Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana

🇬🇭 Wa is a town and the capital of the Wa Municipal District and the Upper West Region of Ghana. The town is a transportation hub for the Upper West region, with major roads leading north to Hamile, and north-east to Tumu and the Upper East Region. There is also a small airport, named the Wa Airport.

History Wa is a Dagbani word meaning te wa kaa yeng seore ('we came to watch a dance'). Wa emerged as an important centre of trade. Under the Northern Protectorates, the town experienced slow infrastructure development due to neglection by the colonial administration.

Administration Wa has a mayor–council form of government. The mayor is appointed/approved by the town council, the Wa Municipal Assembly. The current mayor of Wa is Hon. Tahiru Issahaku Moomin.

Economy Despite its urban status, Wa is in many ways still an agricultural community with the majority of the town's population engaged in small scale farming. Main crops grown include corn, millet, yams, okra and groundnuts. The town also grows cash crops, which include soya beans, and groundnuts, bambara beans.

Demographics In 1880, it was estimated that Wa had about 8,000 people. This number is thought to have fallen to 2,000 by 1900. In the 1921 census, the population of the town was 2,806. The population had risen to 5,207 by 1931. In that same year, the Wa district, which was now a part of the Wala Native Authority had a population of 13,025. In 1948, Wa had a population of 14,406 while the district had 15,827 people. In 1960 the population was 14,406. In 1970 the population had risen to 13,740. In the 2000 census, the town's population was 66,644 while in the 2010 census the population was 125,479.

Islam is the largest religion in the town making up 65.9% of the population. This is followed by Christianity (29%), traditionalists (4.1%), and other religions (0.4%). Major ethic groups who resided in Wa include the Wala, the Sisaala, and the Dagaaba.

Transport There is public transport from Wa to major cities such as Accra; Kumasi, Mim, Ahafo; Cape Coast, Sunyani; Tamale; Tema; Ho; Bolgatanga; Elubo; Aflao, and Techiman.

Geography Wa is located in the north-western part of Ghana. It has a size that covers a total land area of 579.86 km² (223.89 sq mi). The average land height of the town sits between 160 mm (0.52 ft) and 300 mm (0.98 ft) above sea level. The municipal share surrounding borders Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District to the north-west, Nadowli-Kaleo District to the north-east, Wa East District to the east and to the west and south the Wa West District.

Culture The Wa Naa's Palace, located in Wa, is home to chief (Wa Naa) of the Wala people. Cattle is a symbol of wealth in the town and is sometimes used for marriage payment.

Festivals The Damba festival is an annual event celebrated in the town and throughout Northern Ghana. It is typically held in late September. The Dumba festival is another annual event celebrated in the town. It is usually celebrated in the month of September or October.

Health Wa has a total of 26 health facilities, including community health planning services and four private facilities. The largest hospital in the town is the Wa regional hostipal. It is a 160-bed facility that opened in 2019 with a project cost of GH₵5,254,500,000 (US$339 million).

Education The town is the educational hub of the region. University for Development Studies, Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education and Wa Polytechnic have branches or are located in Wa. The Wa Technical University, formerly Wa Polytechnic, was establish in 1999 and begin program offerings in 2004. There are currently 600 students enrolled in the institution.

The following is a list of educational institutions in Wa: Senior high schools: • Wa Islamic Senior High School • Jamiat Al-Hidayyat Al-Islamiat Girls Senior High School • Northern Star Senior High School • St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary • Wa Senior High School • Wa Senior High Technical School • Wa Technical Institute • T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School; Colleges/Universities: • SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies • Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education • Wa Nursing Training College • Wa Technical University (formally Wa Polytechnic).