Akim Oda is a town in south Ghana and is the capital of the Birim Central Municipal District and also the traditional capital of the Akyem Kotoku, one of the three States of the Akyem states, in the Eastern Region of south Ghana. In 2013, Akim Oda had a settlement population of 60,604 people.
Geography and climate
Akim Oda lies in hilly country of south Ghana with rain forest vegetation in the Birim River basin. The climate of Akim Oda is semi-equatorial and wet with significant precipitation during the rainy season from April to June and again in September to November. A dry period is experienced between December to February. The Akyem Kotoku traditional area is very cold during the month of December to February from dawn to dusk and is such a beautiful place to enjoy the Christmas holidays as many outdoors and street carnivals is held in the town during this season.
Economy
Agriculture
is an important part of the Akim Oda economy, including plantations and casual plantings along roadsides. The crop is dried and stored in warehouses for shipment. There are several small palm oil farms to the north of the Birim river, covering about 6,000 hectares. Byproducts from the palm-oil mills are used in soap-making. Bamboo is another useful and fast-growing crop that grown in Akim Oda, and also a strong and inexpensive material used for furniture and construction.
Mining
The Akim Oda Bank of the Birim river are rich in both gold and diamonds, extracted locally through artisanal mining processes.
Forestry
The Akim Oda forests contain valuable trees, and there is some lumbering. The total forest area of Ghana dropped from 8.2 million hectares around 1900 to 1.6 million hectares by the year 2000, and continues to decline rapidly due to demand both for exports and for construction by the growing Ghanaian economy. Forest plantations are being introduced near Akim Oda and may help to reverse the decline.
Tourism
Akim Oda has keenly developed tourism, with attractions that include dug-out boat tours to view the Akim Oda mining operations, traditional ceremonies usually including impressive drumming performances with the Akan drum, the biggest tree in West Africa at 12 meters in circumference and 66.5 meters tall and a bustling outdoor market. The exotic and tasty local Ghanaian food may also be an important attraction.
Health care
The Akim Oda Government Hospital is the only public health care provider in the town of Akim Oda which serves the Kotoku traditional area and also serves as a referral point for the adjourning communities in the Akyem states near Akim Oda. Other major private clinics such as jubilee hospital and Oda Community hospital and others also provide health care to the inhabitants of the Akyem Kotoku, Bosome and part of the Abuakwa traditional area.
Education
The Kotoku traditional area can boost of several public and private educational institutions in the state. There are over fifteen public primary and junior high school and three major public senior high schools, namely Oda Senior High School, St. Francis Senior High Technical School and Attafuah Senior High Technical, all within the Kotoku traditional area. The Kotoku state can boast of over 20 competitive private schools of which over the years have produced prominent personalities across the country, notably among them are Crystal SpringsInternational School, Hecta International School, Joduro International, A.E.A. Memorial Academy. Benaga Star Academy, Child Evangelism, etc. and also private Senior High such as Akim State College, and others are also thriving in the areas of education.
Social political and media coverage
Akim Oda currently have four major radio stations which serve the Akyem states and the country as a whole and help shape social, economic and political issues in the Akyem states and the country at large.
