Inhabited for several hundred years, by traders who settled in Wa to participate in the trans-Saharan trade, Wa holds the mortal remains of Babatu, a notorious raider well known for his raids in the Upper West region during the late and early 19th century. Wa was long the capital of the Wala Kingdom. Wa was previously considered the smallest region until a referendum on creating new regions was held in 2018 and other regions were formed. Although mostly dirt roads Wa has one of the best road networks in the country. Wa connects to Jirapa, Tumu, Gwollu, Lambusie, Funsi, etc.
In 1892, G. E. Ferguson, a Fante man who had explored the Asante Empire and areas to its north on the instructions of the governor of the Gold Coast Colony, reported that the population of Wa at the time was larger than that of Accra.
By estimate in 1880, Wa had about 8,000 people. This number is thought to have fallen to 2,000 by 1900. In 1921 the census found the population to be 2,806. The population had risen to 5,207 by 1931. In that year the Wa district of the Wala Native Authority had a population of 13,025. In 1948 Wa had a population of 5,128 while the district had 15,827 people. In 1960 the population was 14,406. In 1970 the population had risen to 21,393. In 1984 Wa had a population of 36,000 and Upper West currently estimated at 901,502.
In the 1880s Wa was said to have a population that was entirely Muslim. The Ahmadiyya began gaining converts here in the 1930s. Starting in the 1930s, the Ahmadiyya Muslims began to proselytize in Wa. This led to many clashes with the Sunni Muslims in the city, especially over use of the main mosque. In 1951 rioting rose to such a level that the Wala’s considered it to have been a civil war. Violence broke out in 1978 between the Ahmadiyya and the Sunni.
In 1980 there was intense fighting as leaders J. N. Momori and Yakubu Seidu both mobilized their supporters, seeking to succeed Sidiki Bomi as the Wa Naa. Momori eventually in 1985 became the Wa Naa with the reign name of Wa Naa Momori Bondiri II. Wa-Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo is the reigning Wa-Naa(Wa King).
Today, Wa is the capital of Wa Municipal District and Upper West Region of northern Ghana. Geographically, Wa is notable for the dramatic monadnock Ombo Mountain, which is located around Kaleo and visible from much of the Wa township. A former Ghanaian president hails from Gwollu, a small capital town of the Sissala West District and a district in the Upper West Region.
Attractions of the Upper West Region include, the Wa-Naa Palace, the University for Development Studies(UDS), a museum, a nearby hippopotamus sanctuary in Wicheau(located in the Wa-West district), the mushroom rock in Jirapa, the ant hill at Nanvielle, the tomb of H. E. Dr. Hilla Limann and the slave defense wall in Gwollu.
By Air, Wa is served by Wa Airport recently upgraded from airstrip status. currently the airport is mainly used by commercial airlines such as Passion Air which is the only operational Airline company currently flying the route. They run regular flights between Wa, Tamale and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport, connecting with Kumasi, Takoradi and soon to Sunyani.
Wa serves as a transportation hub for the Upper West region, with major roads leading farther north to Hamile, and northeast to Tumu and the Upper East Region.
By road there are Public Transport from Wa to major cities such as Kumasi, Accra, Tema, Bolgatanga, Tamale, Techiman, Sunyani, Cape Coast, Mim, Ahafo, Ho, Elubo, Aflao, etc.
Located in the southern part of the Sahel, the semi-arid area south of the Sahara, the verage annual rainfall is around 879 millimetres (34.6 in), almost all of which occurs between May and October. Following the May–October rainy season is a cool dry period called the Harmattan when a steady, often dusty, north wind blows from the Sahara. The hottest period of the year is in February and March when daytime temperatures often reach 40 °C (103 °F).
Wa celebrates Damba festival as the main traditional event. It is typically held in late September to correspond with harvests in Wa. The highlight of the year is a ceremony in which the Wa-Naa steps over a calf lying on the ground. According to traditional belief, if any part of the Wa-Naa or the Wa-Naa’s clothing touched the calf, the Wa-Naa would probably die within the year. If on the other hand, the Wa-Naa stepped over the calf successfully, the Wa-Naa was guaranteed a successful coming year.
Wa’s staple food is known as sao in the local dialect(Wale), which is often abbreviated TZ or T-Zed in English. Tuo Zaafi means “very hot tuo” in Hausa. It is a made of corn flour and usually eaten by tearing off a chunk and dipping into a soup, usually of okra.
Other foods common to the Waala’s are Kapala(a widely consumed food in Ghana, more commonly known as Fufu), Kuon-tulu(literally translated as “hot water” in Waale, a breakfast food commonly known as Kooko or Hausa Kooko) and Kpogulo(beans powder made into paste, wrapped in Cocoyam or Taro leaves and served with a side of tomato stew).
Wa is at the heartbeat of Walla history and the Upper West Regions are blessed with numerous tourist attractions, it is definitely a place to visit and like most places, there are several unlisted and (or) unpublished landmarks and tourist attractions hidden in plain sight. It is an inevitable fact that these heritage sites and destinations are economically viable and have potential.
The Tourist Resources Information Centre-TRIC seeks to unravel and maximize the vast touristic socioeconomic potentials of Wa and the Upper West region at large.
Stay with us, watch this space or join us on a nominal trajectory to maximize the under marketed touristic potentials of our land.
