Damongo

Damongo is a town and the capital of West Gonja Municipal, a municipal in the Savannah Region of northern Ghana.^[1][2][3][4] On 12 February 2019, Damongo was declared the capital of the newly created Savannah Region;^[5] With the coming into force of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 105, which was signed into force by the President of the Republic of Ghana and presented to the Yagbonwura in Jubilee House Accra. Damongo hosts the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom; the Yagbonwura. It is also the capital (biggest town) in the Damongo Constituency whose current MP is Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor (Minister of Lands and Natural Resources). The languages spoken in Damongo include Gonja, Vagla, Hanga, Dagaare, Waale, Frafra, Kasim, Twi, Ewe, and Hausa.^[6]

Damongo Demanwu
Regional Capital
Damongo Location of Damongo in Savannah region
Coordinates: 9°05′N 1°49′W / 9.083°N 1.817°W / 9.083; -1.817
Country	Ghana
Region	Savannah Region
Municipal	West Gonja Municipal
Elevation	712 ft (217 m)
Population  (2013)
• Total	—
Time zone	GMT
• Summer (DST)	GMT

History

Damongo, also recognized as the capital of the Gonja Kingdom by the Declaration of Customary Law (Gonja Traditional Council) Instrument, 2010,^[7][8] traces its roots back to the ancient Songhai Empire and migrated to present-day Ghana in 1546, led by Askia Mohammed. Successive rulers, such as Musa Askia, Landa, Wam, Amoah, and Lanta Limu, paved the way for the establishment of the modern Gonja Kingdom, with Yagbonwura Ndewura Jakpa as its founder.^[9]

Damongo is renowned for hosting the prestigious Yagbon Skin. The seat of the Gonja Kingdom was moved from Nyange to Damongo by Yagbonwura Awusi Ewuntomah Bunyangso, who ruled from 1942 to 1975. At that time, Damongo was a small community with less than ten households. Nevertheless, it became the focal point of Gonja's leadership and heritage.

Throughout history, notable Yagbonwuras like Yagbonwura Mahama Abudu Kurabaso (1975 to 1982), Yagbonwura J.A. Braimah Timu (1983 to 1987), Yagbonwura Kanyiti (1987 to 1990), Yagbonwura Bi-Awuribi (1990 to 1992), Yagbonwura Ale Adengi Tikpiri (1992 to 1993), Yagbonwura Amantana Bore Nyinche (1993 to 2000), Yagbonwura Bawa Abudu Doshie (2000 to 2010), Yagbonwura Sulemana Jakpa Tuntumba Boresa I (2010 to 2023), and presently Yagbonwura Bikunuto Jewu Soale.^[10]

During the colonial era, Damongo played a vital role as an administrative center for the colonial government. Its strategic location facilitated communication and trade between the northern and southern parts of the country.^[11]In the township of Damango, one noticeable thing is their mode of transport which is mostly motorcycle. There are other modes of transportation but motorcycle is the most common and most of the women there ride it too.^{[citation needed]}

Two people have died in a fatal motorbike accident at virgin junction near canteen Dam at Damango in the savannah Region.^[12]

Economy and agriculture

Although Damongo is classified as urban, it retains its strong agricultural roots, with a significant portion of the population engaged in small-scale farming. The livelihood of the majority of the Damongo residents depends on this agricultural activity. The primary crops cultivated include corn, millet, yams, okra, and groundnuts. In some regions of Damongo, upland rice is also grown.^[13]

Additionally, shea nuts are sourced from wild trees, and they serve both as a food source and as raw material for the production of oils and cosmetics through refinement processes. The traditional agricultural practices and cultivation of these crops continue to play a vital role in the community's sustenance and economic activities.^[14]

Tourist Attractions

Damongo boasts of key tourist attractions like the Mole National Park^[15] where visitors are assured of seeing a myriad of animals chief among which being elephants, the Larabanga Mosque and the Larabanga Mystic Stone in Larabanga with all the ancient stories surrounding their onset.^[16]

Larabanga Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Africa mostly referred to as the “Mecca of West Africa". The over six hundred (600) year old Mosque is said to have been built by one Ayuba after Allah revealed it to him in a dream.^[17]

Mognori Eco village, a community-based tourism that provides a range of tourist activities such as guided nature walks traditional and drumming, dancing and handicraft demonstrations as well as the Mole National Park, the first, largest and most prestigious protected area in the country, which previously served as a Game Clearance Area, but currently hosts, various plant and animal species including elephants, buffalo’s lions, monkeys, and other rare and endangered species.^[18]

Notable people

• John Dramani Mahama (former President of Ghana),
• Alban Bagbin (The Speaker of Parliament),
• Benjamin Kunbuor (former Minister of Defence),
• Michael Abu Sakara Foster (former Presidential candidate of CPP).
• John Abdulia Jinapo (Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency)
• Adam Mutawakilu (Former Member of Parliament for Damango Constituency)
• Samuel Abu Jinapo ( Member of Parliament for Damango Constituency)

 

Larabanga Mosque in Damongo

Education

The town of Damongo is an educational hub for a town of its size. Aside from the many basic schools, Damongo has three(3) senior high schools: the Damongo Senior High School, Ndewura Jakpa Secondary Technical High School, and St Annes Girls Senior High School.^[19][20] There is also the Damongo Agricultural College and the Damongo Health Assistant School.

Communities in Damongo

• Larabanga
• Murugu
• Mognori
• Broto
• Sori No1
• Sori No2
• Sori No 3
• Kotito
• Broto
• Busunu
• Yipala
• Banyasi
• Ntereso
• Sumpini
• Kebiesu
• Tailorpe
• Alhassan Kura
• Jonokponto
• Achubunyo
• Soalepe
• Canteen
• Nabori

References

1. West Gonja district
2. "Driver's 'mate' feared dead in accident at Damongo - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
3. "Damongo flood victims stranded without food or shelter - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
4. "West Gonja Municipal Assembly launches 30-day countdown to 2021 population census". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
5. "UBA Ghana hands over GHS 130,000 sanitary facility to West Gonja Municipal Assembly". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
6. "About – Catholic Diocese of Damongo". Retrieved 28 July 2023.
7. "Is Tuluwewura the next King and Overlord of the Gonja State?". GhanaWeb. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
8. MyNewsGH (23 March 2023). "Yagbonwura Succession: How 2010 Agreement Was Used to Choose New Gonja Overlord". MyNewsGh. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
9. "Tulwewura Is Next Yagbonwura". DailyGuide Network. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
10. Hab, Wah (6 February 2023). "WHEN THE OVERLORD OF THE GONJA KINGDOM (YAGBONWURA) PASSES ON". OneMuzikGh. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
11. Jinapor, Samuel A. (17 July 2023). "Damongo, constituency with rich culture, history". Graphic Online. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
12. "Motor Rider Kills Pregnant Woman At Damango". GhanaWeb. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
13. Doudu, Samuel (12 April 2016). "SARI develops new millet varieties for farmers". Graphic Online. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
14. Iddrisu, Abdullah (26 June 1986). "Road transport and foodstuff distribution in the Northern Region of Ghana". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
15. "Mole National Park, Northen Ghana". Mole National Park. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
16. Sanza, Akesse (18 July 2021). "The Mystic Stone: The stone that refuses to be removed". Jetsanza.com. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
17. "Ghana Museums & Monuments Board". www.ghanamuseums.org. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
18. "Damongo now number 1 tourist destination in Northern Ghana - Abu Jinapor". GhanaWeb. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
19. "References » Schools/Colleges". www.modernghana.com. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
20. "List of Secondary Schools in Ghana". www.ghanaschoolsnet.com/. Retrieved 12 August 2011.

9°05′N 1°49′W / 9.083°N 1.817°W / 9.083; -1.817