences a five-month dry season lasting from November through March. During the dry season, the northeast trade winds are prominent. The dry season is followed by a seven-month rainy season that lasts from April through October. During this rainy season, the southwest monsoon winds are most common. The rainy season is usually characterized by flooding, low crop yield, and financial strain for a large portion of Odupongkpehe/Kasoa's population.Population
Awutu Ofaakor are the indigenous to Odupongkpehe/Kasoa. Awutu, Akan and English are the most commonly spoken languages. Odupongkpehe/Kasoa is traditionally home to the Awutu tribe who belong to the guan ethnic group. Today, it is home to other ethnic groups such as Hausas, Gas, Akans, Ewes, Walas/Dagartis, Moshies, Basares and other smaller tribes. As of 2010, Odupongkpehe/ Kasoa's population was estimated to be 370,384 people. Ghana has experienced rapid population growth in the past three decades. The population growth directly affects /Odupongkpehe/Kasoa, and other peri-urban areas. Odupongkpehe/Kasoa is reported to be one of the fastest-growing communities in West Africa. This growth is revealed by an examination and comparison of /Odupongkpehe/Kasoa's population in 1970, 1984, 2000, and 2010. In 1970, Odupongkpehe/Kasoa had a population of 863. In 1984 the population was 2,597. In 2000 the population was 34,719. In 2010 the population grew to 69,384. Clearly, there has been an increase in the population size over the past 40 years. Comparing the change in population between the aforementioned dates proves the fact that the population is increasing at an increasing rate. From 1970 to 1984 the population increased by 1,734 people. Between 1884 and 2000, the population increased by 32,122 people. Lastly, from 2000 to 2010, the population increased by 34,665. The net population growth between 1970 and 2010 is 68,521. This means that in the past 40 years, Odupongkpehe/Kasoa has multiplied by more than 79 times what it was in 1970. This close consideration of the population reported by the National Analytical Report quantitatively indicates just how fast the population of Odupongkpehe/Kasoa has been and is continuing to grow. Approximately 4 decades ago, Odupongkpehe/Kasoa was a rural community; it is now very rapidly urbanizing. Since 2000, the “spill-over effect” of the growing population of the Accra-Tema metropolitan area into smaller towns around the edges has contributed greatly to the rapid increase in the populations of towns, like Odupongkpehe/Kasoa. Challenges associated with living in the overly crowded urban centers such as transportation and safe/affordable housing have influenced individuals working in the Urban centers to have their place of residence be in a nearby settlements—often peri-urban areas like Odupongkpehe/Kasoa—and commute into the urban center for work. The population growth of Odupongkpehe/Kasoa and its repercussions can be understood as the result of urban sprawl. Rural-Urban migration due to diminished economic opportunities in rural Ghana and migration to Accra has led to a hugePolitics
In 1957, Ghana became the first African country to declare independence from European colonization. Until 2007, Kasoa was fully encompassed by a single district, the Awutu Effutu Senya District. In 2007, the district split into the Awutu Senya district to the north and Effutu Municipal to the south. Soon after the split, the Kasoa Urban Council became one of the two urban councils in the Awutu Senya district. In 2012, the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (ASEMA) was formed in an effort to support the government's decentralization programs and to strengthen local governments. Kasoa is now the administrative capital of ASEMA. The political organization of Odupongkpehe/Kasoa is “semi-traditional.” This can be considered to follow the framework of a centralized system. It is a society ruled by a chief whose authority is to be recognized by all who live within the established boundaries of his territory. Odupongkpehe/Kasoa is also politically supported by administrative and judicial institutions. These institutions have changed drastically due to the influence of colonial and modern institutions. Odupongkpehe/Kasoa's traditional political institution is traditionalEconomy
Odupongkpehe/Kasoa is home to one of the most prominent markets in the Awutu-Senya district. Agro-processed products are popular items at these markets. One of these products is cassava that is processed into popular food items called ‘agbelima’ and ‘gari’. Agriculture and business associated with agriculture is one of the leading economic activities for Odupongkpehe/Kasoa's working population. Farming and fishing are very popular in the lowlands near the coast. In 2013, construction of an Abattoir—a slaughter house—was begun in order to enable Odupongkpehe/Kasoa to provide more food for its rapidly growing population. In response to the growing need for peri-urban transport, private enterprises have been developed in the form of privately owned ''trotro'' and shared taxis which provide transportation for passengers, goods, and animals. Odupongkpehe/Kasoa's market is the main regional market.Porter, Gina; Kate Hampshire, Peter Kyei, Michael Adjaloo, George Rapoo, and Kate Kilpatrick (2008). "Linkages between livelihood opportunities and refugee–host relations: learning from the experiences of Liberian camp-based refugees in Ghana". Journal of refugee studies 21 (2): 230–252. The market is consistently packed and it is often difficult for new traders to be able to sell their goods at the market because all of the stalls are occupied. In 1991 the plans for a new market in /Odupongkpehe/Kasoa were established and the plot of land where the market was to be built was purchased. However, due to a lack of funding, construction could not begin until ten years later. Construction of the new market began in 2001, during President J.A. Kufuor's administration, after funds were provided by NGOs and with the cooperation of the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly."Kasoa new market needs immediate attention - Association" (http://graphic.com.gh/archive/Business-News/Odupongkpehe/kasoa-new-market-needs-immediate-attention-association.html). Graphic communications group. Retrieved 31 March 2014. In January 2013, the market was improved. Through the combined efforts of the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly and the Odupongkpehe/Kasoa Traders Association, new stalls were built for traders at the market. Transportation is a major issue that many individuals from Odupongkpehe/Kasoa and neighboring areas must face in order to be able to participate in the marketplace.Porter, Gina (2002). "Living in a walking world: rural mobility and social equity issues in sub-Saharan Africa". World development 30 (2): 285–300. Many must overcome the obstacles of heavy traffic, poor road conditions, and/or unaffordable public transportation, in order to access the market. Those who face these issues may be at an economic disadvantage when unreliable transport results in the late arrival to the market. Once a seller has arrived late, shoppers may have already purchased significant amounts of goods from sellers who were not affected by the unreliable transportation and were able to be at the market on time. A study conducted in Odupongkpehe/Kasoa surveyed 305 micro and small scale enterprises and revealed that 77.78% of the business owners had no knowledge about cash management procedures.Attom, Ben Ebo. Cash management practices by micro and small-scale enterprises at Odupongkpehe/Kasoa in the central region of Ghana. The study argued that this is an indicator of the need for proper training of business owners in the realm of cash management in order to initiate capacity building. Another survey conducted in the Odupongkpehe/Kasoa market, although concerned largely with the oil sales sector, revealed a number of issues face by individuals whose livelihoods depend on sales in the market.Baidoo, E.A; P.N.T. Johnson (2001). Survey on some constraints facing cooking oil sellers at selected markets in Accra. One issue that the study revealed was difficulty with hygienically storing goods and keeping them from spoiling. The survey indicated that 59% of the salespersons had no education and used a variety of techniques (both effective and ineffective) for preserving their goods. 90% inappropriately stored their goods, which were exposed to too much sun and/or potentially contaminated by unhygienic storage practices such as storing goods in dirty containers. The interviewees greatest concerns were low-profits, unsteady demand, unreliable competition, the unavailability of space and the lack of funds to expand their business, Demand for many goods shift seasonally. For example, oil sales spike during the seasons where fish are plentiful because traditional fish processors purchase oil from the market for frying fish. Unreliable sales competition is a large issue for traders who sell goods that can be purchased from large producers at a lower cost. Furthermore, 80% of sellers reported that they needed help in the area of finance in order to expand their businesses. Ghana Rural Action Support Program (GRASP) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has initiated micro-finance loans for women in order to empower women and boost female economic activity in Odupongkpehe/Kasoa.Adjei-Bosompem, Eunice (2013). Journal of Global Gender Studies 1 (1). An article in the Journal of Global Gender Studies, reports that studies conducted by Eunice Adjei-Bosompem in 2013 suggested that the initial loan amounts were insufficient for women to successfully start and sustain on-going income generating activities (IGAs). The resulting suggestions for improving the short-term and long-term effectiveness of micro-finance loans were to increase loan amounts and loan return time, in addition to encouraging the development and utilization of technologies that will increase productivity.External links
See also
* Accra *References
{{coord, 05, 31, 12, N, 00, 28, 48, W, display=title Populated places in the Central Region (Ghana)