By: Mohammed A. Abu
The first edition of the Dagbon Home Coming 2025, is scheduled to take place from the 19th-27th December.in Yendi,the seat of Kingship of the Dagbon Kingdom, Northern Region of the West African nation of Ghana.
The weeklong event is being organized by the Dagbon Forum, a local development focused NGO in collaboration with the Centre for National Culture and Ghana Tourism Authority and various media partners.
Being held under the theme, “One Dagbon, One Vision: Advancing Dagbon’s Development Together”, the event is aimed at promoting intra-Dagbon peaceful co-existence and doing same between the Kingdom and its neighbours, to institutionalize a yearly convergence of Dagbamba to among other things, discuss the development agenda of Dagbon, to rebrand and market the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom, build and strengthen the bond among Dagbon residents and Dagbamba(Dagombas) in the diaspora as well as advocacy for the interest of Dagbon through effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Event Side Attractions
Side attractions of the event include a debate between Tamasco and Ghanasco in Tamale and between YESS and Dagbon State in Yendi as well as, a medical screening and health walk/float.
The Context
After sixty eight years of independence the North-South poverty and development gap an infamous colonial legacy, still stares the nation in the face. To address this problem, various post-independence central governments have made and continue to make efforts through various interventions but a lot more yet still has to be done.
In as much as, it is a state responsibility to change the Northern sector (the 5 Northern Regions put together) development narrative, the people of Dagbon,Northern Region and their other Northern compatriots area too ought to also appreciate one important thing. That is,taking pragmatic and measured actions towards complementing efforts of central governments, as a civic duty and responsibility in the spirit of “brighten the corner in which you are’.
The Dagbon,Northern Region, in Retrospect
The coronation in 2019 of a new King of Dagbon, His Royal Majesty, Ndan Yaa Na Mahama Abukari II, marked a turning point in the Kingdom’s modern day history as it was to be shortly followed by the taking of a number of affirmative actions that set the Kingdom on an accelerated development trajectory.
This included, the launch of ultramodern Gbewaa Palace redevelopment project, the launch of the Yaa Na Scholarship Scheme in 2020,the inauguration the Dagbon Constitution Review Committee in 2020 to review and update the kingdom’s Constitution which was subsequently adopted by the Dagbon Traditional Council in 2022,the launch of the Dagbon Development Fund in 2021, putting together of a Dagbon Strategic Development Plan, the King’s fostering of partnerships including the collaboration between Tamale Technical University and a Turkish University to enhance human capital development among several others.
Justification
Central governments are often saddled with multiple commitments to the entire nation amidst periodic fiscal and monetary policy challenges due to the sordid fact that, primary commodity exports account for the major chunk of national revenue exacerbated by rising public debts and its associated high servicing ratio obligations.
Hinging the nation’s revenue earnings to primary commodities exports, exposes the gross national economy on international commodity prices vulnerabilities and volatilities. This tends to deny central governments of adequate budgetary allocations for the various sectors of economic transformation and development relevance and importance.
This scenario therefore drums home the dire need for community based organizations(CBOs), Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs), private sector and all other relevant stakeholders to step up playing of their complementary roles.
There is also the need to take into account the Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) flow parity between the North and South and efforts made to position and rebrand the Northern sector as an investor (both foreign and domestic ones) destination of choice.
Investment Opportunities
Dagbon’s Unique Selling Points
Dagbon, Northern Region’s centuries long agrarian driven economy offers investment opportunities that include, agribusiness (especially agro-processing), tourism (cultural and eco-tourism), manufacturing, and infrastructure projects.
The region’s untapped potential lies in leveraging its agricultural resources and rich cultural heritage, particularly with a focus on adding value to local produce and developing unique visitor experiences.
Agribusiness and agro-processing
Agro-processing hubs: Support the development of Yendi, Savelugu, and Karaga as processing centers for crops like rice, maize, and soya beans.
Value chain development: Invest in strengthening the shea and cashew value chains, with expanded processing centers in Tamale and market linkages in Tolon and Zabzugu.
Modern agriculture: Align with previous government initiatives like, the “Operation Feed Yourself, SADA, “Planting for Food and Jobs” program, and currently, the currently,the Northern Savannah Economic Transformation Programme within the context of the “Big Push” focusing on sustainable practices and infrastructure like irrigation, pack houses, and warehouses.
Tourism and hospitality
Cultural tourism: Dagbon is Ghana,West Africa’s cultural tourism sleeping giant that gradually being awaken. Package the Gbewaa Palace, chieftaincy heritage, and festivals like Bugum and Damba into a rich cultural tourism experience in Yendi.
Monumental Tourism Sites Development: The archeological excavations of “Yaan Dabari” (Yendi Dabari) or the ancient Yendi in Western modern Dagbon in the 60s by Archeologists P.L. Shinnie and Paul Ozanne offers investment opportunities for the development of the area into a monumental tourist attraction site.
So also is the German Colonialists-Dagbon state army’s mother of all battles at Adibo near Yendi famously referred to as “Adibo Dali” in 1896 some remnants of which are said to be held in Grassi Museum in Germany. The famous baobab tree at war ground it has been reported to have died a natural death as may other baobab trees appear to facing climate change impact.
Eco-tourism: Development of river Parks, visitor facilities and guided tours linked to eco-sites along the Daka River and surrounding savannah landscapes.
Tourism sector related Infrastructure: The metropolis of Tamale, Western Dagbon and Yendi, Eastern Dagbon offers Investments in budget hotels,3-5 star hotels, resorts, monumental tourism attraction spots and other visitor facilities to support tourism growth.
Minerals and Hydrocarbon Deposits Potential
Mineral Deposits: Even though, the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone(NSEZ) of which Dagbon is a part is still woefully under explored in terms of mineral resources both base metals and industrial minerals, the Shieni Iron Ore deposits has since the 60s been already been public information.
This was bolstered by the formal announcement in May 2019, of over 1.7 billion tons of iron ore discovered after exploration at Shieni. The project is being developed by the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation(GIISDEC)
Oil and Gas Potential(Hydrocarbons): Part of Dagbon also falls within the Voltaian Basin where the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation(GNPC) has announced that it is going to start drilling exploratory wells next year. That comes on the back of the work of the Soviet Hydrogeological Team’s work in the 60s during which traces of crude oil and bitumen traces were said to have been found in drilled wells initially intended to explore the ground water potential of the area. Wells drilled around Tamale, Yendi and Bimbilla were reported to be among such wells.
Craft and local products: Development of craft villages to provide jobs for artisans and promote local crafts.
Manufacturing and industrial development
Value-added products: Agro-industrial/logistics parks development focusing on adding value to locally grown produce before exporting to integrate into markets like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Industrialization: Promote export-oriented industrialization to create jobs and improve the local economy.
Real Estate, Property development: residential, high end residential property, commercial property and affordable housing development
Support industries: There is a need for smart, sustainable, and inclusive investment that builds local capacity and opens up markets
Renewable Energy: Investment in potential solar power plants, as a viable option for the region. This is granted that, the region has abundant sunshine endowments
Waste Processing and Recycling Plants: Aside plastic waste, Dagbon abounds in agricultural biodegradable waste such as rice grass, rice husk,soy,maize,millet,guinea corn stalks, among others that could processed into animal feed and other useful products.
Logistics and warehousing: Invest in industrial zone development,logistics and warehouse facilities to support the growing trade and processing sectors.
Education and training: Support educational and research institutions like a “Centre of Excellence,” vocational institutions, and agriculture research centers.
