Banda Ahenkro

Banda Ahenkro
Town and District Capital
Banda Ahenkro
Location of Banda Ahenkro in Brong-Ahafo
Coordinates: 8°10′N 2°22′W / 8.167°N 2.367°W / 8.167; -2.367Coordinates: 8°10′N 2°22′W / 8.167°N 2.367°W / 8.167; -2.367
Region Brong-Ahafo
District Banda District (Ghana)
Elevation 361 m (1,184 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 2,795[1]
 • Demonym Nafaa
Time zone GMT
 • Summer (DST) GMT
The Lord's Prayer in Nafaanra

Banda Ahenkro is a town located in the west-central region of Brong Ahafo, Ghana. Its unique geography provided a home for numerous groups seeking shelter from across West Africa during the slave trade era. "The original name of the settlement was Serminakuu meaning groups of 'grasses'. This name was changed to Banda, which is a corruption of 'Woanda' meaning 'they did not 'sleep'. Ancestors of Banda Ahenkro were allies of the Asante kingdom during wars and they provided a strong military force that virtually refused to sleep during at-war times. Later, 'woanda' was also corrupted by the Brong neighbours to become Banda. The settlement evolved to become the chief town or 'Ahenkro' within a collection of Nafana communities".

Banda Ahenkro which is the district capital of Banda District was carved from Tain and forms part of the new districts and municipalities created in the year 2012 and were inaugurated at their various locations simultaneously on 28 June 2012.[2]

The Late President, H.E. J.E.A Mills, by an Executive Instrument (E.I) created 46 new Districts. All the inaugurated and confirmed MMDAs established are operational with immediate effect hence bringing the total number of MMDAs to 216.

The district has a population size of 45,000 with Banda Ahenkro having a population of 2,795 as at 2010 with males being 21,000 and females being 24,000 (Source: Ghana Statistical Service –Population Estimates for Brong Ahafo Region-2010). The population has been increasing over the years with a growth rate of 2.6%.[3]

Economy

Agriculture is the main occupation among the workforce of Banda Ahenkro.

Transportation

Banda Ahenkro, the capital of Banda District is 126 kilometres away from Sunyani, the regional capital (approximately 1 hour 47 minutes’ drive by road). The town is connected by road to Wenchi and Bui and its hydro electric power, Bui Dam.[3] Banda Ahenkro is not serviced by a railway station on the Ghana Railway Corporation.

Communications

The town of Banda Ahenkro is outfitted with modern communication facilities which include, mobile phones, internet and e-mail services. All these services are provided courtesy of the following giant telecommunication network providers, MTN Ghana, Airtel Ghana, Vodafone Ghana and Tigo Ghana.[4]

Culture

The people of Banda Ahenkro celebrates Forjour which is the popular festival that's being celebrated by the town. Forjour is a Yam festival celebrated in the month of October every year, the climax of the Yam festival is the durbar of the king (Omanhene) through Banda traditional area. The festival is used as a means to remember their ancestors for protection and favour. It is also held to purify the area and allow its people to go into the traditional New Year with hope

Bandaman Football Club

Sports

The inhabitants of Banda Ahenkro are sports fanatics; many residents of Banda traditional area follows the Banda Ahenkro-based sports team, Bandaman Football Club, which is currently playing in the second division league.

Notable people

Banda Ahenkro is the home and birthplace of Hon. Armed Ibrahim, the current member of parliament for Banda District, Mr. Alexander Kofi Essien, Registrar of Ghana National House of Chiefs.[5] and many others.

Health

Banda Ahenkro (B/A), on 31 May 2005. GNA- The Ghana Health Service [6] handed over a multi-million-cedi Health Centre to the people at Banda Ahenkro in Brong Ahafo.

Osabarima Okokyeredom Kwadwo Sito I, Omanhene of Banda Traditional Area, who received the keys to the facility from Mr Ebenezer Awuku, Estate Officer of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in Sunyani in turn handed them over to the health personnel in-charge of the Centre. The Omanhene commended the government and the GHS for the provision of the facility, as well as Dr Kofi Asare, Ashanti Regional Director of the Service for his immense contribution towards the completion of the project.

Tourism

Tourists are beginning to venture to Banda Ahenkro in greater numbers, attracted by the areas of natural beauty surrounding the town. The aesthetic beauty of the town is enhanced by the Nyua Kpoo Mountain and the Sheli Kpoo cave which are all potential tourist sites to be harnessed.

References

  1. ↑ "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012.
  2. ↑ [ http://ghanadistricts.com/About-District-Details.aspx?distID=36&distName=Banda. Retrieved 2017-04-18. Missing or empty |title= (help) [Banda District (Ghana)|Banda District]]
  3. ↑ http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/
  4. ↑ Touring Brong Ahafo Region
  5. ↑ http://www.mcta.gov.gh/nationalhouse.html
  6. ↑ http://www.ghanahealthservice.org/
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