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Kara (Togo)
Encyclopedia
Kara is a city
in northern Togo
, situated in Kara Region
, 413 km north of the capital Lomé
. Situated in the country of Togo, near the other western African countries of Ghana
, Burkina Faso
and Benin
. Kara is the capital of the region of the Kara and has a population of 109,287. The Haugeau River flows a little way south of the city and is their main resource of water. Originally known as Lama-Kara
, the city developed from the village
that still exists of this name into an administrative
and industrial
centre, including a large brewery
. Etienne Eyadéma
was born nearby.
Kara includes a busy market place, many luxury hotels, banks, the Congress which was the seat of the Rally of the Togolese People
Party before the advent of democracy. The city receives tourists, businessmen and political figures through the major Niamtougou International Airport
located a few kilometers from Kara.
Each year, a traditional wrestling tournament takes places that is the first step in the initiation rite of young Kabyè's development into adulthood.
A second national university was created in Kara in 2002.
Nanto, Yanivv and Faure are the three most prominent illegal settlements attached to the city. Kara does not condone their existence and would rather they became civilized members of the city's society. Unfortunately, the Togolese council of Kara has yet to find sufficient funds for the slum settlements to afford the basic amenities to create living spaces desirable for acceptance by the city.
Electricity - imports: 0.520 TWh;
electricity supplied by Ghana (2001)
These figures provided by Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo, the main contributor to the electricity network and grid in Togo. The settlements, the main burden to the economy and society of Kara, are draining the resources by feeding off the electricity by dangerous hook-ups into their own settlements. However electricity is not the only resource to be taken providing the citizens with inconvenience. The water from the Haugeau river (see above) is being used for drinking and washing in, providing an unsafe and unclean resource for the main population of the city upstream, the legitimate suffer at the hands of the surplus.
Education in Kara is compulsory for six years. In 1996, the gross primary enrollment rate was 119.6 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 81.3 percent. The education system has suffered from teacher shortages, lower educational quality in rural areas, and high repetition and dropout rates.
Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in Kara; the majority of the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Food and cash crop production employs the majority of the labor force and contributes about 42% to the gross domestic product (GDP). Coffee and cocoa are traditionally the major cash crops for export, but cotton cultivation increased rapidly in the 1990s, with 173,000 metric tons produced in 1999.
After a disastrous harvest in 2001 (113,000 metric tons), production rebounded to 168,000 metric tons in 2002. Despite insufficient rainfall in some areas, the Togolese Government has achieved its goal of self-sufficiency in food crops — maize, cassava, yams, sorghum, pearl millet, and groundnut. Small and medium-sized farms produce most of the food crop; the average farm size is one to three hectares.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in northern Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, situated in Kara Region
Kara Region
Kara is one of Togo's five regions. Kara is the regional capital.Other major cities in the Kara region include Bafilo, Bassar, and Niamtougou.Kara is divided into the prefectures of Assoli, Bassar, Bimah, Dankpen, Doufelgou, Kéran, and Kozah....
, 413 km north of the capital Lomé
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
. Situated in the country of Togo, near the other western African countries of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
and Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. Kara is the capital of the region of the Kara and has a population of 109,287. The Haugeau River flows a little way south of the city and is their main resource of water. Originally known as Lama-Kara
Lama-Kara
Lama-Kara or Lassa or Lassahout is a village in the Kara Region of north-eastern Togo. The village is located on the outskirts of Kara City, and the city grew up around this village which pre-dated the city.-External links:*...
, the city developed from the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
that still exists of this name into an administrative
Administrative centre
An administrative centre is a term often used in several countries to refer to a county town, or other seat of regional or local government, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located....
and industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
centre, including a large brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
. Etienne Eyadéma
Gnassingbé Eyadéma
General Gnassingbé Eyadéma , was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005. He participated in two successful military coups, in January 1963 and January 1967, and became President on April 14, 1967...
was born nearby.
Rally of the Togolese People
The Rally of the Togolese People is the ruling political party in Togo. The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, is also the National President of the RPT....
Party before the advent of democracy. The city receives tourists, businessmen and political figures through the major Niamtougou International Airport
Niamtougou International Airport
Niamtougou International Airport is an airport serving Niamtougou in Togo. It is an international airport and Togo's second largest....
located a few kilometers from Kara.
Each year, a traditional wrestling tournament takes places that is the first step in the initiation rite of young Kabyè's development into adulthood.
A second national university was created in Kara in 2002.
Nanto, Yanivv and Faure are the three most prominent illegal settlements attached to the city. Kara does not condone their existence and would rather they became civilized members of the city's society. Unfortunately, the Togolese council of Kara has yet to find sufficient funds for the slum settlements to afford the basic amenities to create living spaces desirable for acceptance by the city.
Electricity - imports: 0.520 TWh;
electricity supplied by Ghana (2001)
These figures provided by Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo, the main contributor to the electricity network and grid in Togo. The settlements, the main burden to the economy and society of Kara, are draining the resources by feeding off the electricity by dangerous hook-ups into their own settlements. However electricity is not the only resource to be taken providing the citizens with inconvenience. The water from the Haugeau river (see above) is being used for drinking and washing in, providing an unsafe and unclean resource for the main population of the city upstream, the legitimate suffer at the hands of the surplus.
Education in Kara is compulsory for six years. In 1996, the gross primary enrollment rate was 119.6 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 81.3 percent. The education system has suffered from teacher shortages, lower educational quality in rural areas, and high repetition and dropout rates.
Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in Kara; the majority of the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Food and cash crop production employs the majority of the labor force and contributes about 42% to the gross domestic product (GDP). Coffee and cocoa are traditionally the major cash crops for export, but cotton cultivation increased rapidly in the 1990s, with 173,000 metric tons produced in 1999.
After a disastrous harvest in 2001 (113,000 metric tons), production rebounded to 168,000 metric tons in 2002. Despite insufficient rainfall in some areas, the Togolese Government has achieved its goal of self-sufficiency in food crops — maize, cassava, yams, sorghum, pearl millet, and groundnut. Small and medium-sized farms produce most of the food crop; the average farm size is one to three hectares.