Dambai

Dambai
District Capital
Dambai Location in Ghana
Coordinates: 08°04′08″N 0°10′45″E / 8.06889°N 0.17917°E
Country	Ghana
Region	Volta Region
District	Krachi East District
Elevation	364 ft (111 m)
Time zone	GMT
• Summer (DST)	GMT (UTC)

Dambai is a small town and is the capital of Krachi East district, a district in the northern part of the Volta Region of Ghana.^[1]

Geography

Location

Dambai is located on the eastern coast of the Volta Lake. Dambai in fact is the fastest growing town in the Region of Ghana. according to a feasibility studies conducted by the Ghana Electricity company of Ghana who erroneously manages the electrification of power supply to the town, a case that should never have been since Dambai is located in the heart of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) area the town is far more bigger than Hohoe the former capital of the Volta Region. Owing to this fact Dambai is no longer a small town but a big town. In fact from dodoikope on the other bank of the lake after crossing the lake with the pantoon one could see the sprawling town of Dambai with its beauty.From here one can see most of the important places of the town such the Dambai Collage of Education, the old police station still being used as the police Barack, the the famous Dambai Market that becomes very colorful on the two market days.

Flora and fauna

Owing to the location of Dambai on the Volta lake that has blessed it with fertile land and plenty water the Dambai area is blessed with many plant and animal lives. The outskirts of Dambai contains wild animals such as lions, tigers, and elephants, duikers, cobs, several mirine and land snakes such as vipers, pythons, bufallos. fish in the lake include tilapia, cat fish, Nile petch, electric fish, puff fish. There are several types of oysters, clams as well as several types of crocodiles including the nile crocodile

Economy

The town has a vibrant market that falls on Monday and Tuesday to which market people across the Krachi East District and Togo come to. The occupation of the inhabitants is farming and fishing on the River Oti with few inhabitants being employed by offices of the district assembly and teaching.

Education

The town has a popular teachers training school Dambai College of Education(DACE) and several second cycle schools. In 2013, another Teacher training and a Nursing training schools by names Aim Professional Training College(APTRACO) and Mon Reve Institute were established.

Tourism

Dambai has several tourist attractions. The famous of which include the ferry that is used to cross the river. There are also ancestral shrines including the Jabuni, Denteh and Tigare shrines. Traditional beliefs. The indigenous people maintan the Kipor Day. The Kipor is observed on every 6 days. It is equivalent to the Jewish Sabbath. on this day no one is expected to go to farm or engage in activities deemed to be farming and this is strictly enforced. Guards made up of youth are put on guard to arrest those who break this rule and are made to pay fines of sheep or goat and liquor that are sacrificed to the ancestors. There is the fofie day which falls on Friday. It is a Fofie day that is elevated more than any of the days. There are a lot of sacrifices to ancestors. A lot of people come to celebrate the day. There are several tribes that can be found in Dambai. The Nchumuru people, the indegenes are divided into 7 main clans with each having their quarter. 1) Kachenki, 2) Susuro (top), 3) Munkuri (laughter), 4) Agyimbra (law makers), 5) Abraman, 6) Boyayi, 7) Wankanyaw. Other tribes are the Zabarama and Hausa who engages in trading, the Kotokoli, the Ewe and ada who fish on the Oti River the Konkomba and the Basari who are farmers, several Fulani can also be found rearing cattle that are kept in the area. Dambai is under Burai, a town about 40 kilometers across the Oti River, and the capital of the Krachi-Nchumuru District Assembley which is the head Nchumuru Paramouncy. Villages under dambai include Jato Akura, Ankra Kura, Munkrate. The Dambai Nchumurus have one of the most elaborate dance forms. These are normally for funerals. Sukudai is a funeral dance for the elders particularly the head of clans and famous hunters when the join the ancestors. There is also Mbofou for hunters when they kill big games. Nchuso meaning water dance is for the ordinary nchumurus man or woman when they die. Atokoiatokoi is also dance for elderly women or head of women of a clan.

References

1. Krachi East District

Coordinates: 08°04′08″N 0°10′45″E / 8.06889°N 0.17917°E