Ho Diocese is located in the Volta Region of Ghana and constitutes ten Administrative Districts, namely: Ho, Kpando and Hohoe municipal areas. Others include, North Dayi, South Dayi, Adaklu, Agortime-Ziope, Ho-West, Afadjato-South Districts and parts of Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region. The Diocese lies within longitudes 12'E and 0 53'E; and latitudes 6 20'N. The Jasikan District lies in the North of the Ho Diocese while it is bordered in the East by the Republic of Togo. The Southern border is shared with Akatsi and North Tongu Districts while the Volta Lake forms the Western boundary. Ho Diocese covers a total land area of 5893 square kilometers. It is divided into twenty-nine Parishes. The vegetation of the diocese is a mix of guinea savannah woodland, forest and forest-savannah transitional zones. The savannah woodlands consist of tall grass with scattered trees including acacia, bamboo and baobabs.
Political:
Ghana has a democratically elected government after 40 years of political instability notably, from 1966 – 1992. The 1992 Constitution ties in Economic, Cultural, Educational, Women and Children's rights alongside the traditional civic, political and private property rights. Freedom of expression is in all spheres of life including religion and political participation and is enshrined in the Constitution. This is demonstrated by decentralized administrative and political structure. As a result, there are ten regions and about 260 Administrative Districts, which emphasize devolving power from the Centre to the lower levels. Establishment of National Council of Churches and National Catholic Secretariat cater for religious expression of Churches and ecclesial bodies, which structures are represented at regional and local levels. At community level, the Chiefs, together with the Town Development Committee and Unit committee headed by the Assemblyman, the needs of the community are effectively planned and executed.
Economic:
The socio-economic life of the people in the diocese is very poor. The total population (2010) of the Volta Region is 2,118,252 while that of the Ho Diocese (which extends to 10 districts) is about 789,664 which is about 37% of the total population of the Volta Region. The population of Catholics in the Ho Diocese is about 450,000. Agriculture is the main stay of the economy and more than 70% of the total population is heavily engaged in it, with a few number of people engaged in fishing and livestock rearing. The major access to land is inheritance, although renting, leasing and share cropping also require land. Farm size is usually small just enough to cater for domestic use. Crops cultivated include maize, rice, cassava, cocoyam, yam, plantain, tomatoes, pepper, okro, garden eggs, cocoa and oil palm. Women constitute about 57% of population in the Volta Region and many of them are engaged in petty trading and artisanal businesses such as tailoring, baking, kente weaving including buying and selling. Women form 52%, children constitute about 45% of the total Catholic population. The teeming Youth (0 – 59 years) constitutes about 44.8% while about 10% comprises adults aged over 60 years.
