# Bimbilla

Bimbilla is the capital town of Nanumba North District, a district in the Northern Region of Ghana. It is located in the East of the region, and is near the Oti River. The location is situated within the range of 8.5° north to 9.25° north latitude, and between 0.57° east to 0.5° east longitude. It borders five municipalities: Yendi Municipal to the north, Mion Municipal to the northwest, East Gonja Municipal to the west and southwest, Nanumba South Municipal to the south and east, and Zabzugu Municipal to the north-northeast.

## History

Bimbilla was founded by Naa Ŋmantambo (son of Na Gbewa) after moving south from his brother Sitobu who founded the present day Dagomba state. The new state was subsequently called Nanung which came from the Dagbani words "Naa" (King or Chief) and "Nua" (Hand). Naa Sitobu is said to have pointed his hand south and Naa Ŋmantambo and his followers went in the direction indicated by the hand. So "Naa Nua" (The King's hand) became Nanumba. Among the towns created in the early period around 1350 were Nakpa, Bakpaba, Joanayili, Dokpam, Chamba, Gbingbalga, Darayili, and Wulensi are all Nanumba towns in northern Ghana. Salaga was a later addition which was taken by the Gonja and turned into a commercial capital. Bimbilla was attacked and burnt down by the German colonial army on 29 November 1896 as precursor to the great battle of Adibo against the Dagomba army. Today Bimbillla is district capital of the Nanumba North district.

## Population

The population of the Nanumba North Municipality according to 2021 population and housing census by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) stands at 188,680 with 92,279 males and 96,401 females.

## Education

Bimbilla has a Teachers' Training College set up by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 1962; it's now called Evangelical Presbyterian College of Education. It also has one secondary school called Bimbilla Senior High School, which is a day school and one Vocational training School which serves neighboring communities. Most of its successful inhabitants would have schooled in Yendi or Tamale as in the past the secondary school was deemed to be less endowed.

## Health

The Bimbilla Hospital, also known as the Bimbilla Government Hospital, is a district hospital located in Bimbilla, the capital of the Nanumba North Municipality in the Northern Region of Ghana.
It is a secondary level hospital, and in 2022, it was recognized as the Best Performing Secondary Level Hospital in the Northern Region by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Excellence Awards.
Also, it has other smaller health facilities within the township.
The Millennium Hospital Bimbilla - a level B2 health facility and Alaafee Medical Center also a level B2 health facility of which are all accredited to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

## Governance

Bimbilla serves as the headquarters of the Nanung Traditional Council, presided over by the paramount chief. The jurisdiction of the Nanung Traditional Area spans across the Nanumba North Municipality, Nanumba South Districts, and portions of the Nkwanta North District. The traditional council comprises ten paramount chiefs and thirty-two divisional chiefs.

## Transport

Bimbilla is connected by road to the towns of Salaga and Yendi. A road to Nkwanta is being funded $50 million by the European Union.

## Chieftaincy dispute and unrest

On June 19, 2014, the chief of Bimbilla, Naa Abdulai Dasana Andani was shot and killed in his palace after Islamic evening prayers. This murder led to the imposition of a 12-hour curfew from 6 pm to 6 am on the town.