The Curious Ghanaian, A Way To End Fallacies Against The North

It saddens my heart that many Ghanaians do not take the time to know more about their friends, neighbours, colleagues, associates and fellow citizens. It is especially common when dealing with north/south dichotomy. There are a lot of misconceptions that should have been clarified long ago through education, but still persists and include.

All northerners are Muslims and are Hause people or should speak Hausa. Dear reader, Religion is a matter of choice and right. There are Muslims, Christians and Traditionalist in northern Ghana. Not all northerners are Muslims. Also Hausa people are not indigenes of Northern Ghana. The main languages spoken in Northern Region include, Dagbani by Dagombas found in Tamale, the Capital of Northern Region, Yendi (traditional town of Dagomba`s), Savelugu municipal area, Kumbungu and Tolon environs, Karaga district, etc. There are Gonja`s at Damongo, Bole, Buipe, Yapei, etc. Mamprusi located in Nalerigu, Walewale and its environs, etc. There are Konkombas in communities around Yendi, Tatali and Bimbila districts, etc. Bimobas are found in Bunkpurugu and its environs and many other languages, etc. The people of Upper East and Upper West also have their languages too. All these people speak their languages with pride and have both Muslims, Christians and Traditionalists. So when you meet someone who is a northerner, do not assume the person is a Muslim and must understand Hausa. Ask the person which part of the north he or she is coming from and the tribe and religion the person is identified with. For we are told to seek for knowledge through relevant questions to know and understand issues around us.

Another popular misconception is that northern region is a War zone and the inhabitants like fighting and the place is not peaceful. As if whenever you alight from a bus, there are sounds of gun shots everywhere. What is the definition of peace to the average Ghanaian? Ghana is noted for its peaceful nature, does that mean conflicts and insecurities are not found in Ghana. Armed robbery issues are so rampant in Accra and people lose their lives every day, do we stop going to Accra because of that and say it is not peaceful? Issues of land guards and others are also worrying. There were vigilante group issues in Kumasi and also chieftaincy issues over who was the overlord of Datano within the Ashanti Region, which brought conflicts and people lost their lives. Nkunya and Alavanyo in Volta region have also been killing each other over land issues, etc.

Do we say Greater Accra, Ashanti and Volta Regions too, are not safe because of those issues? Yes, there are chieftaincy disputes in some districts in Northern region too. But how many Districts and Municipalities do we have in the Region? How can you use the few to make an assumption for the many? In life we talk, smile, quarrel and fight. Even couples fight. However, irrespective of where you find yourself you may have to experience the bad and the good. Northern Region is just like any other Region in Ghana and the people are no different. So saying Northern Ghana is not peaceful is like saying Ghana is not peaceful. The people are lovely and the region is just like any other region but the culture is different and interesting. They may have few flaws as humans and are imperfect like any other human being, but that does not make them less human. So the media must stop exaggerating issues. Instead of always concentrating on the bad, I challenge the media to discover the good and give it more attention for a change. For northern region is as peaceful as Ghana.

A man needs cattle to marry a girl in northern Ghana. I have explained this severally to a lot of friends and I am happy to say it again. Northern Ghana has a lot of tribes and people from different religious background. I am a Dagomba and a muslim, culturally as a Dagomba, men do not gift cattle to the women`s family as dowry and it is not in Islam too. If two or three tribes use to practice it especially in the Upper Regions, it does not mean every tribe in Northern Ghana culturally do that. Northerners have individual identities and it must be recognized and respected. If you want to know how northerners marry. First ask the person the tribe and religion. Then find out how that particular tribe do their customary marriage and religious marriage. Do not generalize without scientific research or inquiry from the right people.

Northern Region is full of round mud houses and thatch roofs. The traditional houses of some tribes in Northern region is round houses and thatch, which was available in the olden days as roofing materials. So a traditional Dagomba home use to be a round mud house with thatch. Till today the traditional home of a chief or chief palace will be round in nature with the use of modern building materials in cities or still mud and thatch in rural communities. Just like any region in Ghana, the cities are full of modern buildings and if you must know, Tamale is the fastest growing city in West Africa. I agree Accra is more developed than Tamale as it is the National Capital and Kumasi has the most vibrant market in Ghana. However when it comes to development, I will peg Tamale next to Accra very soon, less university education. Villages in every region in Ghana still use local building materials to build their homes and are alike across the Regions, just like how cities also have similarities across all regions in Ghana. Do not let yourself be deceived and be prejudiced. For ignorance is not an excuse of the law. Tamale is just like any Regional capital in Ghana other than Accra. Tamale is developing fast with low traffic and low cost of living. If you decide to come to Tamale, you will never regret it.

Muslims are terrorist is another misconception. Islam means Peace. Terrorism is war. So how can something which means peace propagates war? Does that make sense? We have to understand that religion is different from peoples personalities and a particular religion do not have to be prejudiced because of the personalities and characteristics of certain people found in that particular religion. People have Muslim names but they are not Muslims nor practice Islam. A true Muslim who practice the religion very well would not kill a soul because the person belongs to a different religion. Terrorist kill Muslims too. In history there were noted individuals who were Christians and killed a lot of people yet Christians have never been labeled terrorist.

Christianity and Islam or any religion does not preach war but if individuals are doing certain bad things, the fact that they belong to a certain religion does not mean everyone in that religion is such. Ghanaians are noted for being religious. However, we are very corrupt, does that mean our various religions preach corruption as something legal and good? We do all the bad things you can think of on this earth, does our various religions preach that? No it is about our individual desires as humans and not about religion. So anyone caught in terrorism act should be dealt with as an individual who has committed a crime but innocent people within the same fate should not suffer the same consequences. For two wrongs can never make a right.

All these prejudices against the north is because Ghanaians do not learn about one another and do not also travel to find out for themselves. Even the media sometimes do not even do proper research before they show or broadcast certain information about the north. If those who are supposed to keep us informed do not even do it right then who will keep us truly informed? That is why it is good to explore. Dear Ghanaians make efforts to travel and know places and learn more about others before you judge them.

I for instance did not know that Kotokoli`s are found in Volta region and Precisely in Koue in Northern Volta. But through my travels, I learned that Volta region does not belong to only Ewes and there are other tribes found in Volta region and especially in Northern Volta. I have travelled across Ghana and I can say Ghanaians across the regions are much alike then they realize. People in the cities have similarities likewise people in the villages. So what makes you a better Ghanaian than another person? Does someone location change their blood colour? Does someone tribe and colour makes the person less human?

We must learn to accept that before anything else, we are all humans and Ghanaians with unique characteristics and cultures that makes us interesting citizens. We all desire respect, love, wealth, development, happiness, etc. Looking down on someone does not make your life happier and better than the person, it only creates victims and perpetrators. However, whether you are a victim or a perpetrator, the feeling is not always great. So if we can succeed in making each other unhappy, then we can be more successful if we want to make conscious efforts to make each other happy. Become a curious Ghanaian for a change!!!!

By Huzeima Mahamadu {A citizen}

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