Banda Ahenkro

**Banda Ahenkro** be town wey dey de west-northern for Bono region insyd, Ghana, edey share border plus Ivory Coast. Ein geography provide am as de home for numerous groups wey dey hia shelter from across West Africa during de slave trade ein era. De original name for dah settlement be Serminakuu wey dey mean say groups of 'grasses'. Dis name dem change am to Banda, which be corruption of 'Woanda' wey dey mean say 'dey no come to bed'. Ancestors for Banda Ahenkro wey dem be allies of de Asante kingdom during wars den dey take give dem military force dat virtually make dem refuse to bed during de tym of war. Dis be sake of more of dem be predominantly Muslims den dem dey lyk praying throughout de gbeke. Later, 'woanda' dem san corrupted am by de Bono neighbours wey e cam turn Banda. De settlement dey evolve wey e cam turn de bossu town anaa 'Ahenkro' for de Nafana communities.

Banda Ahenkro wey ebe de district capital of Banda District, dem carry am from Tain den form am as part of de new districts den municipalities dem create for de year 2012 insyd wey dem inaugurated for various locations simultaneously on 28 June 2012 insyd.

De late presido, H.E. J.E.A Mills, by an Executive Instrument (E.I) created 46 new districts. All de inaugurated den confirmed MMDAs established den operational wid immediate effect for 2012 hence bringing de total number of MMDAs to 216.

De district get population of 45,000 wid Banda Ahenkro wey get population of 2,795 as of 2010 plus males being 21,000 den females being 24,000. De population has been increasing over de years wid dema growth rate of 2.6%.

## Economy
Agriculture be dema main occupation among de workforce for Banda Ahenkro.

## Transportation
Banda Ahenkro, de capital of Banda District be 126 kilometres away from Sunyani, de regional capital (ebe approximately 1 hour 47 minutes’ drive by road). De town be connected by road to Wenchi den Bui wey gey hydro electric power, Bui Dam. Banda Ahenkro no get railway station for Ghana Railway Corporation.

## Communications
De town of Banda Ahenkro be town wey gey modern communication facilities such as, mobile phones, internet den e-mail services. Dese services are provided by telecommunication network providers MTN Ghana, AirtelTigo Ghana den Vodafone Ghana.

## Culture
De people of Banda Ahenkro dey celebrate 'Forjour' which be a popular festival dat dem celebrate am for de town insyd. 'Forjour' be yam festival celebrated insyd de month of October for every year, dema climax for de yam festival be de durbar for dema king (Omanhene) thru Banda traditional area. Dem dey use de festival as a means to remember dema ancestors to biss protection den favour from dem. Dem san use am to purify demma area den allow ein people go into traditional New Year wid hope.

## Sports
Many residents for de Banda traditional area follows the Banda Ahenkro-based sports team, Bandaman Football Club, which rydee playing for de second division league.

## Notable people
Banda Ahenkro be home den birthplace of Ahmed Ibrahim, de current member of parliament for Banda District, Mr. Alexander Kofi Essien, lead counsel Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, den chaw odas.

## Health
Banda Ahenkro on 31 May 2005, de Ghana Health Service dem hand ova multi-million-cedi Health Centre to de people at Banda Ahenkro wey dey Bono Region.

Osabarima Okokyeredom Kwadwo Sito I, Omanhene of Banda Traditional Area, who take de keys of de facility from Mr Ebenezer Awuku, Estate Officer of de Ghana Health Service (GHS) in Sunyani in turn handed dem over to de health personnel in-charge for de centre. De Omanhene commend de government den de GHS for de hospital.

## Tourism
Tourists to Banda Ahenkro gey attracted by de area natural environment. Attractions include de Nyua Kpoo Mountain den de Sheli Kpoo cave which be potential tourist sites.

## References