Editing Wa, Ghana

{{Short description|Town in Upper West Region, Ghana}}
{{Use Ghanaian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
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<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| official_name          = Wa
| other_name            =
| native_name            =  <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname               =
| settlement_type        = Town <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)-->
| motto  =
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| image_skyline          = Wa main street (Ghana) 3.JPG
| imagesize              = 250px
| image_caption          = View of a [[high street]] in Wa
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| etymology              = [[Dagbani language|Dagbani]]: ''Wa'' ("te wa kaa yeng seore", English: "we came to watch a dance"){{sfn|Awedoba|2009|p=47}}
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| pushpin_map            = Ghana<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of Wa in [[Upper West Region]]
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = [[Ghana]]
| subdivision_type1      = Region
| subdivision_name1      = [[Upper West Region]]
| subdivision_type2      = District
| subdivision_name2      = [[Wa Municipal District]]
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of               = 2021
| population_footnotes           =
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| population_total               = 200,672<ref name="World Gazetteer">{{cite report |url=https://statsghana.gov.gh/gssmain/fileUpload/pressrelease/2021%20PHC%20General%20Report%20Vol%203A_Population%20of%20Regions%20and%20Districts_181121.pdf |title=Population of Regions and Districts |date=November 2021 |publisher=Ghana Statistical Service }}</ref>
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| population_blank1_title        = Ethnicities
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<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
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| timezone_DST           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
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| coordinates            = {{coord|10|4|N|2|30|W|region:Ghana}}
| elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m            = 305
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<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type       =  [[Postal codes in Ghana|Postal code]]
| postal_code            = XW
| area_code              = 039
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| website                = {{official website|name=wamunicipal.gov.gh}}
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'''Wa''' is a [[town]] and the capital of the [[Wa Municipal District]] and the [[Upper West Region]] of [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Campaign on effective handling of food items held in Wa|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/campaign-on-effective-handling-of-food-items-held-in-wa.html?template=graphictv&is_preview=on|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Graphic Online}}</ref> It has a population of 200,672 people according to the 2021 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana|url=https://www.ghanadistricts.com/Home/District/168|access-date=2023-08-23|website=GhanaDistricts.}}</ref><ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www2.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010_District_Report/Upper%20West/WA%20MUNICIPAL.pdf|title=2010 Population and Housing Census – Wa Municipal|publisher=Ghana Statistical Service|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref>

The town is a transportation hub for the Upper West region, with major roads leading north to [[Hamile]], and northeast to [[Tumu, Ghana|Tumu]] and the [[Upper East Region]]. There is also a small airport, named the [[Wa Airport]].<ref name="Touring Ghana – Upper West Region">[http://www.touringghana.com/regions/upperwest_region.asp Touring Ghana – Upper West Region]. touringghana.</ref>

== History ==
=== Etymology ===
''Wa'' is a [[Dagbani language|Dagbani]] word meaning ''te wa kaa yeng seore'' ('we came to watch a dance').{{sfn|Awedoba|2009|p=47}}

=== Formation ===
Wa emerged as an important center of trade.

Under the [[Northern Territories of the Gold Coast|Northern Protectorates]], the town experienced slow infrastructure development due to neglection by the colonial administration.<ref name="Wa ghana overview">{{cite journal|last1=Ahmed|first1=A.|last2=Korah|first2=P.|last3=Dongzagla|first3=A.|last4=Nunbogu|first4=A.|last5=Niminga-Beka|first5=R.|last6=Kuusaana|first6=E.|last7=Abubakari|first7=Z.|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264275119309813|title=City profile: Wa, Ghana|journal=Cities|date=2020 |volume=97|article-number=102524|doi=10.1016/j.cities.2019.102524|access-date=19 July 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Administration ==
{{further|Wa Central (Ghana parliament constituency)}}
Wa has a [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council form of government]]. The mayor is appointed/approved by the town council, the [[Wa Municipal District|Wa Municipal Assembly]]. The current mayor of Wa is Hon. Tahiru Issahaku Moomin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peacecouncil.gov.gh/upperwest/|title=Upper West Regional Peace Council|publisher=National Peace Council, Ghana|access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref>

== 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 agriculture|small scale farming]]. Main crops grown include [[maize|corn]], [[millet]], [[Yam (vegetable)|yams]], [[okra]] and [[Bambara groundnut|groundnuts]]. The town also grows [[cash crop]]s, which include [[soya bean]]s, and [[peanut|groundnut]]s, [[bambara bean]]s.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Naazie|first1=G.|last2=Agyemang|first2=I.|last3=Tampah-Naah|first3=A.|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-024-00227-0|title=Characterization of urban agriculture and farmers' climate change adaptation: the case of Urban Wa, Ghana|journal=Discover Sustainability|date=2024 |volume=5|issue=58|doi=10.1007/s43621-024-00227-0|bibcode=2024DiSus...5...58N |access-date=20 July 2024|quote="...The Wa Municipality has about 200,672 residents with 143,358 urban dwellers. Also, out of about 70% who engage in agricultural activities, only 30.2% are direct food crops..."}}</ref><ref name="2010 census"/>

== Demographics ==
{{historical population
|align=left
|1921|2806
|1931|13025
|1948|14406
|1970|13740
|1984|36067
|2000|66644
|2010|125479
|source = Ghana Statistical Service.{{sfn|Wilks|2002|pp=11-13}}<ref name="Wa ghana overview"/><ref name="2000 census">{{cite web|url=https://www2.statsghana.gov.gh/nada/index.php/catalog/3|title=2000 population & housing census – special report on urban localities|publisher=Ghana Statistical Service|access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="2010 population census">{{cite web|url=https://www.statsghana.gov.gh/gssmain/storage/img/marqueeupdater/Census2010_Summary_report_of_final_results.pdf|title=Population of Regions and Districts Report (2010)|publisher=Ghana Statistical Service|page=107|access-date=12 July 2024}}</ref>
}}
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.{{sfn|Wilks|2002|pp=11-13}}<ref name="Wa ghana overview"/> In the 2000 census, the town's population was 66,644 while in the 2010 census the population was 125,479.<ref name="2000 census"/><ref name="2010 population census"/>

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%).<ref name="2010 census"/> Major ethic groups who resided in Wa include the [[Wala people|Wala]], the Sisaala, and the [[Dagaaba people|Dagaaba]].{{sfn|Awedoba|2009|p=39}}

== Transportation ==
There is public transport from Wa to major cities such as [[Accra]]; [[Kumasi]], [[Mim, Ahafo]]; [[Cape Coast]], [[Sunyani]]; [[Tamale, Ghana|Tamale]]; [[Tema]]; [[Ho, Ghana|Ho]]; [[Bolgatanga]]; [[Elubo]]; [[Aflao]], and [[Techiman]].<ref name="2010 census"/>

== Geography ==
[[File:Jahan 1 -Wa.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A plant in Wa]]
Wa is located in the north-western part of Ghana. It has a size that covers a total land area of {{convert|579.86|km²|abbr=on}}. The average land height of the town sits between {{convert|160|mm|ft|abbr=on}} and
{{convert|300|mm|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="Wa ghana overview"/> 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]].<ref name="2010 census"/>

=== Climate ===
Wa has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Aw''), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The wet season usually occurs between March and July while the dry season can happen from September to November. The mean maximum temperatures can range from {{convert|34–40|C|F}} whilst the mean minimum temperatures can reach {{convert|29|C|F}}. The average monthly relative humidity stands around 40.67%.<ref name="climate overview">{{cite journal|last1=Bessah|first1=E.|last2=Amponsah|first2=W.|last3=Ansah|first3=S.|last4=Afrifa|first4=A.|last5=Yahaya|first5=B.|last6=Wemegah|first6=C.|last7=Tanu|first7=M.|last8=Amekudzi|first8=L.|last9=Agyare|first9=W.|title=Climatic zoning of Ghana using selected meteorological variables for the period 1976–2018|journal=Meteorological Applications|date=2022 |volume=29|issue=1|page=2049 |doi=10.1002/met.2049|doi-access=free|bibcode=2022MeApp..29.2049B }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Wa (1991-2020, extremes 1952-present)
| single line = Yes
| metric first = Yes
| Jan record high C = 39.5
| Feb record high C = 42.0
| Mar record high C = 42.6
| Apr record high C = 42.5
| May record high C = 40.0
| Jun record high C = 38.0
| Jul record high C = 38.2
| Aug record high C = 35.7
| Sep record high C = 36.5
| Oct record high C = 37.5
| Nov record high C = 39.0
| Dec record high C = 38.5
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 35.1
| Feb high C = 37.2
| Mar high C = 38.1
| Apr high C = 36.5
| May high C = 34.2
| Jun high C = 32.1
| Jul high C = 30.6
| Aug high C = 29.8
| Sep high C = 30.7
| Oct high C = 33.3
| Nov high C = 35.5
| Dec high C = 35.3
| year high C = 34.0
| Jan mean C = 27.7
| Feb mean C = 30.3
| Mar mean C = 31.8
| Apr mean C = 30.9
| May mean C = 29.3
| Jun mean C = 27.6
| Jul mean C = 26.6
| Aug mean C = 26.0
| Sep mean C = 26.4
| Oct mean C = 28.0
| Nov mean C = 28.8
| Dec mean C = 27.8
| year mean C = 28.4
| Jan low C = 20.4
| Feb low C = 23.3
| Mar low C = 25.6
| Apr low C = 25.4
| May low C = 24.3
| Jun low C = 23.2
| Jul low C = 22.5
| Aug low C = 22.1
| Sep low C = 22.1
| Oct low C = 22.7
| Nov low C = 22.0
| Dec low C = 20.3
| year low C = 22.8
| Jan record low C = 12.8
| Feb record low C = 15.6
| Mar record low C = 17.9
| Apr record low C = 17.5
| May record low C = 17.4
| Jun record low C = 18.4
| Jul record low C = 17.9
| Aug record low C = 18.3
| Sep record low C = 18.3
| Oct record low C = 18.9
| Nov record low C = 16.0
| Dec record low C = 12.2
| year record low C = 12.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 5.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 10.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 20.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 86.4
| May precipitation mm = 130.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 141.8
| Jul precipitation mm = 139.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 241.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 198.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 82.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 5.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 0.3
| year precipitation mm = 1035.3
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 0.2
| Feb precipitation days = 0.7
| Mar precipitation days = 2.4
| Apr precipitation days = 5.5
| May precipitation days = 8.8
| Jun precipitation days = 9.2
| Jul precipitation days = 10.6
| Aug precipitation days = 13.0
| Sep precipitation days = 14.0
| Oct precipitation days = 7.4
| Nov precipitation days = 0.8
| Dec precipitation days = 0.0
| year precipitation days = 72.6
| time day = 15:00
| Jan humidity = 16
| Feb humidity = 18
| Mar humidity = 28
| Apr humidity = 44
| May humidity = 55
| Jun humidity = 63
| Jul humidity = 66
| Aug humidity = 69
| Sep humidity = 68
| Oct humidity = 51
| Nov humidity = 33
| Dec humidity = 19
| year humidity = 44
| Jan sun = 271.7
| Feb sun = 241.6
| Mar sun = 239.3
| Apr sun = 235.5
| May sun = 247.6
| Jun sun = 219.2
| Jul sun = 193.4
| Aug sun = 161.9
| Sep sun = 187.0
| Oct sun = 256.9
| Nov sun = 269.7
| Dec sun = 276.0
| year sun = 2799.8
| Jand sun = 9.2
| Febd sun = 9.4
| Mard sun = 8.6
| Aprd sun = 7.5
| Mayd sun = 8.6
| Jund sun = 7.6
| Juld sun = 6.7
| Augd sun = 5.7
| Sepd sun = 6.3
| Octd sun = 9.2
| Novd sun = 9.3
| Decd sun = 9.6
| yeard sun = 8.1
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Ghana/CSV/Wa_65404.csv
| title = Wa Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 28 September 2023}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes, humidity 1973-1994, daily sun 1958-1962)<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_654040_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Wa / Ghana
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 18 October 2016}}</ref>
}}

== Culture ==
[[File:Palace Pillas (2).jpg|thumb|220px|Front view of [[Wa Naa's Palace]]]]
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]].{{sfn|Wilks|2002|pp=5-7}}

=== Festivals ===
The [[Damba festival]] is an annual event celebrated in the town and throughout Northern Ghana. It is typically held in late September.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-07-11|title=Damba as a festival and dance form|url=http://artsghana.org/damba-as-a-festival-and-dance-form/|access-date=2021-03-06|website=Arts Ghana}}</ref> The [[Dumba Festival|Dumba festival]] is another annual event celebrated in the town. It is usually celebrated in the month of September or October.<ref>{{Cite web|title=At the peak of Dumba Festival|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/features/at-the-peak-of-dumba-festival.html|access-date=2020-08-27|website=Graphic Online}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Ghanaian cuisine}}

== Human resources ==
=== Health ===
Wa has a total of 26 health facilities, including
[[Community health|community health planning service]]s and four private facilities.<ref name="Wa ghana overview"/> The largest hospital in the town is the Wa regional hospital. It is a 160-bed facility that opened in 2019 with a project cost of GH₵5,254,500,000 (US$339 million).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2019/08/nana-addo-commissions-upper-west-regional-hospital/|title=Nana Addo commissions Upper West Regional Hospital|date=18 August 2019 |publisher=Citi Newsroom|access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="Wa ghana overview"/> The [[Wa Technical University]], formerly Wa Polytechnic, was established in 1999 and begin program offerings in 2004. There are currently 600 students enrolled in the institution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://saskpolytech.ca/programs-and-courses/international/projects/ghana-wheres-wa.aspx|title=Where's Wa?|publisher=Saskatchewan Polytechnic|access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

The following is a list of educational institutions in Wa:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.schoolsingh.com/senior-high-schools/regions/upper-west|title=Senior High Schools in Upper West Region of Ghana|website=schoolsingh.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506002705/https://www.schoolsingh.com/senior-high-schools/regions/upper-west|archive-date=6 May 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
; [[Senior high school]]s
* 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
; [[College]]s/[[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)

==Notable people==
* [[Wiyaala]]
* [[Samini]]
* [[Mohammed Kudus]]
* [[Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo]]
* [[Salma Mumin]]
* Abdul Haye Mumin
* Shamima Muslim

== See also ==
* [[Lobi people]]
* [[Wala people]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Awedoba|first=A. K.|date=2009|title=An Ethnographic Study of Northern Ghanaian Conflicts|publisher=Sub-Saharan Publishers|isbn=	9789988647384}}
* {{cite book|last=Wilks|first=Ivor|author-link=Ivor Wilks|editor-last1=Brown|editor-first1=Carolyn|editor-last2=Anderson|editor-first2=David|date=4 July 2002|title=Wa and the Wala: Islam and Polity in Northwestern Ghana|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521894340}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q250733|c=Category:Wa (Ghana)|n=no|q=no|b=no|v=no|voy=Wa|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.ghana-pedia.org/org/index.php?option=com_directory&listing=Wa&page=viewListing&lid=35&Itemid=36 Ghana-pedia webpage – Wa]
* [https://www.angelfire.com/ultra/twa/ Wa, Ghana oriented website]

{{geographic location
| Centre = Wa
| NW = [[Charia, Ghana|Charia]]
| NE = Kperisi
| S = Kpongu
| SE = Bamahu
| SW = Kapaguri
| W = Siriyiri
| E =
}}
{{GhanaLargestSettlements|state=collapsed}}
{{Upper West Region, Ghana}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wa, Ghana| ]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Ghana]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Upper West Region]]