President Mahama presents new pickup to Kandiawura through Yagbonwura

President John Dramani Mahama has donated a brand-new pickup to the Kandiawura, the Paramount Chief of the Kandia Traditional Area, through the Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, King of the Gonja Kingdom.

The vehicle was presented to the Yagbonwura at the historic Jakpa Palace in Damongo by the MP for Bole-Bamboi, Alhaji Dr. Yusif Sulemana, on behalf of the President.

Dr. Sulemana said the gift was to show appreciation for traditional leadership and to support the Kandiawura in his work. He conveyed the President’s greetings and restated his commitment to working closely with chiefs, noting their role in keeping peace, protecting culture, and driving development in communities.

The Yagbonwura thanked the President for the gesture, describing it as a sign of the strong relationship between the Presidency and the Gonja Traditional Council.

The pickup is expected to help the Kandiawura move around his traditional area more easily, engage with communities, and take part in activities at the Jakpa Palace.

The donation highlights President Mahama’s focus on partnering with traditional authorities to promote unity and development. It also reaffirms the respect for the chieftaincy institution as a key part of Ghana’s governance.

*Background*

The Kandia Division was one of the first traditional areas set up after Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa founded the Gonja Kingdom.

Today, most of Kandia falls within the Mole Game Reserve, with the rest in the Upper West Region. Administratively it is part of the Wa East District, which has made it harder for the Gonja Traditional Authority to directly oversee the area.

Attempts by the late Yagbonwura Mahama Dagbonga to restore administrative control over Kandia did not succeed, mainly because the British had placed it under the Wa District during colonial rule.

Despite pressure from the Wala Traditional Area, the Kandiawura maintains that Kandia is part of Gonja and will remain so. At all gatherings of the Gonja Kingdom, the Kandiawura sits as the 5th son of Ndewura Jakpa, in line with the traditional seating of the seven royal sons of the founder.