Paramountcy
Wiawso
Sefwi Wiawso is also the capital of Western North Region.
Western North Region, Ghana
Discover Sefwi and Western North.
A young region with deep roots. Western North was created in 2019 with Sefwi Wiawso as its capital. Here is a short guide to its people, its biggest festival, the cocoa, timber and minerals it is known for, and the rainforest worth protecting.
Who are the Sefwi
One people, three paramountcies.
The Sefwi are the people of the Sefwi area in Western North. Their traditional authority is organised in three paramountcies: Wiawso, Bekwai and Anhwiaso. In 2019 the area became part of the new Western North Region, with Sefwi Wiawso as the regional capital.
Language
People share the Sefwi dialect, and most also speak Twi (Akan), so you will often hear both.
Paramountcy
Bekwai
Sefwi Bekwai shares the Alluolue festival with Sefwi Wiawso.
Paramountcy
Anhwiaso
The third of the Sefwi paramountcies.
The great festival
Alluolue, the Eluo yam festival.
The biggest celebration in the Sefwi calendar brings chiefs, families and visitors together for a durbar, drumming and dancing.
Part 1
The traditional councils set the date
There is no fixed calendar date. The timing is usually announced by the traditional councils. It is often reported around July, while some sources mention November or December.
Part 2
A festival of the yam
Alluolue, also called Eluo, is the yam festival of the chiefs and people of Sefwi Wiawso and Sefwi Bekwai.
Part 3
The durbar of chiefs
Chiefs and their people gather in traditional dress for a durbar, the public assembly at the heart of the celebration.
Part 4
Drumming
Drums carry the rhythm of the day and draw the crowd together.
Part 5
Dancing
Dancers join the drummers, and the durbar grounds fill with movement and colour.
Planning to attend? Dates change from year to year and are announced by the traditional councils. We post this year's dates in the news as soon as they are confirmed.
Check the news for datesLand of cocoa, timber and gold
The riches that built the region.
Western North is one of Ghana's leading cocoa regions, with a long timber trade and gold and bauxite mining. Pick a resource to learn more about it.
The region's golden pod
Cocoa
Western North is one of Ghana's leading cocoa regions. Cocoa farms are a mainstay of the economy around Sefwi Wiawso and the wider Sefwi area.
Clearing forest for new farms is one of the causes of forest loss here, so growing more on existing farmland helps protect what is left.
Places to visit
Rainforest, towns and festival grounds.
Bia National Park
A protected rainforest in Western North, and a living reminder of why the region's forest is worth caring for.
Sefwi Wiawso
The capital of Western North and seat of the Wiawso paramountcy. Find places to eat and stay in our listings.
Alluolue durbar
Celebrated by Sefwi Wiawso and Sefwi Bekwai. Watch the news for this year's dates.
Festival newsPhotos from the region
Culture, places and people of Western North.
Caring for the forest
The forest feeds the region. Let's keep it standing.
Forest in Western North is shrinking. Farming, logging and illegal mining are all known causes. The same land that grows cocoa and timber depends on healthy forest, rain and clean rivers.
Farming
New farms cleared from forest land.
Logging
Trees cut faster than they regrow.
Illegal mining
Pits and polluted rivers where forest stood.
What you can do
- Report illegal mining to the police or your local assembly.
- Buy timber and furniture from legal, licensed sources.
- Plant and protect trees on farms, in schools and around homes.
- Respect park rules when you visit protected forest like Bia.