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!!!