As part of tradition, the King of Gonjaland Yabonwura Tuntumba Borsa Sulemana Jakpa I had celebrated this year's Damba festival which coincided with his first anniversary after he was installed as the King.
The occasion is used to settle disputes among the people and to also plan for development in the tradtional area. Damba is a festival characterised by merry making, drumming and dancing.
According to histroy, Damba is a major traditional festival celebrated by the people of the Northern Region to mark the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed founder of the Islamic Religion.
Damba is the third month on the traditional calendar and the occasion falls on the 10th day of the Damba month.
Due to the rotational nature of the traditional calendar, the day keeps varying.
Specifically, the people who celebrate Damba include Dagombas, Gonjas, Nanumbas and Walas.
On this occasion, all the paramount chiefs come together and meet at the King's palace to celebrate the festival.
In his address the Doliwura Awushie A. M. S. Zakaria (spokersperson of the paramount chief) on behalf of the Yabonwura appealed to Gonjas, people of Gonja extraction and persons resident on Gonjaland, and Gonjas in the Diaspora to eschew divisions, undermining, backbiting and all the negative things that would neither profit the land nor the people.
He said Gonjas were part of a greater Ghana and Ghana will not wait for them if they were not ready and look on askance while the ship of state moves on a determined course.
He pointed out that they pride themselves as being poineers of Ghana having arrived in Gonjaland as a faction of the Kingdom of Songhai under the great Askia Mohammed.
He added that they have therefore by dint of hard work and sacrifice taken great initiatives in olden times, in colonial times, and in the post independence era to make a contribution that has made Ghana the proud nation that it is today.
Unity he continued, therefore should stand proverbial and an example of Ghana and to our kinsmen and neighbours across the borders.
The Yabonwura stated that the most recent symposium on Gonja which was held in Accra was no doubt a sense of pride to him and all Gonjas because they could feel the spirit of Gonja unified and on the ascendency.
Touching on politics, the King mentioned that, Democracy and its bed fellow, party politics, is no doubt good for Ghana, but people should not stretch party politics to nauseating levels when they equate politics with enmity.
He urged everyone to be each others keeper and stand together to develop Gonjaland and Ghana as a whole.
He call upon all our allies of old; Grunshies, Sissalas, Chokosis, Vaglas, Nawuris, Nchumurus, Tampulumas, Hangas amongst others to join in the fight for peace and tranquillity.
He pointed out that, the institution of chieftaincy is about chiefs, legend, tradition, culture and everything that encompasses history.
He therefore appealed to all Gonjas to respect thier own constituion which they inherited from their forebears.
He mentioned that, Matters were handled at the Paramouncies in the divisions and where people are dissatisfied or seek other forms of justice they are free to seek the appellate jurisdiction of the paramouncy.
On Education, he lamented that, the long term effect of the lack of educational facilities has had a telling effect on boys and girls in Gonja with damning consequences for the girl child in particular.
In this regard he said, "I have taken inspiration from my good friend and majestic guest, Otumfuo to establish the Yagbonwura Tuntumba foundation to cater for youth education in general and for the girl child in particular".
He called upon the government therefore to support his concerns on education in Gonja by building new Senior High Schools in Yapei, Buipe, Mpaha, Daboya and Kusawgu. In addition he urged the government to do whatever is possibly to establish in the shortest possible time, Teacher Training Colleges in Salaga and Bole.
He noted that Gonjas accounts for one-sixth (1/6) of the land mass of Ghana and fifty-three (53%) of the land mass of the Northern Region.
Talking about health, Yabonwura remarked that health is vital to the well being of the people and the sheer mass of Gonjaland makes it harder for the people to access health care delivery.
He mentioned that Gonjaland have only three hospitals in Bole, Salaga and Damongo. He appealed to government to provide health facilities that will assist in responding to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) with respect to infant mortality and maternal health care.
Not forgetting about tourism which is one of the greatest potentials in the district, The king said Mole Game Reserve is truly a national asset and tourists flock to the reserve for a pastime or two.
However he said, the general feeling is that, it suffers from a lack of modernisation and increase in animal variety and population.
According to him, the time has come for government to engage the Gonja Traditional Council in a serious discourse particularly by the establishment of a Board of Trustees that would have a link with the traditional authorities and the people of Gonja.
On his part the vice president His Excellency John Dramani Mahama commended the king and people of Gonjaland for the peace the have maintain.
The Vice President mentioned facilities like schools, hospitals and water amongst others which plans have been far advanced to implement them.
The Akyempimhere Adusei Poku a representative of Asnatehere Otumfuo Osei Tutu II took his turn to address the gathering.
He pledged the kings support for Yabonwura's foundation.
BY: ATULE REGINA - DAMONGO
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