Gonjas fume over Yagbonwura’s request to Dr Bawumia for a modern palace

An appeal to the office of the Vice- President by the Yagbonwura (King of Gonja) and the President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, Tuntumba Borisa I, to use his office to direct all the District Assemblies in Gonjaland to contribute financially towards the building of a modern palace for the Gonja Kingdom has sent some Gonjas fuming.

The Yagbonwura made this request when the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia paid a courtesy call him and the members of Gonja Traditional Council at Damongo in the Northern Region last Thursday May 18, 2017.

An opinion leader and a royal of Bole Mallam Mohammed Hudu speaking on Bole-based Nkilgi FM said the Yagbonwura should rather call on the people of Gonjaland across Ghana and the world to contribute in their own small way to embark on the redevelopment of Nyange instead of relying on politicians including the Vice President. He said it is embarrassing for a big Kingdom like Gonja with a great natural and human resources to call on politicians outside Gonjaland to assist it build a palace.

Another resident of Bole Kagbanye Seidu said a committee has been put in place to develop Nyange but the committee is not being proactive in mobilizing funds for the project and that many people are not even aware of the Nyange redevelopment project.

The Gonja Traditional Council in its quest to revive and redevelop Nyange, the Traditional capital of the Gonja Kingdom near Sawla in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District to modern standards has commenced a project called “The Nyange Redevelopment Project” which aims at building a modern palace and other projects that are sacred to the Gonja Kingdom.

A committee has been set up under the leadership of Nyinyangewura Alfred Yahaya Mahama and other members including Chorowura Dramani Paramount chief of Choro (Jang) Traditional Area, Alhaj Bakari Sadique Nyari former Board Chairmanof Lands Commission, Lepowura MND Jawula, a Chief of Kpembe Traditional Area and the Director of the Otumfuo centre for Traditional Leadership at the University of Proffessional Stidies (UPSA) and others.

The committee tasked with the responsibility to support the development of Nyange to meet modern standards has finished with the architectural designs and plan for the project.

Nyange is of great value and strategic importance to the Gonja Kingdom because during the enskinment of the Yagbonwura’s (Kings) of the Gonja Kingdom, the rituals for the enskinment process are performed there and also during the passing away of a Yagbonwura the burial ceremony or rituals start from Nyange on the journey to their final resting place at Mankuma where the Royal Mausoleum of the Gonja Kingdom is located. Nyange was also the place of abode of Yagbonwuras hence the village is revered.

The traditional capital of the Gonja Kingdom was moved from Nyange to Damongo in 1944.