Sunyani is a city and the capital town of the Bono Region and the Sunyani Municipal of Ghana. Sunyani had a population of 74,240 at the 2010 population and housing census. The city consists mainly of the Bonos by tribe.
History
Sunyani is surrounded by the forested Southern Ashanti uplands. The city of Sunyani rose as an outpost camp for elephant hunters during the 19th century; its name derives from the Akan word for elephant, 'Osono'. In 1924, the colonial government designated Sunyani as a district headquarters. Following the construction of a road connecting Sunyani and the city of Kumasi, Sunyani became an important hub for the distribution of cocoa, kola nuts, and staple foods such as maize and yams. Today Sunyani is home to the Brong-Ahafo regional government and high court. Although considerably smaller than Kumasi, Sunyani is growing rapidly and has effectively engulfed the suburbs of Fiapre and Abesim, amongst others. Sunyani is a clean and well maintained city with a thriving economy.
Economy
The economy of Sunyani is predominantly agrarian with approximately 48% of the population engaged in agriculture production. About 24 percent of the population is employed in the service sector, followed by commerce and industry which employ 15% and 13% of the populace, respectively. Many women and unskilled people are engaged in commerce notably in the Wednesday Market. The city's growth is boosted by Sunyani's high-quality water supply. Sunyani is provided with electricity by the Volta River Authority. Water sources include rain water and water from streams, rivers and springs. However, in severe harmattan conditions, water can become more difficult to access.
Industries
Sunyani is currently the home of African Global Pharma Limited, the only pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Sunyani and the Northern Sector of Ghana. The company is an affiliated company of AGP Canada Inc with corporate office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and produces generic drugs. The multi-national mining company – Newmont's Gold presence in nearby Kenyase has boosted the city's economy and growth by all dimensions.
The city of Sunyani is outfitted with modern communication facilities which include fixed telephone and fax lines, pay phones, mobile phones, internet and e-mail services. Additionally; postal services are available in the form of post office, as well as expedited mail services provided by EMS, DHL and FedEx.
Tourism
Tourism in Sunyani is based on the natural environment surrounding the city. There are a number of three 3-star hotels, over fifteen modern hotels and rated hostels, and a number of guest houses and restaurants that are also found in the city. Among the city's attractions is the Cocoa House, a high rise that dominates the Sunyani skyline. The building houses the headquarters of several Bono regional companies, and numerous boutiques. Other buildings of interest in Sunyani include Christ the King Cathedral, and Queen of Peace Building, Knight of St. John House. In addition, the Kintampo waterfalls and the Boabeng monkey sanctuary in Fiema, are a short distance outside the city.
Climate
Health
The city of Sunyani has three hospitals, one of which is Sunyani Regional Hospital,which is a state-of-the-art development, opened in 2003. Eight clinics and three maternity homes also operate in Sunyani. There are a lot of clinics also to be found.
