KLAGON CHIEF PALACE

Mavis Sekley DCS20563
HISTORY OF KLAGON CHIEF PALACE

The name ‘Klagon is pronounced as ‘Klangon’, but changed to Klagon by the Ningos. 

Some people from Ningo settled there to fish. They first settled at Borteyman where they worked for a while. The government decided to take over the Borteyman man lands for a university farm project. This meant the settlers had to relocate to the present area.

How the name came about. 

The whole area was known as  Lashibi, but during the Jerry John Rawlings era, there were designated shops in the town to help market state goods for the people.  The difficulty is that the town was too big for effective business during this era. It stretches from the Nungua area to the Ashaiman Underpass. This led to the formation of a delegation comprising the Ningos and Adas and other indigenes to the Castle to petition the seat of government for a possible demarcation of the town into two. But what would be the name?  The area of the present Klagon had a lot of the ‘klans’(hyenas) there. Since the Gas are also noted for using ‘gon’(hill), the name was adopted as such as ‘Klangon’ meaning the hill of hyenas.

The town has now welcomed other tribes such as the Fulanis and Ewes into the settlement as well and they are all doing great.

The Present Chief, Nii Bortey Klan I  was enstooled in November 2003. He recounts that place has seen a great development since he ascended the throne as Chief. Previously, the whole town becomes quiet and goes to sleep immediately after 6pm due to the calm and siren environment. It was a stack village which used to be transit point for those in Santeo.

History of Chieftaincy

Nii Bortey Klan I   is from the Nii Borquaye House of Nungua, same House the Klagon town belongs to.

This is as a result of the great change that took place back in the days. 

Previously, Nungua had power of chieftaincy over Santoe, Katamanso and Oyibi. But Nungua wanted a paramount status but this is subject to  the number of divisions the town possess. To meet this requirement, there were the institutions of various sub chiefs in the various towns under Nungua. This began with the chiefs of the various houses and families (weku).

As time went by, the whole town took shape with proper chieftaincy administration.

The boundary between Lashibi and Klagon is at Shalom junction (Shalom Spot). There is a road that divides the two towns of Community 19 and that is the boundary of both towns.

How is Klagon part of Tema?

This started with the Accra Tema City Council. Since the area was too large for administration, there was the need to divide to form separate Councils for the two towns. This brought a big challenge to the people of Nungua since part of that town was ceded to Accra. From the Nungua barrier to Accra is under the Accra City Council and from the barrier towards Ashaiman, Katamanso and other adjoining areas became part of Tema City Council. This posed great challenge for the people of Klagon since the payment of duties and other taxes goes to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly instead of the Krowor Assembly.  Since most developments are from such monies, the Klagon Township is often side-lined due to its geographical location.

Another challenge is the neglect of the Nungua side under the Tema Metropolitan Assembly’s deliberations. Political administration has given power of all land related issues to the Tema Development Corporation, whiles part of that power has been vested to the Tema Municipal Assembly. This has affected developments in the area but that albeit; it has seen some great and significant facelifts so far.

Developments So Far.

The roads which used to be clayey are  now in good conditions with most tarred.. This has been collaboration with the various Assembly members of the area.  The Chief has worked hard also to influence the construction the main road to Ashaiman. Other legacies are the constructions of the market and the police posts for the town. He also assisted to completely wall the government school from further encroachment. There is also a Divisional Council office for effective administration of the town. 

Currently, an ultra-modern palace is under construction. When completed, it will boast of a large space for mass gatherings. A piece of land has also being earmarked for the construction of a fire service station. He has also been instrumental in petitioning the Education Office to change the name of the TMA School from the previously known Lashibi TMA Junior School to Klagon TMA Primary School.

Challenges along the way

The Klagon land was at a time abandoned by Nungua and was taken over by the Government. Some Tema indigenes also took part of it. This led to various litigations with the people of Adjei Kojo who were also taking stakes in the land due to its proximity. 

The Adjei Kojo land which is a Nungua land was given to its founder by name Adjei Kojo upon a request by Nii Odai 1.(then chief of Nungua) , during the construction of the Tema motorway in 1965. Since most of the indigenes of Adjei Kojo were cattle farmers, the underpass was constructed to help their cattle and other poultry animals commute easily for grazing. The battle with Adjei Kojo for the Lashibi land took about seven years until it was finally resolved

Aspirations and Dreams

Within the next five years, the town is to be transformed into a city like New York in the United States of America. He is also wishing for peace and unity to drive the town forward together with the whole Nungua Township.