Berekum, nicknamed "The Golden City", is a city and the capital of Berekum East Municipal in the Bono Region of Ghana.[3][4] The city has a population of 62,364 as of 2012.[1] The native language of the Berekum people is the Bono Twi. As of 2020, the Omanhene of the city is Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II.[2][5]
History
Based on oral tradition, there were three Akan people groups who originally migrated and settled in the area (now known as Berekum). The first branch to arrive, known as the Awasu people, are said to be migrants from Denkyira (now residing in Biadan). The second branch also originated from Denkyira, now residing in Abi (4 km (2.5 mi) from Berekum).[6]
The last branch were Gyaman soldiers from Asokore. After the Gyamans were defeated by the Asante army, some of the soldiers escaped west to Côte d'Ivoire. This resulted in a post being set up in Berekum by the Asantes to be ensure that no resurgence will occur. It is believed that these migrations were led by the leaders of Bɔfoakwa, Bɔfoɔbɛm, and Sefa Antwireboa.[4]
Demographics
About 34% of the population is rural while 66% is urban. Nearly 90% of the population is Christian of which 38.8% is Pentecostal, 23.5% is Protestant, 17% is Catholic, and 8.8% practices other kinds of the religion. This is following by Islam (6.5%), traditional religions (0.4%), and those who are not affiliated with any religion (4.1%).[7]
Berekum has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classificationAw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 1,275 to 1,544 mm (50.2 to 60.8 in).[7]
The biggest educational institution in the town is the Berekum College of Education. Established in 1953 by then chief Nana Yiadom Owusu II, the college was officially accredited to offer diplomas in 2007.[10][5]
Health
The town's major hospital is the Berekum Holy Family hospital (HOFAHO), which is a catholic diocesan hospital that serves as the municipal hospital. It was established in 1948 by the Medical Mission Sisters and became a Diocesan hospital in 1978.[11][12]
^In Ghana, the term 'traditional area' is used to describe an area in which all of its community members shared the same culture, and are under the same Omanhene (Paramount Chief)[4]
