West and East Greater Dagbon Region Will promote Development.

For sometime now, there have been calls to divide the northern region in three different regions. The Gonjaland Youth Association have been quite loud about the need for the creation of another region out of Northern Region with their proposed 'Savana Region ' to be headquartersed in Buipe or Damongo. Though some quarters have raised ethnic issues about the creation of such a region, the proposed Savana region, if well handled Well will promote development ultimately in the Northern part of this country.

In the event that, the Savana Region is created out of the Northern Region, districts like North, East, West and Central Gonja Districts are most certainly going to be part of that new region. A regional capital in Damongo, in my view will serve the region better because developments Will find its way to that place ;a place that is quite hidden from a major trade route. Buipe will naturally become the commercial capital of that proposed region. In that case , both Buipe and Damongo areas will benefit from such an intervention.

The Greater Dagbon that use to span Mamprugu, Nanumba, Konkonba Wala, Guruni, frafra, Gonja , Kusasi areas and part of Burkina Faso was given little attention by colonial powers. The political forces then, because of the purposes of colonial administration broke the unity among members of that one great empire to ensure their rule. It was even the more reason why Northern territories was chosen to refer to that geographical area as oppose to Greater Dagbon which befitted the area adequately. The use of Greater Dagbon would have been more unifying of all the Kingdoms in that area, and which would not have sat well with the whites.

Subsequent governments have not also done enough to bring back the history and unity of these great people and with the absence of unity and oneness , petty quarrels have unfortunately taken a better part of once a great empire.

For historical significance, unity and the spirit of oneness, I want to make a strong case for use of Greater Dagbon Region instead of the Northern Region that has been herited from those colonists. Northern Region; A name that has made the same people see each other as different people today and also taken the historical significance of that area.

With the proposed carving of the Savana Region, it should be possible for a name change and further division of the new Northern Region to two with Yendi, Zabzugu, Bimbila, Wulensi, Saboba, Cherikponi, Sang, Gushegu and surrounding districts as the new region. Yendi will comfortably shoulder the responsibilities of a regional capital. That region could be name the East Greater Dagbon Region whiles

Tamale, along with Kumbungu, Savelugu, Sagnarigu, Walewale, Nalerigu, Bunkurigu, Yooyo and surrounding areas named the East Greater Dagbon Region.

Such a move will not only ensure development that the country needs badly, but will ensure that our cultural heritage as people of Greater Dagbon is maintained. It will, in the end promote peace as the people Will turn to see each other as one as it was before the colonists came. Development then will be the order of the day and unnecessary violent conflicts will cease.