Wa, located in the Upper West Region of northern Ghana, is a town and the capital of Wa Municipal District. According to the 2012 settlement population census, the town had a population of 102,446 people. Notable features of the town include various religious institutions such as churches and mosques, the Wa-Na Palace, the St. Andrew's Catholic cathedral, a museum, and the University for Development Studies (UDS). Additionally, there is a hippopotamus sanctuary located in Wicheau, in the nearby Wa-West district. The town is also known for its distinctive geography, including the monadnock Ombo Mountain, visible from much of Wa town, and the mushroom rock in Jirapa and ants hill at Nanvielle. Naaha and Ga are other notable towns around the Wa region. Wa is an important transportation hub for the Upper West region, with major roads leading north to Hamile and northeast to Tumu and the Upper East Region. There is also a small airport, the Wa Airport.