BACKGROUND
The Savelugu Municipal Assembly, which until 15th March 2017 when Nanton District was created was called Savelugu-Nanton Municipal Assembly. It was carved out of the then Western Dagomba District in 1988 under PNDC Law 207. In March 2012, the Assembly was upgraded to a Municipal status under L.I 2071.
The Municipality is located at the northern part of the Northern Region of Ghana. It shares boundaries with West Mamprusi District to the North, Karaga and Nanton Districts to the East, Kumbungu District to the West and Sagnerigu District Assembly to the South. The Municipality has about 81 communities with a lot of the communities concentrated at the southern part. The Municipality also has a total land area of about 2022.6 sq. km.
Our Mission
The municipal assembly exists to promote grass roots participatory democracy and development, provide effective administrative and technical services to the populace and create a conducive atmosphre for conducive for socio-economic development.
Our Vision
The long term development vision for the Savelugu Municipal Assembly is a population with a high quality of life in a well-managed environment where children, women and men have equal opportunity, participate in decision making and have access to quality and sustained health services, education and economic resources.
Our Values
The core values of the Savelugu Municipal Assembly is centerd on professionalism, intergrity, accountability and client oriented services.
POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION
The Savelugu Assembly is the highest political and administrative authority with the mandate to initiate development and co-ordinate all activities aimed at sustaining development in the Municipality. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) is responsible for the day to day executive and administrative functions of the Assembly and is the chief representative of the Central Government. The MCE is assisted by the Municipal Coordinating Director who heads the Municipal bureaucracy and is the secretary to the Assembly. The Municipality has four zonal councils which are supported by Unit Committees. The Unit Committees are consultative bodies at the grassroots and are in close contact with, and organize the people for communal labour, revenue mobilization and maintenance of environmental sanitation and other activities.
LOCATION AND SIZE
The Savelugu Municipal Assembly, which until 15th March 2017 when Nanton District was created was called Savelugu-Nanton Municipal Assembly. It was carved out of the then Western Dagomba District in 1988 under PNDC Law 207. In March 2012, the Assembly was upgraded to a Municipal status under L.I 2071. The Municipality is located at the northern part of the Northern Region of Ghana. It shares boundaries with West Mamprusi District to the North, Karaga and Nanton Districts to the East, Kumbungu District to the West and Sagnerigu District Assembly to the South. The Municipality has about 81 communities with a lot of the communities concentrated at the southern part. The Municipality also has a total land area of about 2022.6 sq. km.
TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY
The Municipality is generally flat with gentle undulating low relief. The altitude ranges between 400 to 800 ft. above sea level with the southern part being slightly hilly and sloping gently towards the North. The Middle and Upper Voltaian sedimentary formation characterize the geology of the Municipality. The middle Voltaian covers the northern part of the Municipality and comprises of sandstone, shale and siltstone. The Upper Voltaian covers the southern part of the Municipality and consists of shale and mudstone. Underground water potential is generally determined by this underlying rock formation, which has varying water potential for underground water compared to the upper Voltaian formation. Consequently, borehole drilling is expected to have a higher success rate in the northern rather than the southern section.
POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION
The Savelugu Assembly is the highest political and administrative authority with the mandate to initiate development and co-ordinate all activities aimed at sustaining development in the Municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) is responsible for the day to day executive and administrative functions of the Assembly and is the chief representative of the Central Government.
The MCE is assisted by the Municipal Coordinating Director who heads the Municipal bureaucracy and is the secretary to the Assembly.
The Municipality has four zonal councils which are supported by Unit Committees. The Unit Committees are consultative bodies at the grassroots and are in close contact with, and organize the people for communal labour, revenue mobilization and maintenance of environmental sanitation and other activities.
The Municipal Assembly is made of 39 Assembly persons made of:
25 Elected persons
- 12 Appointed persons
- 1 Member of Parliament
- The Municipal Chief Executive
The four (40) Zonal Councils are:
- Savelugu Zonal Council
- Pong Tamale Zonal Council
- Diare Zonal Council
- Moglaa Zonal Council
CLIMATE AND RAINFALL PATTERN
The area receives an annual rainfall averaging 600mm, considered enough for a single farming season. The annual rainfall pattern is erratic at the beginning of the raining season, starting in April, intensifying as the season advances raising the average from 600mm to 1000mm. Temperatures are usually high, averaging 34oC. The maximum temperature could rise as high as 42oC and the minimum as low as 16oC. The low temperatures are experienced from December to late February, during which the North-East Trade winds (harmattan) greatly influence the Municipality. The generally high temperatures as well as the low humidity brought about by the dry harmattan winds favour high rates of evaporation and transpiration, leading to water deficiencies.
DRAINAGE AND VEGETATION
The main drainage system in the Municipality is made up of White Volta and its tributaries. The effect of the drainage system is felt mostly in the northern part of the Municipality covering the areas between Nabogu and Kukuobilla. These areas are prone to periodic flooding during the wet season, thus making them suitable for rice cultivation. One of the tributaries of the White Volta, Kuldalnali, stretches to constitute a natural boundary between the Municipality and Kumbungu District. The Municipality finds itself in the interior (Guinea) Savanna woodland which could sustain large scale livestock farming, as well as the cultivation of staples like rice, groundnuts, yams, cassava, maize, cowpea and sorghum. The trees found in the area are drought resistant and hardly shed their leaves completely during the long dry season. Most of these are of economic value and serve as important means of livelihood especially for women. Notable among these are shea trees, (the nuts which are used for making sheabutter) and dawadawa that provides seeds used for condimental purpose. The sparsely populated north has denser vegetation mostly with secondary forest. The populous south on the other hand, is depleted by human activities such as farming, bush burning and tree felling among others.