UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Course Outline: GPY 233- REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY OF WEST AFRICA
LEVEL: 200
3 CREDIT HOURS
Introduction
West Africa has a fascinating geography. Not only is its physical setting unique and
exciting, the region also has a rich and varied cultural context that represents both unity
and diversity.
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to expose students to the exciting geography of West Africa
as a geographical region.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS
1. The concept of region- definition, types and attributes of region
2. Physical Geography of West Africa
a) Mapping West Africa- location, size , member-countries
b) Relief & drainage
c) Climate & climate change: vegetation
d) Natural resource endowments- minerals, water, flora & fauna
3. Human Geography of West Africa
a) Population, urbanisation and migration in West Africa
 Population: size, composition, density, spatial distribution, fertility,
mortality and growth, gender & children issues
 Urbanisation: rural-urban contrasts, levels, causes and effects of
urbanization
 Migration: internal and international migration: sources, causes and
effects
b) Transport in West Africa
 Road, rail, water and air transport
c) The Economic context of West Africa
 Agriculture
 Industrialization
d) Environmental issues in West Africa
 Deforestation & desertification
 Land degradation
 Urbanization
 Sanitation, health and disease ecology
READINGS
Senior M. and Okunrotifa, P.O. 1983. A Regional Geography of Africa. Longman. Essex
Stock, R, 2004. Africa South of the Sahara: A Geographical Interpretation. 2nd Edition.
The Guilford Press. New York. London.
Aryeetey-Atto, S. 2003. Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa. 2nd .Edition. Prentice Hall.
New Jersey.
Golliber. T. J. 1985. Population Pressures on Development. Population Reference Bureau
Inc. Volume 40. No. 1 February 1985
Amoako. K. Y 2000. Perspectives on Africa Development. UNECA New York
Geldof, B. 2005. Our Common Interest. Commission for Africa
Bowden, R. 2008. Regions of the World. Africa South of the Sahara. Heinemann Library.
Oxford
Senior, M. 1988. A Geography of West Africa. Longmann. Essex.