It is important to note that for almost all the ten regional capitals of Ghana, there are some dominant ethnic groups exercising control and dominance to advance and engender development.Today,by far the Northern region might not have been the largest in terms of numbers but undeniably the largest in terms of land mass in Ghana.Gonjaland spreads from Bole in the West to Salaga in the East. Whilst Bole District shares boundaries with the Cote d' Ivoire, Salaga is not far from Togo.
Historicaly speaking the Northern region has four dominant ethnic groups which included the Gonjas,Dagombas,Mamprusi and the Nanumbas.These groups fought wars of conquest to establish their present day homes which were kingdoms on their own.But for the European adventurism.Dagbon,Gonjaland.Nanumba and Mamprugu would by far have been countries of their own controlled by their overlords.
However, the European adventurism has come in it’s wake a new order of things accompanied with it what they term a nation governed by a constitution through which things are sought for legitimately. It is justified for the Northern region to seek even two more regions outside the current region. Justifiably so because the Mamprusi and the Nanumba combine with the Bimobas could be far more than constitutional requirements for a region. Many are those who think of the northern regions as a poverty infested enclave of poor people living in hurts with an awkward and primitive culture hosting a group of undignified persons a believe even the C8th Europeans who visited raw Africa did not conceive.
The Gonja people are landowners but Gonjland include all inhabitants who live on this land legally as a home.Gonjas fought and conquered most acephalous tribes and institutionalized their kingship system of administration which according to many historians is among the best kingship system even beyond Africa.
Early European survey of Ghanaian resource did not include most parts of the north hence the north has often be discarded as a place that could only grow cereals or legumes such as peanuts and perhaps provide cheap farm labourers for the Europeans valuable commodities gold and Cocoa.No wonder Ghana was named the "gold cost" Today Gonjaland has Gold and Clinker used for cement production apart from it's tourism potentials, arable land and water bodies Gonjaland also has enough human resource.
A look at the various regions in Ghana reveals a certain pattern of ethnic dominance who exercise control over most activities of the region be it economic or political. These activities are more dominant in political appointments. In the Volta region the Ewes dominate, Central and Western Fantes,Ashanti region Asante,Brong Ahafo Brongs,Upper West Dagari-Wala, Upper East Frafra Kasena-Nakana.What else evidence would be adduced to justify why Gonjas would need a region with other groups who formed part of the Gonjaland.Some of these people are the Mos of Bamboi,Lobis,Vagla,Safaliba,Mmara of laribanga,Agnas,Choribas,and many more not listed.Dagbon alone by far can constitute a region despite the size of the land. The search for a region by the Gonja people must be a welcome news to every citizen of the north especially all who live in the northern regions. This will help speed up the development of the north as the current administration of the region is too much for any single administrator to effectively handle. No wonder it was first thought that the northern region alone should have two deputy Ministers to assist the Regional Minister administer the region.
Former administrators of the region to often have declared their support for this move in handing-over notes. The people of the region can not wait any longer for any political gimmicks on this important subject. We must start now the constitutional processes that would get us there for how far we have come is further than how close we are to the end.
Braimah Kennedy (Lord Ken)
kenselas@yahoo.co.uk
0242389106/0270389106
