THE LOVE AFFAIR BETWEEN DAGBON AND GONJA: A RELATIONSHIP BUILT TO LAST.
By Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese
(0244198031)
Oral history they say is largely subjective, but in it are a few extracts of objective recount of practical events in the past which give labels to nations, Kingdoms, people etc. The histories of Gonja and Dagbon as are told and handed over to generations are with some enviable similarities (culture, tradition etc). And over the period (spanning hundreds of years and beyond), Dagombas and Gonjas have lived a life with one enviable face as people of Northern Descent.
Northern Region has four great Kingdoms (Dagbon, Gonja, Nanum and Mamprugu). Among these, Dagbon has a greater share in terms of population and in many other areas. These Kingdoms have lived over all these years, share land boundaries, cultures, intermarriages etc. The Kings and their people respected and still respect each other. I won’t be far from right if I say Dagbon and Gonja Kingdoms have closed land boundaries than Dagbon and the other two Kingdoms. From the East, Dagbon shares boundaries with Gonja in East Gonja (Kpembe Traditional Area). In the South, Dagbon shares boundaries with Kusawgu traditional area in the Central Gonja District. And in the North, Gonja (Wasipe) shares boundaries with Dagbon in the North Gonja District. This creates a platform for us to share most social amenities (markets, schools, roads, health facilities etc).
Aside Traditional and Cultural Relationships, it is on record that popular and influential figures in both Kingdoms have intermarried and their offerings are now coded blood (Dagbon-Gonja mix). Alhaji Mustapha Ali, one of the finest Dagbon politician married to a Gonja Woman. Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, one of the respected sons of Dagbon has a Gonja as a wife. Our own Hon Gilbert Iddi couldn’t stand the beauty of Dagomba ladies when he moved to Tamale, so he got married to one of the finest and respected Dagomba woman. Our own Hon Mutala Ibrahim is an offspring of Dagomba-Gonja intermarriage. In fact, he was partly raised by his maternal grandfather from Daboya. This relationships crossed borders from traditional to culture, to religion, to social and politics.
It is a known fact that some of our finest Islamic clerics from Gonjaland especially from Damongo were taught and nurtured by Dagomba Islamic Clerics. Sheikh Afajura of blessed memory taught and nurtured respected Islamic Clerics like Alhaji Ustaz Kassim and Alhaji Ustaz Abubakr Gozabri both from Damongo. Many other young men and women from Gonjaland are still under the tutorship of offerings of Sheikh Afajura even today. This is Dagbon and Gonja relationship.
In the political and commerce fronts, just as how Gonjaland Politicians and businessmen over the years have groomed and gave opportunities to Dagombas, same way Dagombas have groomed and given such opportunities to Gonjas. In the heat of the debate about family and friends government under Former President John Dramani Mahama, his opponents and critics never discriminated between appointees from Gonjaland and that of Dagbon. In fact, in most cases, the first names they start to mention are the Hon Inusah Fuseini’s, the Hon Haruna Iddrisu’s even before they would remember the likes of Mohammed Muniru Limuna (a Gonja). Under HE John Mahama, Dagombas represented Northern Region in his cabinet if we do the computation well. This was a time when Gonjaland had given the NDC and HE John Mahama all the 7 seats, but non of the MPs was even appointed by President John Mahama as a Deputy Minister. But we had Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu (MP) as a cabinet minister, Lawyer Inusah (MP) as a Cabinet Minister, Hon ABA Fuseini as a Deputy Minister, Hon Murtala Mohammed (MP) as a Deputy Minister, Hon Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan (MP) as a Deputy Minister. In all these, Northern Region, Gonjaland and Dagbon were proud of these sons serving in HE John Mahama’s government. Not the Gonjaland Youth Association, Not Gonja Traditional Council, not the Gonjaland NDC Youth Caucus and not even the Gonjaland MPs Caucus had cause to raise a voice against HE John Mahama for not appointing their MPs and rather appointing their Dagomba counterparts. This is the extent of the cordial relationship that exist between Gonjas and Dagombas. A lot of Gonjaland Politicians got groomed under HE Aliu Mahama as a VEEP. It would forever remain in the Political history of Ghana that HE Alaji Aliu Mahama (A Dagomba) rose to the political apex of Ghana before HE John Dramani Mahama (A Gonja) rose to become a VEEP and a President ultimately. There is no competition in this, after all, when the clouds of stereotypes are falling on Northerners, nobody (outside of Northern Ghana) has the luxury of time to find out who a Dagomba or a Gonja is. Some of us who have schooled in the South had the fare share of the stereotype on the happenings in Bawku, in Dagbon, Bimbilla, Chereponi, recently in Bole etc. We are always put in one basket and attacked as one people (Northerners) when there are few chieftaincy and land disputes. So why must we also discriminate amongst ourselves?
Today, HE John Mahama is who he is because he was partly raised in Dagbon. His father took that decision of bringing him down from the South to school in Tamale(Ghanasco) for a reason. His brother Ibrahim Mahama schooled in Tamasco which is why today, he’s building an ultramodern hall complex for Tamasco as his pay back. I am aware that one of the main spokespersons of Ibrahim Mahama (Rafik) is a Dagomba. I am also aware that one of the closest aides to Hon Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu (Hamid) is a royal from Kpembe. I am equally aware that Alhassan Andani (A Dagomba Banker) has nurtured many Gonjas and gave them life. It is an undeniable fact the current Secretary to the Urban Roads Boss (Dagomba) is a Gonja. And the list goes on. So you see the longstanding connection?
Although Tamale is increasingly becoming a complex cosmopolitan area, it is no doubt that Dagombas hold the larger share, own and control it. As a regional capital which has been administered by many a son from Gonjaland dating as far back as the era of Nkrumah (E.A Mahama, Hon Gilbert Iddi, Hon Issah Ketekewu, Hon Boniface Abubakari, Hon Limuna Muniru), had the needed cooperation from our Dagomba brothers during their respective tenures. Chief Sofo Azorka is treated like a chief in Tamale and in Dagbon, but a few people know him as a Gonja. In fact, he speaks Dagbani fluently than Gonja. This is how much we (Dagombas and Gonjas) have been flirting with each other.
It is on record that, the first petition which was jointly submitted to the government of Ghana in 2009 for the partitioning of Northern Region into three or two was led by Prof Naa Nabila (Wulugu Naba). He was by then the President of the National House of Chiefs, although their joint petition referenced a sole petition submitted by the Overlord of Gonjaland in March 2003, His Royal Majesty, Yagbonwura Bawa Abudu Doshie. Part of the delegation that went to meet HE John Mahama, then VEEP in 2009 were Chiefs and opinion leaders from Dagbon to represent their respective skins and the Northern Regional House of Chiefs. So the recent petitions which saw to the ultimate creation of Savannah Region and North-East Region took their spirit and content from these petitions in the past. So let nobody think that, Gonjaland did it all by themselves or Mamprugu went all out to achieve it all alone. In fact, some Dagombas participated in the just ended referendum in Gonjaland. In the Damongo Constituency, most communities (Sumpini, Kojokura, Kedendelmpa) are dominated by Dagombas and they gladly participated to ensure the creation of Savannah Region. Same as part of Central Gonja (Jabalpe, Sankpala etc) and North Gonja Districts (Sisina, Tidrope, Kagbal etc).
Will you be surprise to learn that the current King of Gonjaland who also doubles as the President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, His Majesty, Yagbonwura Jakpa Sulemana Boresa I, spent most of his youthful life in Dagbon? As a young, handsome man, he was trained an artisan in Dagbon and he raised most of his children in Dagbon. That is how much we are connected with each other.
The overwhelming support President John Dramani Mahama have enjoyed and still enjoys from Dagbon can’t be quantified. So any attempt to sow a seed of discord between HE John Mahama and Dagombas cannot gather any mass. We are together in good and in bad times.
In the current circumstances, I personally share the pain and the confusion of most of my Dagomba brothers. Ethnocentrism leaves more than necessary scars for generations to suffer their potential bleeding. When Dagbon had the chieftaincy misunderstandings in 2002, Gonjalanders didn’t go to sleep and/or fold their arms. In fact, most Gonjalanders were affected and are still suffering from that unfortunate incident that befell Dagbon in 2002.
It is worthy to note that amongst the Eminent Chiefs who finally crafted the roadmap for peace in Dagbon was the overlord of Gonjaland. Two successive overlords from Gonjaland served in that committee (Yagbonwura Doshie and the current Yagbonwura Jakpa Boresa Tuntumba). We all watched and applauded the rich but enviable culture of Dagbon especially when the chief warrior (Kumbugu Naa) moved his battalions and bees to Yendi. He showcased the rich and unique culture and tradition of Dagbon and that gave Northern Ghana a positive face. Today, we have our Yaa Naa and we all rejoice and support Dagbon to rise once again. Dagbon and Gonja have never been in competition politically, traditionally etc and the two Kingdoms would remain united and grow together.
On the face of the recent happenings which has left many social media friends from Dagbon to take up the matter is understandable. You can’t kill a snake and deny it the space to roll and turn. It is my prayer that our brothers and friends from Dagbon would see the brotherhood displayed in a swift DISCLAIMER issued by the mouthpiece of Gonjaland as far as the youth of the land are concerned (Gonjaland Youth Association). The Gentleman in question has not only pulled down the post but has since apologized for his post on social media in addition to his denial of portions of the post which were edited (according to him). This has also caused his resignation as the PRO of Gonjaland Youth Association. He has shown enough remorse and would continue to show same as far as this issue is under contention. The entire land is pained by the development thereafter and it is only fair that we apologize to Dagbon. This is a sensitive matter that needs to be condemned with alacrity and we all as stakeholders of Gonjaland have done so individually and collectively on several platforms.
It is our prayer that this would not lead to any explosions and create needless tensions. We all need peace to develop Northern Ghana as a people. Dagbon and Gonja shall forever rise together.
Shalom!!!
Wednesday 23 January 2019
Sunday 13 January 2019
RE: DAMONGO IS UNFIT TO HOST THE SAVANNAH REGIONAL CAPITAL
RE: DAMONGO UNFIT TO HOST THE SAVANNAH REGIONAL CAPITAL.
By Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese
0244198031
email: skseidu_14@yahoo.com
Let me begin by apologizing to the Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Sulemana Jakpa Boresa I, His Royal Highness, Jira Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II (the Vice President of the Gonjaland Traditional Council), the Kpembewura and all the chiefs and revered Traditional leaders of Gonjaland who were present at the maiden Savannah Region stakeholders meeting held in Damongo on the 12th of January 2019 at the instance of the Overlord himself. I am apologizing because we were restraint from barking like others. And as they say, when two dogs are fighting over a bone, the one that has the bone in it’s mouth doesn’t bark. But in our case now, the other “dog” is not only barking because it doesn’t have the bone in the mouth but it’s also biting.
So I am taking this risk to respond to the many needless articles and press conferences put together by many a son from Kpembe which on the face value reads as though they were just ordinary opinions expressed by some exuberant youth but with a third eye, one can see a clear scheme with heavy hands beneath and pulling the political strings to heed their “selfish” calls.
The Overlord on the 12th of January, 2019 made a declaration as the chief petitioner and the landlord of Gonjaland to the effect that Damongo was the proposed regional capital of the yet to be constituted Savannah Region. His declaration was applauded by all sons and daughters present at the occasion with the Kpembewura himself clapping to remotely endorse the decision. We all know the Yagbonwura could not make such a declaration without consultations across Gonjaland. The Overlord’s declaration was never in isolation since available records prove that Dr Braimah Clifford, the MD for Ghana Water Company Limited and a son from Kpembe(East Gonja) led the crusade for Damongo to be made the regional capital when the Technical Committee visited Damongo for the hearing. He substantially made the case and stated reasons backed by facts as to why Damongo should be made the regional capital as contained in the petition submitted by the Yagbonwura.
Just some few hours after the exit of the Overlord at the program to make way for Jira Buipewura to coordinate the second session, the Laison Officer, Mr Iddi who is supposed to serve as a strategic arbiter in times like this made some unfortunate remarks seeking to show down the traditional authority of the petitioner (Yagbonwura) in his declaration. Mr Iddi subtly told the Yagbonwura that he doesn’t have any such authority over all of us and that the decision to choose a regional capital was a political exercise than a traditional declaration. He went further to state that Damongo is caught up in the chieftaincy disputes in Gonjaland and on that leg, it should be disqualified. As unfortunate as his comments were which showed a high level of insubordination to the Overlord, they seem to be taken shape back home in East Gonja where he comes from.
Need I remind Mr Iddi and some of the people of Kpembe that the chieftaincy disputes in Damongo or Bole are not the sole responsibility of the people of Damongo or Bole but that of Gonjaland including Kpembe. Ndewura Jakpa in his struggles never discriminated amongst his people. He taught them to be collectively responsible to anything that befalls them. That is why when the 1992-94 war erupted in Kpembe Traditional Area the people of Damongo didn’t fold their arms and look on for Kpembe alone to battle it out. In fact, the scars and memories of this war still live with the people of Gonjaland including Damongo. Brave warriors and chiefs from Damongo fell and families were rendered impotent as a result. Mbonwura Jimah who was known across Gonjaland fell in this war when he led the Damongo warriors to that war. Canteenwura, Issah Chairman, Abulai Mapurdoh all fell along with the lead warrior in this battle. These are painful accounts which still cause tears to flow anytime they come up. At the time, it was as if the War was in Damongo. Today, the same land we fought for and lost great warriors and chiefs has been silently lost (not captured under Savannah Region). The entire Gonjaland had to swallow a very flimsy explanation from the people of Kpembe as to why we lost Kpandai. It is said in the Gonja parlance that “when the eyes mourn the nose doesn’t cast glances and smiles but joins in the mourning”. We are equally losing lands on the Salaga North stretch which shares boundary with Tamale south Constituency. That is part of East Gonja...or?
Why is Kpembe quiet on the economic lands and activities it’s losing along the Abrumase area? Shouldn’t that engage their energies? What happened when ballot boxes were sent to those areas during the referendum? Are we sweeping all those under the carpet!
Yes, I admit that Damongo has chieftaincy dispute so as Bole and other areas. Is that enough a justification for this unfortunate but selfish move by some people in East Gonja? Maybe I should remind the writers and their patrons that Kafaba was almost in ashes. There were shootouts in Kafaba which led to the death of sons and daughters of the land. Is Kafaba not part of East Gonja Municipal? Or they are telling us that aside the Municipal Capital in Salaga all the surrounding communities which still fall under the watch of East Gonja DISEC can go to war and kill themselves? When you throw a stone while standing by a glass house, you need to exercise extreme caution.
Interestingly, the writers and their unseen patrons do selective analysis of issues. If chieftaincy disputes were a key factor in this exercise then the capital of Ghana should be moved to Kumasi or Volta instead of Accra. Since the demise of Boni Nii Amugi in 2004, the position of Ga Mantse has been in dispute with competing claimants to the stool. Just in 2018, three people emerged to claim the Ga Mantse title. Meanwhile there are four royal gates which ascend the Ga Mantse (Teiko Tsuru We, Amugi We, Abola Piam We and Tackie Kommey We). All of these gates except Tackie Kommey have been battling to ascend the throne since the late Boni Nii passed. We have experienced couple of reprisal attacks from these gates. In fact, these issues are still in courts and not seeing an end soon per the available information.
Today’s Tamale was a city which was well planned and executed. Tamale wasn’t a big time city with all the available social amenities before the Capital was moved from Gambaga in the then Northern Territories to Tamale. If you read a paper titled: The History of Tamale, 1907-1957 and Beyond... by one Wyatt MacGaffey and subsequently published by Historical Society of Ghana, you would realize that several separate villages including Choggu, Changli, Nashegu, Bulpiela etc were pieced together in a well designed city planned by the Urban Council chaired by one Ebenezer Adam. At the time (1954), the place we now call the city of Tamale was filled with Centuries-old Swish round buildings with thatch roofs. In fact, one of the major challenges of the then Urban Council in putting together this modern day Tamale plan was the title to land (check the history of Dapkema and the Tindanas of Dagbon). With all these, how then would anybody think that Damongo should have it all before it can host the capital? Non of the above had/has it all even as we grow as a country.
Mr Laison Officer, you lost it that day and your remarks are a betrayal of trust as enshrined in your terms of engagement as a Laison Officer. Or you feel it’s a political position so as usual the partisan persuasions will make the way other than logic? Are you not supposed to be responsible in the coordination of multiple opinions, incidents and any such issues that will see the realization of the dreams of the people of Gonjaland and the government in the Savannah Region? You rather chose your hometown (Kpembe) over the interest of Gonjaland in this?
Now to the most unfortunate but weird arguments advance by some of the people of East Gonja including the patrons and the clients; They claim that Damongo doesn’t have enough or if you like better road network. Quiet weird of an arguments. Which road leads one to the capital of East Gonja from Tamale (the major stretch). That main road is more of a death trap. In fact, the number of accidents recorded on that road only the short period within the rainy season in 2018 are countless. In short, there is no tarred road leading one to the capital of East Gonja. But the 147.5Km road from Fufulso through Damongo to Sawla links two regions (NR and UWR). The road came with ancillary facilities (clinics, schools water facilities etc). The road network within the Damongo township is superb as compared to Salaga. In Salaga apart of the Y-link which welcomes you to the town and leads you to Kpembe and one joining to the West, which other road is a link road if not man-made paths forced and created by motorists?
Another flawed argument is that of numerical strength in terms of physical schools without considering the quality (output) of these schools. The writer(s) sought to imply that because the report from the Justice Brobbey Committee captured education as one of the factors to be considered in siting regional capital, it was so limited to physical schools or who has the numerical strength. Well, let me state, that in terms of secondary education, Damongo has three SHS (Damongo Senior High, Ndewura Jakpa SHS, St Anne’s Girls SHS). An Islamic Senior High School is earmarked for Laribanga (my hometown). In terms of tertiary (post secondary) institutions, aside the Kpembe Nursing and Midwifery College, which one can Salaga boast of again? Well, Damongo has Nurses Training College, Agric College and a site for UDS satellite campus which has been earmarked to be develop in the very near future.
Did I read about a District Magistrate? Well, when one is drowning, even a yellow floating leaf can be a rescuer. Well, some issues are left to hang on their own faith.
On the issue of roads linking to other Districts/Regions, aside the fact that Damongo is in the Centre and houses the King of Gonjaland, it’s West links one easily to Bole and Sawla, the North links you to Wasipe (North Gonja) through Murugu and Busunu-Tachali (road under construction). The Southern part of Damongo links you to Central Gonja through Sor No. 3 and Leeto. The East as well connects you to Central Gonja District along the Busunu-Fufulso stretch of the road. So Damongo can easily connect you to 4 other Gonjaland Districts from one turning point. Tell me which of the Districts can connect to East Gonja through any other route apart from the poor road from Tamale to Salaga?
Interestingly, they are not talking about an existing hospital with immediate facilities to be raised to the standard of a Regional Hospital and some existing infrastructure to house the region for the time being. when. The West Gonja District Hospital still holds its enviable record as one of the referral hospitals in Northern Region aside Tamale Teaching Hospital. Just a reminder though!
So are the people or Kpembe telling us that at anytime any Kpembewura ascends Yagbon, he will not be privileged to attend any regional house of chiefs meeting in Kpembe assuming it were considered as the regional capital? Maybe they are losing sight of the customs and traditions of Gonja.
The most annoying argument is that it’s only Salaga which has an NPP MP...and so what? Maybe they should be reminded that President Nana Addo didn’t win in Salaga South, JM did. And since when has these political twists and turns set in? Siting Kpembewura as an appointee of Nana Addo as a case? How about Buipewura Jinapor? I am imagining whether the people of Kpembe led by their patrons would have shown this level of insubordination to the Yagbonwura if it were Yagbonwura Bawa Doshie.
Salaga is a municipal. Yes it is, and what about that? Was Tamale a municipality when it was made the capital? Was Wa a municipality when it was made the capital? Come on!
Shouldn’t we as Gonjalanders be celebrating because we have the largest part of Mole National Park sitting right on our land? The writer doesn’t even know that the Park spreads to Four different Distritcs and two regions; West Gonja, North Gonja, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba and Wa East in the Upper West Region. And the issue about expansion towards the Game reserve and how limited that would be in future, maybe the writer ought to know that Accra is now connected to the Eastern Region in the West (Nsawam), in the North-West at Aburi and connected to Central Region at Kasoa. In fact, Kasoa is now a suburb of Accra but a constituency in the Central Region. Are we looking at Savannah Region in the next 5 years or beyond decades and centuries?
Let me end this by calling on the Kpembewura who I respect so much to call his people to order. Kpembewura and the big political heads who are being accused of pulling these strings from the backdoor must act before the entire Gonjaland start to demand from them the whereabouts of Kpandai. People are still pained by the lost of Kpandai and that must be stated without fear. We can do better than the current ridiculous maneuverings aimed at destroying the image Gonjaland has built over the years and especially during this period when we went seeking for a region.
I write this as resident of Damongo, a native of Laribanga and not as a Kamara.
Let the voice of the King Suffice.
By Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese
0244198031
email: skseidu_14@yahoo.com
Let me begin by apologizing to the Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Sulemana Jakpa Boresa I, His Royal Highness, Jira Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II (the Vice President of the Gonjaland Traditional Council), the Kpembewura and all the chiefs and revered Traditional leaders of Gonjaland who were present at the maiden Savannah Region stakeholders meeting held in Damongo on the 12th of January 2019 at the instance of the Overlord himself. I am apologizing because we were restraint from barking like others. And as they say, when two dogs are fighting over a bone, the one that has the bone in it’s mouth doesn’t bark. But in our case now, the other “dog” is not only barking because it doesn’t have the bone in the mouth but it’s also biting.
So I am taking this risk to respond to the many needless articles and press conferences put together by many a son from Kpembe which on the face value reads as though they were just ordinary opinions expressed by some exuberant youth but with a third eye, one can see a clear scheme with heavy hands beneath and pulling the political strings to heed their “selfish” calls.
The Overlord on the 12th of January, 2019 made a declaration as the chief petitioner and the landlord of Gonjaland to the effect that Damongo was the proposed regional capital of the yet to be constituted Savannah Region. His declaration was applauded by all sons and daughters present at the occasion with the Kpembewura himself clapping to remotely endorse the decision. We all know the Yagbonwura could not make such a declaration without consultations across Gonjaland. The Overlord’s declaration was never in isolation since available records prove that Dr Braimah Clifford, the MD for Ghana Water Company Limited and a son from Kpembe(East Gonja) led the crusade for Damongo to be made the regional capital when the Technical Committee visited Damongo for the hearing. He substantially made the case and stated reasons backed by facts as to why Damongo should be made the regional capital as contained in the petition submitted by the Yagbonwura.
Just some few hours after the exit of the Overlord at the program to make way for Jira Buipewura to coordinate the second session, the Laison Officer, Mr Iddi who is supposed to serve as a strategic arbiter in times like this made some unfortunate remarks seeking to show down the traditional authority of the petitioner (Yagbonwura) in his declaration. Mr Iddi subtly told the Yagbonwura that he doesn’t have any such authority over all of us and that the decision to choose a regional capital was a political exercise than a traditional declaration. He went further to state that Damongo is caught up in the chieftaincy disputes in Gonjaland and on that leg, it should be disqualified. As unfortunate as his comments were which showed a high level of insubordination to the Overlord, they seem to be taken shape back home in East Gonja where he comes from.
Need I remind Mr Iddi and some of the people of Kpembe that the chieftaincy disputes in Damongo or Bole are not the sole responsibility of the people of Damongo or Bole but that of Gonjaland including Kpembe. Ndewura Jakpa in his struggles never discriminated amongst his people. He taught them to be collectively responsible to anything that befalls them. That is why when the 1992-94 war erupted in Kpembe Traditional Area the people of Damongo didn’t fold their arms and look on for Kpembe alone to battle it out. In fact, the scars and memories of this war still live with the people of Gonjaland including Damongo. Brave warriors and chiefs from Damongo fell and families were rendered impotent as a result. Mbonwura Jimah who was known across Gonjaland fell in this war when he led the Damongo warriors to that war. Canteenwura, Issah Chairman, Abulai Mapurdoh all fell along with the lead warrior in this battle. These are painful accounts which still cause tears to flow anytime they come up. At the time, it was as if the War was in Damongo. Today, the same land we fought for and lost great warriors and chiefs has been silently lost (not captured under Savannah Region). The entire Gonjaland had to swallow a very flimsy explanation from the people of Kpembe as to why we lost Kpandai. It is said in the Gonja parlance that “when the eyes mourn the nose doesn’t cast glances and smiles but joins in the mourning”. We are equally losing lands on the Salaga North stretch which shares boundary with Tamale south Constituency. That is part of East Gonja...or?
Why is Kpembe quiet on the economic lands and activities it’s losing along the Abrumase area? Shouldn’t that engage their energies? What happened when ballot boxes were sent to those areas during the referendum? Are we sweeping all those under the carpet!
Yes, I admit that Damongo has chieftaincy dispute so as Bole and other areas. Is that enough a justification for this unfortunate but selfish move by some people in East Gonja? Maybe I should remind the writers and their patrons that Kafaba was almost in ashes. There were shootouts in Kafaba which led to the death of sons and daughters of the land. Is Kafaba not part of East Gonja Municipal? Or they are telling us that aside the Municipal Capital in Salaga all the surrounding communities which still fall under the watch of East Gonja DISEC can go to war and kill themselves? When you throw a stone while standing by a glass house, you need to exercise extreme caution.
Interestingly, the writers and their unseen patrons do selective analysis of issues. If chieftaincy disputes were a key factor in this exercise then the capital of Ghana should be moved to Kumasi or Volta instead of Accra. Since the demise of Boni Nii Amugi in 2004, the position of Ga Mantse has been in dispute with competing claimants to the stool. Just in 2018, three people emerged to claim the Ga Mantse title. Meanwhile there are four royal gates which ascend the Ga Mantse (Teiko Tsuru We, Amugi We, Abola Piam We and Tackie Kommey We). All of these gates except Tackie Kommey have been battling to ascend the throne since the late Boni Nii passed. We have experienced couple of reprisal attacks from these gates. In fact, these issues are still in courts and not seeing an end soon per the available information.
Today’s Tamale was a city which was well planned and executed. Tamale wasn’t a big time city with all the available social amenities before the Capital was moved from Gambaga in the then Northern Territories to Tamale. If you read a paper titled: The History of Tamale, 1907-1957 and Beyond... by one Wyatt MacGaffey and subsequently published by Historical Society of Ghana, you would realize that several separate villages including Choggu, Changli, Nashegu, Bulpiela etc were pieced together in a well designed city planned by the Urban Council chaired by one Ebenezer Adam. At the time (1954), the place we now call the city of Tamale was filled with Centuries-old Swish round buildings with thatch roofs. In fact, one of the major challenges of the then Urban Council in putting together this modern day Tamale plan was the title to land (check the history of Dapkema and the Tindanas of Dagbon). With all these, how then would anybody think that Damongo should have it all before it can host the capital? Non of the above had/has it all even as we grow as a country.
Mr Laison Officer, you lost it that day and your remarks are a betrayal of trust as enshrined in your terms of engagement as a Laison Officer. Or you feel it’s a political position so as usual the partisan persuasions will make the way other than logic? Are you not supposed to be responsible in the coordination of multiple opinions, incidents and any such issues that will see the realization of the dreams of the people of Gonjaland and the government in the Savannah Region? You rather chose your hometown (Kpembe) over the interest of Gonjaland in this?
Now to the most unfortunate but weird arguments advance by some of the people of East Gonja including the patrons and the clients; They claim that Damongo doesn’t have enough or if you like better road network. Quiet weird of an arguments. Which road leads one to the capital of East Gonja from Tamale (the major stretch). That main road is more of a death trap. In fact, the number of accidents recorded on that road only the short period within the rainy season in 2018 are countless. In short, there is no tarred road leading one to the capital of East Gonja. But the 147.5Km road from Fufulso through Damongo to Sawla links two regions (NR and UWR). The road came with ancillary facilities (clinics, schools water facilities etc). The road network within the Damongo township is superb as compared to Salaga. In Salaga apart of the Y-link which welcomes you to the town and leads you to Kpembe and one joining to the West, which other road is a link road if not man-made paths forced and created by motorists?
Another flawed argument is that of numerical strength in terms of physical schools without considering the quality (output) of these schools. The writer(s) sought to imply that because the report from the Justice Brobbey Committee captured education as one of the factors to be considered in siting regional capital, it was so limited to physical schools or who has the numerical strength. Well, let me state, that in terms of secondary education, Damongo has three SHS (Damongo Senior High, Ndewura Jakpa SHS, St Anne’s Girls SHS). An Islamic Senior High School is earmarked for Laribanga (my hometown). In terms of tertiary (post secondary) institutions, aside the Kpembe Nursing and Midwifery College, which one can Salaga boast of again? Well, Damongo has Nurses Training College, Agric College and a site for UDS satellite campus which has been earmarked to be develop in the very near future.
Did I read about a District Magistrate? Well, when one is drowning, even a yellow floating leaf can be a rescuer. Well, some issues are left to hang on their own faith.
On the issue of roads linking to other Districts/Regions, aside the fact that Damongo is in the Centre and houses the King of Gonjaland, it’s West links one easily to Bole and Sawla, the North links you to Wasipe (North Gonja) through Murugu and Busunu-Tachali (road under construction). The Southern part of Damongo links you to Central Gonja through Sor No. 3 and Leeto. The East as well connects you to Central Gonja District along the Busunu-Fufulso stretch of the road. So Damongo can easily connect you to 4 other Gonjaland Districts from one turning point. Tell me which of the Districts can connect to East Gonja through any other route apart from the poor road from Tamale to Salaga?
Interestingly, they are not talking about an existing hospital with immediate facilities to be raised to the standard of a Regional Hospital and some existing infrastructure to house the region for the time being. when. The West Gonja District Hospital still holds its enviable record as one of the referral hospitals in Northern Region aside Tamale Teaching Hospital. Just a reminder though!
So are the people or Kpembe telling us that at anytime any Kpembewura ascends Yagbon, he will not be privileged to attend any regional house of chiefs meeting in Kpembe assuming it were considered as the regional capital? Maybe they are losing sight of the customs and traditions of Gonja.
The most annoying argument is that it’s only Salaga which has an NPP MP...and so what? Maybe they should be reminded that President Nana Addo didn’t win in Salaga South, JM did. And since when has these political twists and turns set in? Siting Kpembewura as an appointee of Nana Addo as a case? How about Buipewura Jinapor? I am imagining whether the people of Kpembe led by their patrons would have shown this level of insubordination to the Yagbonwura if it were Yagbonwura Bawa Doshie.
Salaga is a municipal. Yes it is, and what about that? Was Tamale a municipality when it was made the capital? Was Wa a municipality when it was made the capital? Come on!
Shouldn’t we as Gonjalanders be celebrating because we have the largest part of Mole National Park sitting right on our land? The writer doesn’t even know that the Park spreads to Four different Distritcs and two regions; West Gonja, North Gonja, Sawla/Tuna/Kalba and Wa East in the Upper West Region. And the issue about expansion towards the Game reserve and how limited that would be in future, maybe the writer ought to know that Accra is now connected to the Eastern Region in the West (Nsawam), in the North-West at Aburi and connected to Central Region at Kasoa. In fact, Kasoa is now a suburb of Accra but a constituency in the Central Region. Are we looking at Savannah Region in the next 5 years or beyond decades and centuries?
Let me end this by calling on the Kpembewura who I respect so much to call his people to order. Kpembewura and the big political heads who are being accused of pulling these strings from the backdoor must act before the entire Gonjaland start to demand from them the whereabouts of Kpandai. People are still pained by the lost of Kpandai and that must be stated without fear. We can do better than the current ridiculous maneuverings aimed at destroying the image Gonjaland has built over the years and especially during this period when we went seeking for a region.
I write this as resident of Damongo, a native of Laribanga and not as a Kamara.
Let the voice of the King Suffice.
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