29/01/2026
UPPER EAST REGION - GHANA
The Upper East Region of Ghana, located in the guinea savannah belt, is a land defined by its rugged beauty, ancient traditions, and the resilience of its people. Historically, this area served as a crucial crossroads for trade and migration between the Sahelian kingdoms (like the Mossi) and the coastal forest zones.
The region is predominantly inhabited by the Frafra (Gurensi), Kasena, Nankana, Kusasi, Builsa, and Mamprusi peoples. Its history is a blend of spiritual reverence for the land and a defiant resistance against external pressures, including colonial rule and the slave trade.
1. Bolga Craft Market: The Heart of Trade
Bolgatanga, the regional capital, has long been a center for artisans. The Bolga Craft Market is world-renowned, particularly for its Bolga Baskets—hand-woven from elephant grass (veta vera).
• The History: This craft began as a domestic necessity; local farmers needed durable baskets for winnowing grain and storage. Over centuries, the craft evolved into a specialized art form.
• Significance: Along with the baskets, the market is a historical hub for leatherwork (sandals and bags) and the famous "fugu" (smock) weaving. It represents the economic history of the Upper East, where agriculture and craftsmanship meet to sustain the community.
2. Paga Crocodile Pond: The Sacred Pact
Located on the northern border with Burkina Faso, Paga is home to one of the most famous examples of human-wildlife coexistence in the world.
• The Legend: Local history tells of a hunter who was dying of thirst and was led to water by a crocodile. In gratitude, he made a pact that his descendants would never harm a crocodile.
• The History: The crocodiles are believed to house the souls of the royal ancestors. Historically, it was said that when a prominent person in the village died, one of the sacred crocodiles would also pass away. This spiritual bond has protected the animals for centuries, making them so tame that visitors can sit on them.
3. Paga (Pikworo) Slave Camp: The "Pots and Pans"
While many associate Ghana’s slave history with coastal castles, the inland history is equally haunting. The Pikworo Slave Camp was established in 1704 as a transit point for captives being marched to the south.
• The "Pots and Pans": One of the most poignant historical remains at the site is the collection of hollows in the granite rocks. These indentations are known as the "pots and pans." Captives were forced to use these depressions in the rock to eat their meager rations of food.
• The Ritual: The site also contains "communication rocks"—slabs that slaves were forced to drum on to entertain their captors. Today, it stands as a memorial to the thousands of people who were held there before being sent to the coast.
4. Tongo Rocks and the Tenzug Hills
The Talensi district is home to the Tongo Rocks, a breathtaking landscape of massive, precariously balanced granite boulders.
• Natural Fortresses: Historically, these rocks served as a natural defense system. During the era of slave raiding and colonial expansion, the local population used the caves and labyrinthine rock formations to hide and launch counter-attacks against invaders.
• The Whistling Rocks: The wind blowing through the rock formations creates a "whistling" sound, which locals have traditionally interpreted as the voices of spirits.
• The Tongo Shrine: This is one of the most powerful ancestral shrines in West Africa. Historically, people from all over Ghana and neighboring countries would travel here to seek justice, fertility, or blessings. Even today, the area remains a bastion of traditional African religion, largely untouched by external architectural styles.
Summary
The history of the Upper East Region is not found in written books alone, but in the granite of Tongo, the waters of Paga, and the woven straw of Bolga. It is a history of a people who turned a harsh, sun-drenched landscape into a place of deep spiritual significance and artistic excellence.
By: Documentary Gh
