View source for Dambai

{{Short description|City in Oti Region, Ghana}}
{{Use Ghanaian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use DMY dates|date=August 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
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| official_name          = Dambai
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| settlement_type        = Regional Capital
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| image_skyline          = Vehicles and people awaiting the arrival of the ferry to travel across river Oti at Dambai.jpg
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| image_caption          = Ferry terminal near [[Oti River]] at Dambai
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| pushpin_map            = Ghana<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position =bottom
| pushpin_map_caption    =Location of Dambai in [[Oti Region]]
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| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = [[Image:Flag of Ghana.svg|25px]] [[Ghana]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Ghana|Region]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Oti Region]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[Districts of Ghana|District]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Krachi East District]]
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| population_as_of               =2012
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| coordinates            = {{coord|08|04|08|N|0|10|45|E|region:GH}}
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| elevation_m            = 111
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| postal_code_type       = [[Postal codes in Ghana|postal code]] <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
| postal_code            = VR
| area_code              = 036
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'''Dambai''' is a city and the capital of the [[Oti Region]] of [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2019/February-15th/dambai-is-capital-of-new-oti-region.php|title=News: Dambai is capital of new Oti region – News – Myjoyonline|last=Mordy|first=Jerry|access-date=2018-02-15|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904041409/https://www.myjoyonline.com/politics/2019/February-15th/dambai-is-capital-of-new-oti-region.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Peace FM |title=Dambai Chosen As Capital For Oti Region |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/politics/201902/375535.php |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news}}</ref>
== History ==
== Geography ==
=== Location ===
Dambai is the capital of the [[Oti Region]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=10-year-old boy allegedly commits suicide at Dambai - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/10-year-old-boy-allegedly-commits-suicide-at-dambai/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US}}</ref> It is located on the eastern side of the [[Oti River]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayamga |first=Emmanuel |date=2020-10-23 |title=Government to construct bridge over Oti River – Akufo-Addo |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/akufo-addo-government-to-construct-bridge-over-oti-river/vpphl0b |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Pulse Ghana |language=en}}</ref> a tributary of the [[Volta Lake]]. It was declared the capital of the region which was carved out of the existing Volta Region. It was given the Legislative Instruments as capital by President [[Nana Akufo-Addo|Nana Akuffo Addo]] on 15 February 2019 after it was chosen to be the capital. It is located in the heart of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) area.
== Flora and fauna ==
The outskirts of Dambai contain wild animals such as [[lion]]s and [[elephant]]s, duikers, cobs, several marine and land snakes such as vipers, and pythons, and buffalo. Fish in the lake include tilapia, cat fish, Nile perch, electric fish, puff fish. There are several types of oysters and clams as well as several types of crocodiles including the [[Nile crocodile]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-15|title=Dambai is capital of new Oti region|url=http://voltaregion.gov.gh/index.php/dambai-is-capital-of-new-oti-region/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=VRCC|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Economy ==
The occupation of the inhabitants is [[Agriculture|farming]] and [[fishing]] on the [[Oti River|River Oti]] with few inhabitants being employed by [[office]]s of the district assembly and [[teaching]] Education.
The town has a teachers' training school, [[Dambai College of Education]], and several [[second cycle]] schools. In 2013, another teacher training school and a nursing school, Aim Professional Training College and Mon Reve Institute, were established.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GHStudents |date=2018-11-09 |title=List of Courses Offered at Dambai College of Education - GH Students |url=https://ghstudents.com/dambai-college-of-education-courses/,%20https://ghstudents.com/dambai-college-of-education-courses/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The town has a number of senior high schools as well. They include Oti Senior High, Yabram Community Day Senior High and many others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senior High Schools in Ghana, their Location & WAEC Codes |url=https://shsvibes.com/schools/location |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=shsvibes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oti Senior High Technical Gallery {{!}} SchoolsInGh.com |url=https://www.schoolsingh.com/senior-high-schools/oti-senior-high-technical/gallery |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=schoolsInGh |language=en}}</ref>
== Culture ==
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ndetei |first=Chris |date=2020-10-02 |title=Guan tribe: history, language, food, dance, festivals, facts |url=https://yen.com.gh/171789-guan-tribe-history-language-food-dance-festivals-facts.html |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. |language=en}}</ref>
Several tribes can be found in Dambai. The [[Nchumbulu language|Nchumuru]] people are divided into 7 main clans: Kachenki, Susuro, Munkuri, Agyimbra, Abraman, Boyayi, and Wankanyaw. Other tribes are the Nawuri who can be identified into Njare, Kitare, Balai and Kabonwule clans and are mainly farmers and traders. The Kaachi, Addele, Akans, Ada, and Battor form other tribal groups in Dambai. The latter two groups monopolize the fishing industry on the Oti River. A litany of minor groups includes, the Kotokoli, Konkomba and the Basari who are farmers as well. Several Fulani pastoralist families are scatered in the Dambai-Njare wilderness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steffie |first=Ann |date=2021-05-20 |title=List of Oti Region districts and their capitals in 2021 |url=https://yen.com.gh/187055-list-oti-region-districts-capitals-2021.html |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mutuku |first=Ryan |date=2020-10-08 |title=Dagomba tribe: history, food, language, traditional dress, dance, facts |url=https://yen.com.gh/171327-dagomba-tribe-history-food-language-traditional-dress-dance-facts.html |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. |language=en}}</ref>
The indigenous people observe the Kipor Day 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. Young people are placed on guard to arrest those who break this rule, who are made to pay fines of sheep or goat and liquor that are sacrificed to the ancestors.
There is also the Fofie day, which falls on Friday. There are a lot of sacrifices to ancestors.
The Dambai Nchumurus have one of the most elaborate dance forms. These are normally for funerals. Sukudai is a funeral dance for elders, particularly clan heads and famous hunters. There is also Mbofou for hunters when they kill big game. Nchuso, meaning water dance, is for the ordinary Nchumuru man or woman when they die. Atokoiatokoi is a dance for elderly women or headwomen of a clan.
== References ==
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== External links ==
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{{Ghana district capitals|state=collapsed}}
{{Districts of the Oti Region|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|08|04|08|N|0|10|45|E|display=title}}
[[Category:Populated places in the Oti Region]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Ghana]]