All you need to know about the 16 administrative regions of Ghana

Ghana has 16 administrative regions, each with its own regional capital. Until 2018, Ghana had 10 regions, before six new regions were created following referendums held in December 2018.

Use the interactive map below to explore Ghana’s 16 regions, see where each region is located, find its regional capital and discover more about the area.

Explore Ghana’s 16 regions

Select a region on the map to see its capital, a quick introduction and a link to the viewGhana regional guide.

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Select a region Click or tap any named region on the map to explore it.

Why does Ghana have 16 regions?

Until 2018, Ghana was divided into 10 administrative regions. Following decades of petitions from communities seeking greater local representation, referendums were held to create six additional regions.

The changes were intended to bring administration and development closer to communities, particularly in areas located a long distance from their existing regional capitals.

The six new regions brought Ghana’s total from 10 to 16 administrative regions.

Which six new regions were created in Ghana?

Four existing regions were divided to create the six new regions:

• Western Region → Western and Western North
• Northern Region → Northern, North East and Savannah
• Volta Region → Volta and Oti
• Brong-Ahafo Region → Bono, Ahafo and Bono East

The new regions became official following the 2018 Ghanaian New Regions Referendum, held on 27 December 2018.

Why were the six new regions created?

The main aim was to bring government and public administration closer to local communities.

Some communities had campaigned for their own regions for decades. The campaign for what became the Oti Region, for example, can be traced back to the 1950s.

Creating smaller administrative regions was intended to support:

• Better local administration – reducing the distance between communities and regional authorities.
• Decentralisation – allowing decisions and services to be managed closer to local populations.
• Regional development – helping infrastructure and public investment respond more directly to local needs.

Explore Ghana’s 16 regions

Ghana’s regions are also a useful way to explore the country. From Accra in Greater Accra and Kumasi in Ashanti to Cape Coast in Central Region and Tamale in Northern Region, each part of Ghana offers different places, cultures and experiences.

Explore attractions, places to visit, events and travel ideas from across Ghana’s 16 regions.