The East Mamprusi Municipal is one of the 28 administrative MMDAs in the region. It was established under PNDC Law 207 in 1988 by a Legislative Instrument (LI. 1456) with the capital at Gambaga.
The East Mamprusi Municipal is one of the 28 administrative MMDAs in the region. It was established under PNDC Law 207 in 1988 by a Legislative Instrument (LI. 1456) with the capital at Gambaga. Gambaga is a historic town lying next to the seat of the Nayiri, King of Mamprugu, and also the first headquarters of the Northern Territories. It is one of the oldest municipals in Northern Region. Out of it, the West Mamprusi Municipal was carved in 1988. In 2004, the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo Municipal was also created to promote developments. The creation of the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo Municipal resulted in the change of the LI to (LI.1776). It was elevated to Municipal status in 2018 by a Legislative Instrument (LI.2274). It therefore serves as the parent Municipal for West Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moagduri, Bunkpurugu and Yunyoo-Nasuan Municipals
1.2 Location and Size
The East Mamprusi Municipal is located in the north-eastern part of the Northern Region. The municipal shares boundaries with Talensi, Nabdam, Bawku West and Garu-Tempane Municipals, all in the Upper East Region to the North, Bunkpurugu – Yunyoo Municipal to the East, Gushiegu and Karaga Municipals to the South and West Mamprusi Municipal to the West. It covers a land mass of 1,660sqkm, representing about 2.2% of the total land mass of the region.
Figure 1: EAST MAMPRUSI MUNICIPAL MAP
1.3 Relief and Drainage
The land is generally gently undulating and the Gambaga escarpment marking the Northern limit of the Voltain Sandstone basin. Apart from the mountainous areas bordering the escarpment there is little runoff when it rains. There are different types of rock formation given the different relief features, which range from flat bottom valleys to steep-sided highlands. The upper half of the Municipal is underlined by the middle Voltain formation consisting of shale, mudstone, iron pans and sandstone.
The Municipal has very good water drainage basin. The White Volta, which enters the region in the northeast is joined by the Red Volta near Gambaga, the Nawong and Moba rivers are major perennial rivers in the Municipal.
1.4 Climate
The Municipal lies in the tropical continental western margin and characterized by a single rainfall pattern brought in by the rain bearing tropical maritime air mass (MT). This occurs around April to October every year. This is followed by the tropical continental air mass (CT) which brings about the dry season which occurs from late November to March. The mean annual rainfall is between 1000mm to 1500mm with the peak occurring from July to September. The municipal experiences a prolonged dry season with the peak occurring between March and April. Temperature is fairly high with the annual mean temperature ranging from 27.4oC to 35oC depending on the season. The highest temperature is recorded in the dry season whiles the lowest is experienced during the Harmattan season.
1.5 Soil and Vegetation
There are two major soil types in the Municipal. These are the Savannah Ochrosols and Ground water Laterites. The Savannah Ochrosols which covers almost the entire Municipal, is moderately drained and the upland soils developed mainly on Voltain sandstone. The texture of the surface soil is sandy to sandy loam with fairly good water retention.
The Groundwater Literate covers a smaller portion of the Municipal and is mainly found in the southern part of the Municipal. These are concretionary soils developed mainly from Voltain shale, mudstone and argillaceous sandstone materials. The texture of the soil is sandy loam which is suitable for the cultivation of annual food crops such as maize, millet, sorghum, water melon etc. and tree crops with long gestation period such as shea nut, dawadawa, cashew etc which are of economic importance.
The Municipal lies within the interior woodland savannah belt and has Common grass vegetation with trees like dawadawa, baobab, shea nut trees, etc. Grasses grow in tussocks and can reach a height of 3 metres or more. There is marked change in the vegetation depending on the two prevailing climatic condition. During the raining season animals graze on the grasses. The shea nut tree is of great economic value for women who pick the nuts and process it into shea butter.
1.6 Natural Environment
The natural vegetation in most parts of the Municipal especially around settlements has seriously been altered due to over cultivation, overgrazing by animals, over exploitation for fuel wood without replacement. Farming (crop and livestock) is the mainstay of the people. Crop cultivation being mainly on off-compound (bush) farms with an average of 0.5 hectares per farm holding. The major land degradation issues are cutting of trees for firewood, charcoal burning and chain saw operation.
1.7 Built Environment
There are three urban settlements with population of 5,000 and above. They are Nalerigu, Gambaga, and Langbinsi. The people in these urban settlements constitute about 30% of the total population of the Municipal population. Seventy percent of the people are thus rural dwellers. Since all the major social and economic infrastructure and services are located in the urban areas, majority of the people are either deprived totally of utilizing these facilities or have limited access to them.
Other settlements that follow are Gbintiri, Nagbo, and Sakogu. Socio-economic infrastructure and services are concentrated in the Northern half of the Municipal . Settlement in the South and Central parts do not have easy access to these facilities. Settlement patterns are largely dispersed. This is more so with the rural communities. A number of compounds made up of usually round huts roofed with thatch and owned by a number of households are scattered over large farmlands. This pattern in the rural areas sometimes poses a problem of distinguishing one community from another in some cases.
1.8 Land Tenure
Chiefs and family heads own land in the Municipality. An individual or a group of people can acquire a piece of land for construction or farming purpose.
1.9 Geology and Minerals
There are Gold deposits on the Gambaga escarpment’s stretch. Also clinker is found around Gbintiri and Langbinsi areas.
1.10 Chieftaincy
The Nayiri is the King or overlord of Mamprugu traditional area and has council of elders who advise him. The Nayiri is supported by paramount chiefs, Divisional and other sub-chiefs under him in the kingship of Mamprugu. His paramountcies extend beyond the boundaries of the Municipal and are located in other Regions and Municipals. Notable of mention are the Wulugu Naaba, Wungu Naaba, Soo Naaba, Kulgu Naaba etc (all in the West Mamprusi Municipal); Yunyoorana and Bunkpurugu Naaba (in the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo Municipal) and Zuarungu Naaba, Tongu Naaba, Sakuti etc (all in Upper East Region).
1.11 Languages, Culture and Ethnicity
Mamprusis are the major ethnic group in the municipal. However, there are also Bimobas, Konkombas, Talensis, Moshis, Chokosis and Hausas who have settled at the eastern part of the municipal. The people of East Mamprusi Municipal celebrate a number of festivals. This include Damba festival, Bugum (fire) festival and others. The municipal is a multi-religious one. The dominant religions are Islam (59.1%), Christianity (22.2%) and Traditional worshiping (16%).
1.12 Demographic Characteristics
The population of the Municipal is 121,009 (2010 Population and Housing Census). The distribution shows that females account for 61,556 with 59,453 males, representing 50.9% and 49.1% respectively. With a growth rate of 3%, the Municipal population is projected to be 158,513 in 2019 and will be 168,314 in 2021. The average population density is 80 per km². There are 142 communities in the Municipal.