ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES IN PRU DISTRICT OF GHANA USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING

There has been an increase in the population of Pru District in Ghana as a result of its renowned market and agricultural activities. It has therefore seen a sharp conversion of its forest and agricultural farmlands into other developmental activities purposely to meet its population and economic expansion, and could worsen with its quest of meeting infrastructure and economic activities of its newly created district. Therefore, there is the need to find a modern approach to assess the land use and land cover changes in Pru District of Ghana. GIS technique and Remote Sensing data were therefore combined to determine the land use and land cover changes. Landsat TM and ETM+ images of 1990 and 2006 of the study area were used to determine the land cover and land use changes. The study reveals that, between 1990 and 2006, the vegetative cover decreased by 17.25%, built up / bare surfaces increased by 18.50% and water bodies decreased by 1.25%. Within the 16 year change detection period there has been an annual conversion rate of 6.25% from vegetation to built – up / bare surface area, a rate quite alarming with the emergence of global climate change issues. The results suggest that, there has been an enormous expansion in infrastructure and economic developments in the area, having consequent effects on the land cover and land use systems. The results thus provide very useful information to local government for decision making and policy planning.