The case of Asesewa and Asiakwa - Small Town Water Supply in the Eastern Region

Asesewa and Asiakwa communities are 2 old traditional communities located in Upper Manya District and East Akim District respectively in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Both communities are homogeneous, and highly dominated by their respective indigeneous tribes - Krobo and Akan.

Whilst Asesewa is now a district capital (Upper Manya District), and is growing in size and population with the influx of more civil servants, businesses, and new housing units, the progress of Asiakwa has been affected by the diversion of the Accra-Kumasi trunk road which hitherto passed through the town and made it a little more vibrant. It is feared that present and future developments in Asiakwa will concentrate at the junction of the Accra-Kumasi road, about 2 kilometres away, and this will further reduce the status of the community.
In terms of economy and commerce, Asesewa is a well-known market centre with vigorous weekly commercial activities. Asiakwa, on the other hand, is a small farming community of mostly cocoa (cash crop), plantain, cassava and maize (food crop) farmers.