Introduction

Kumbungu District is located between latitudes 9⁰ ̍33 32 ̋ N and longitudes -5⁰ 65′ 5″ W. The district occupies an area of approximately 1,599 km sq. as its land mass. Kumbungu district has a population of 110,586 with 55,291 being males and 55,295 being females with an estimated growth rate of about (3%). Population density is approximately 50 inhabitants per square Kilometer. Females constitute about (50%) of the population whilst that of males also stand at (50%).

 The total number of the population of 27,694 (Male 13,784 and female 13,910) live in the urban areas. A total of 82,892 (Male 41,507 and female 41,385) live in the rural areas. (GSS, PHC 2021)

The District was carved out from the then Tolon-Kumbungu district by a Legislative Instrument, (LI) 2062 of 2011 which was inaugurated on the 28^th June 2012 with Kumbungu as its capital. The district shares boundaries with Mamprugu-Moagduri district to the North, Tolon and North Gonja districts to the West, Sagnarigu district to the south and Savelugu Municipal to the East.

• Ethnicity, Religion and festivals

The indigenous people are Dagombas; however, other tribes like Gonjas and Ewes who engage in fishing activities are found along the White Volta.

Dagombas constitute about (95%) of the district population, meanwhile, there are pockets of other tribes like Fulanis, Frafras, Moshies and so on in the district.

Islam and Traditional Religions are the predominant religions of the people.  However, it is worth mentioning that there are pockets of Christians across the broad spectrum of the population especially in the urban settlements.

There are a number of festivals in the area, the major ones are Bugum (fire) and Damba festivals celebrated annually.

• Economic Activities And Potentials of the District

Agricultural production is the main activity in the District and is practiced mainly on seasonal and subsistence level with a few engaged in irrigation farming around the Bontanga Dam, which accounts for about (60%) of the district’s labour force, these reflect the agrarian nature of the economy. In both rural and urban areas of the district, most people cultivate food crops like maize, rice, groundnuts, yam amongst others.

Generally, the standard of living in the district is low as compared to the National average as indicated in the District poverty mapping. The people earn very little and cannot save to build up capital for development. The average income per month for a household is about GHȼ20.20p. Nationally, the Northern regions are classified as the poorest regions in Ghana. In the northern region, among the numerous poor districts, Kumbungu is not an exception as majority of its inhabitants is peasant and subsistent farmers.

District Potentials

Kumbungu District has a lot of opportunities awaiting private investments; joint venture partnership between the private and the public sector and private – private sector investment. In the Agricultural sector, studies have shown that along the banks of the White Volta, irrigation farming is viable and can take place throughout the year. The Bontanga dam has a sizeable number of the population in Northern Region engaged in the cultivation of different crops ranging from vegetables to cereals. Available records show that the Kumbungu District has a comparative advantage over the other districts in the northern region due to its numerous potentials. It is worth noting that vegetables produced from the Bontanga dam and other smaller dams keep Tamale inundated with clean and healthy vegetables throughout the year through the introduction of the dry season green leafy vegetable cultivation. The district is also noted for the production of industrial crops like cotton and shea nuts. The District is endowed with vast tracks of pasture suitable for livestock production.  Kumbungu district is blessed with a good breed of cattle, sheep and goats. Another area of investment yet undeveloped is the poultry industry.

The District has economic trees like shea nut, mangos and dawadawa trees. Other economic activities undertaken include inland fishing, rice and vegetable cultivations in large areas and all year round.

Sand winning and gravel digging are also another source of income for the district as its contribute enormously to the Internally Generated Funds of the district. But this activity needs to be checked in order not to degrade the environment.

Tourism Potentials

A number of tourist attractions can be found in the District, which is largely untapped. These include:

1. The Dalun Water Treatment Centre
2. Traditional Artifacts at Logshegu

• The Night Market at Gbullung

1. Bontanga Irrigation Dam
2. The Voggu market in the evenings
3. The ancestral habitats of the Kumbungu people (Saling Ni)

• The ancestral grounds of the people of Dalun where alleged witches are sent (Nawuni)

Education

The University for Development Studies Tamale Campus which located in Gupanarigu Area Council was established in 1992 by the government of Ghana with a view to accelerating the development of the then 3 Northern Regions of Ghana (the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions). The late President Jerry John Rawlings played a crucial role in its founding as he used his prized money from World Food Prize of $50,000 as seed money for its establishment. It was set up as a multi-campus institution. It is the fifth public university to be established in Ghana. . This deviates from the usual practice of having universities with central campuses and administrations. It was created with the three northern regions of North Ghana in mind. These are the Northern Region, Upper East Region and the Upper West Region. It has four campuses in all, eight Faculties, a Business School, one Medical School, one Graduate School, one Institute and three centres.

This is a huge potential for Kumbungu district because since its creation in 1992, the school has seen a lot of infrastructural development and also turns out so many thousands of graduates for the job market within and outside Ghana.

The District is looking for other universities in Ghana and outside to collaborate in so many areas to bring about the full desired potentials of the district in terms of education.

 Governance Structures and Systems

Kumbungu District Assembly comprises of 24 elected members and 11 appointed members; totaling 35 members in all, plus one District Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament.

The District Chief Executive is the Political and Administrative head of the Assembly and chairs a Twelve (12) member Executive Committee of the Assembly. Directly under him is the District Coordinating Director who heads the bureaucracy. The District Coordinating Director also serves as the secretary to the General Assembly and Executive Committee meetings.

The district is sub-divided into six (6) Sub-district structures – One town council and five Area councils. These are Kumbungu Town Council, Dalun Area council, Gbullung Area Council, Gupanarigu Area Council, Voggu Area Council and Zanbgalun Area Council.