Vagla Chieftaincy System and Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in Gorbol Area

Vagla are the first ethnic group or tribe to have occupied the current Lands in the Bole and the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Districts of the Savannah Region. The same pertains to the Vagla in West Gonja Municipality and North, Central Gonja enclaves of the Savannah Region. This is a historical fact and all the Gonja Tribes know this historical truth. Vagla as the Indigenous tribes encountered several other tribes, some came and left but others stayed on the land occupied by the Vaglas. Some of these encounters include some groups from the South behind the Black Volta, some from the east like the Black Dagombas and the relatively new arrivals of the Ngbanya (Sumaila Jakpa and the followers) from Mande Mali across the Black Volta River. After the Ngbanya, a century or so later in the Vagla land is the arrival of the Lobis from Ivory Coast across the Black Volta River.

Gorbol is one of the oldest villages in the current West Gonja municipality of the Savannah Region. Gorbol is a typical Vagla community. The people of Gorbol are Vagla by ethnicity and are largely farmers though a few are hunters. Vagla called hunters Kpaana (Kpana). This may be attributed to the prevalence of wild animals in the Gorbol enclaves, currently, one of the closest communities to the Game and Wildlife (Mole National Park). Gorbol Vagla's original homeland is Sissala land.

Gorbol is also spelt differently. These are some of the versions of the spelling of the community. Some spell it Gorobol, others Grubol or Grupe. Despite these versions, the Vagla called it Gorbol. The founder of the Gorbol village is called Dibi. Naboma Dibi blessed three traditional chiefdoms in Gorbol namely Heuhin (Sacred in charge of the community shrine called GORBOL HEU. The occupier is called GORBOL HEUHIN (Tindana of Gorbol) The Gorbol Heuhin goes with the appellation SIAYO. The Gorbol spiritual matters are handled by GORBOL HEUHIN including the spirits of the land/shrine/deities. Another is the occupier of the Skin as the community or village Chief, who is called GORBOL KORO with the appellation JARA. Then the traditional leader vested with the power to enskin the Chief (Jara) is called the GORBOL KUPO. This is a powerful person in the Village as the power holder or the mantle holder and a connector to the SUPREME SONYO KIPO. These three traditional leaders form the core of the Vagla Chiefdom of GORBOL.

Per Vagla Chiefdoms, Gorbol comes under the second-tier KORZEN-NI which in English refers to as Divisional Paramountcy. To the South of the Vagla Nation or Country is a much older village called CHORBANG and to the Northeast is another senior older village called KUNLOG. The closest Vagla Village to Gorbol is GINDAABOL (Jentilpe). Politically Gorbol is classified as a village or community in West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region of Ghana.

On chieftaincy succession and chieftaincy conflicts and how they are resolved in the Vagla Village of Gorbol (Grupe). As indicated earlier the founder of the Gorbol village blessed the community with three chieftaincy divisions or offices. The three divisions constitute the three Royal Gates (Salni) of Gorbol namely the PENTU SAL (Koro Sal). These are the people who occupy the Koro Skin as GORBOL KORO) and other members as GORBOL HEUHIN, KPAANA SAL (these people who occupy the Kupo position). *BOYOR SAL (whose members play the role of the Elders of the community (GORBOL). This means the founder of the Village has so much wisdom and shared the Gorbol Land and the estate among the three ROYAL GATES, where each gate has its designated position. Also, each gate has a unique role to play in the Village and no gate or division will suffer any injustice or denials as every Gate (Sal) has office or Chiefdom. One will say that with such an excellent chieftaincy structure in GORBOL, the village will not encounter chieftaincy issues relating to any of the three traditional positions/divisions. The hope and the aspiration of the Founder of the Gorbol Community or Village was that Koro Sal people would follow the steps to enskin someone from the Gate as GORBOL KORO, those in Heuhin Sal Gate to follow the steps to install another member as the GORBOL HEUHIN. Similarly, the royals from Kpaana Sal Gate will follow their due processes to install or enskin one as the Kupo of Gorbol. Unfortunately, post-COVID-19 saw the beautiful Vagla village embroidered with CHIFTAINCY CRISIS OVER WHO BECOMES THE GORBOL KORO (JARA).

Two Royals from Gorbol namely Naboma Frank Kipo Zunnatunnor (aka Kipo Samasama) who hails from the KPAANA SAL of Gorbol contested the position of GORBOL KORO (Jara). A position a maternal son from KORO SAL (PENTU SAL) by the name of Naboma Clement Baakuuh Dumbal. The highly revered Royal from Kpaana Sal out of respect offered a piece of advice to Naboma Frank Kipo Zunnatunnor not to contest for the position as GORBOL KORO on the ground that the Kpaana Sal descendants go for Kupo. This was rejected and the contest continued between the two. Some reasons for the two people entering into the GORBOL KORO position are given below. It is important to note that Naboma in Vagli means Elder.

It is believed in Gorbol that Naboma Clement Baakuuh Dumbal (popularly called Tiicha/Teacher Clement) is connected to the GORBOL SKIN maternally. His mother's father was once a GORBOL KORO BII (late Koro) likewise his mother’s brother (Uncle) ascended the skin as the late GORBOL KORO NCHIMA. The two previous Koro formed the basis for Chief Clement Baakuu grounds and as such Chief Baakuu insists he was a true Royal from the PENTU SAL (Koro Sal) maternally. Moreover, Naboma Clement Baakuuh Dumbal’s father was once a caretaker (Gorbol Heu Kezeehin) Gorbol Heuhin. This implies that both Chief Clement Baakuu's mother's side (Koro) and father (Heuhin) are Royals from Gorbol. Thus, Naboma Clement Baakuuh Dumbal insists before the GORBOL COUNCIL OF ELDERS that he is the most legitimate person to be enskin as GROBOL KORO and prays that the COUNCIL OF ELDERS ie Kingmakers nominate or select him as GORBOL KORO to assume the appellation as Jara. Note: GORBOL KORO is a Divisional Chief in Vagla Chiefdom.

On the other hand, the arguments adduced by Naboma Frank Kipo Zunnatunnor (popularly called Kipo Samasaka or Adoncho) argued that a member from the KPANA GATE ascended the GORBOL KORO skin/position and that person was the late GORBOL KORO KIPO MANJA. So that is an established precedent as such is qualified to be the GORBOL KORO by the decision of the past GORBOL KING MAKERS ie GORBOL COUNCIL OF ELDERS. For this reason, Naboma Kipo Zunnatunnor claimed to be the most qualified person to be the GORBOL KORO. For this classic case, Chief Kipo Zunnatunnor called on the GORBOL COUNCIL OF ELDERS to nominate him as Koro.

At GORBOL COUNCIL OF ELDERS, a Centurian was among the elders, who was a woman. Her name is Nnaa Sunwenee (at the age of 110 years), and she is acclaimed as the oldest person in Gorbol. She is still alive even this year (2024). The oldest woman genuinely said she hailed from the same ROYAL GATE as Naboma Frank Kipo Zunnatunnor and this contender is her son. This, the contender admitted that the Centurian was her Auntie. The next question was why disrespect your house elder's advice to step down for Naboma Clement Baakuu? THE FINAL VERDICT as next GORBOL KORO favoured CHIEF CLEMENT BAAKUUH DUMBAL. Note: Yomu was the most qualified person in Gorbol because Yomu is the paternal son of the late Gorbol Koro Jara Bii and Gorbol Koro Jara Nchima lineage/clan, but Yomu declined the chieftaincy title and supported Chief Clement Baakuuh Dumbal.

Naboma Kipo Zunnatunnor was dissatisfied with the VERDICT OF THE GORBOL COUNCIL OF ELDERS. He thereby proceeded to the Secular Chief Court and that was the Palace of Ngbanya Chief who currently is seen to be linked to be a descendant of Sumaila Jakpa now called Ndewura Jakpa. At the Busunu Wura Jonokpowu II Palace is certainly alien to Vagla chieftaincy. Vagla Chieftaincy matters have nothing to do with Ngbanya palaces. Vaglas cautioned Chief Frank Kipo Zunnotunnor not to go to Busunuwura Palace, but he went there. Busunu Wura Palace remains inconsistent with the Vagla customs and practices. At the Busunu Wura Palace, the Busunu Wura Jonokpowu II and his Elders told Naboma Kipo Zunnatunnor that “We Gonjas/Ngbanya cannot handle Vagla matters”. So, the Busunu Wura Jonokponu II referred the VAGLA Chieftaincy dispute back to the VAGLA ELDERS COUNCIL OF GORBOL for settlement. At the end of the chieftaincy dispute between Chief Clement Baakuuh Dumbal and Naboma Kipo Zunnatuunor, the final VERDICT OF THE VAGLA COUNCIL OF ELDERS WAS UPHELD AND CHIEF CLEMENT BAAKUUH Dumbal was subsequently enskinned as the GORBOL KORO by the legitimate person Kupo. Gorbal Kupo is the legitimate traditional leader vested with the power to enskin all Gorbol Koro. After enskinment, all the Koro assume the traditional appellation of JARA.

Some Lessons may be learned from the Gorbol chieftaincy dispute in the Vagla town of Gorbol. One, the Vagla are the oldest of all the Gonja tribes and their chieftaincy and land disputes as better known to the Vaglas, so the Vaglas are the best people to resolve their chieftaincy disputes. Also, Vagla royals in GORBOL VILLAGE AND BEYOND must learn to respect the decisions of their Elders ie VAGLA COUNCILS OF ELDERS in all Vagla communities. The spirits of the Vagla lands are alive and active, the Vagla deities are working and the Vagla ancestors keep vigil eyes on those who attempt to rewrite or circumvent the customs and practices of the Vaglas. Moreover, when a Vagla community chieftaincy dispute occurs, other Vagla community Chiefs may be called or may come in to listen to the dispute and play a mediating role to resolve the dispute. This is where the KORO TINDANA COUNCIL members stepped in. In the case of the dispute, not successfully resolved at the second level. Such a Vagla dispute is transferred to the NATIVE COURT OF SONYO. This NATIVE COURT comprises the TINDANAS (Vaglas) who carry the supreme decision as the final arbiter of the dispute. Those still displeased at the THIRD LEVEL AT SONYO may resort to the LAW COURTS OF GHANA or through the Judicial Committee of the Savannah House of Chiefs/National House of Chiefs or end up at the SUPREME COURT OF GHANA.

PAST GORBOL KORO (PAST CHIEFS OF VAGLA VILLAGE CALLED GORBOL (GRUPE) The founder of Vagla Village called GORBOL is Naboma/Koro Dibi. After Dibi, several Chiefs ascended the Gorbol skin, especially from the 14^th century. At the time that, the Ngbanya arrived in Vagla land somewhere in 1700 thereof, the Jakpa and his supporters passed through Gorbol with the Chief then as GORBOL KORO JARA SAAZE and the Samori war era was the reign of GORBOL KORO JARA DORWIA. Many other Vagla chiefs ascended the Vagla revered skin in Gorbol currently spelt Grupe.

Prominent among the modern or the contemporary Chiefs (KORO) of the Gorbol village are:

1. GORBOL KORO JARA BII
2. GORBAL KORO JARA NCHIMA
3. GORBOL KORO JARA ZOMBO
4. GORBOL KORO JARA KIPO MANJA SUUHBAWIA

5. GORBOL KORO JARA KUUWAALEU BAAKUUH (THE CURRENT SKIN OCCUPIER AT GORBOL (Grupe)

SOME LIST OF CONTEMPORARY GORBOL HEUHINA (TINDANAS)

1. GORBOL HEUHIN SIAYO YAW
2. GORBOL HEUHIN SIAYO KALINGBONGA
3. GORBOL HEUHIN SIAYO TOWIAH
4. GORBOL HEUHIN SIAYO KAPOORI
MAY VAGLA ELDERS AND YOUTH CONTINUE TO LEARN THEIR CULTURE AND PRACTICE THEM. ALSO, MAY VAGLAS (YOUTH AND ELDERS) CONTINUE TO TRUST THEIR CHIEFTAINCY SYSTEM AND ABIDE BY THEIR RICH AND CHERISHED SYSTEM

LONG LIVE VAGLA!
LONG LIVE GORBOL!
LONG LIVE THE KORO TINDANA COUNCIL, SAVANNAH REGION OF GHANA

Author: Joseph Dorwii Garyoni, Native of Gorbol (Grupe), West Gonja Municipality, S/R Ghana