Wa Naa's Palace
Upper West
Wa Naa's Palace serves as the royal residence of the King of the Wala people in Wa, located in Ghana's Upper West Region. The palace is a central hub for cultural, political, religious, and social activities among the local community. Architecturally, it is a traditional mud-brick structure built in the Sudano-Sahelian style, reflecting influences from Moorish and Sahel-Sudanese designs. The building features sundried mud-brick walls and distinctive Y-shaped wooden columns supporting flat roofs made from a bush-pole framework. The palace interior includes symbolic seating arrangements where the chief sits on lion or antelope skins, while others use cow or sheep skins. Historically, the palace also functions as a burial site for former kings, with graves located in front of the building. Due to the scarcity of skilled artisans, few such earthen structures remain in the region, making Wa Naa's Palace a rare and significant example of indigenous architecture. Preservation efforts were undertaken in partnership with the World Monuments Fund and Ghana Museums and Monuments Board to maintain this architectural heritage.
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Tip: Visitors are advised to plan their visit during the dry season for easier access and better preservation conditions. It is recommended to engage local guides for cultural insights and to respect the palace's sacred areas. Advance arrangements may be necessary for guided tours, and visitors should inquire about any available discounts for groups or educational visits.
Interesting facts
- •The palace is one of the few remaining historic earthen buildings in Ghana's Upper West Region due to the scarcity of skilled artisans.
- •The chief traditionally sits on skins of lions or antelopes, symbolizing authority, while others sit on cow or sheep skins.
- •The palace serves as a burial site for former kings, with graves located in front of the building.
- •The architectural style blends Sudano-Sahelian and Moorish influences, making it unique in the region.
- •Preservation efforts by the World Monuments Fund and Ghana Museums and Monuments Board were completed in 2012 to maintain the palace.
History
The Wala people, originally nomadic migrants from northern Africa's Sudan region, settled in present-day Wa and established a monarchy led by the Wa Naa as their supreme leader.
In the 19th century, the palace was constructed using traditional sundried mud bricks and Y-shaped wooden supports to withstand attacks, reflecting its defensive purpose.
The site also became the burial ground for former kings, underscoring its political and spiritual significance.
In 2009, preservation efforts began through a collaboration between the World Monuments Fund and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, culminating in restoration work completed in 2012 to safeguard the palace's unique architectural features.
Place Guide
Main Audience Chamber19th century
The central hall where the Wa Naa holds court and conducts cultural and political affairs. The chief's seat is traditionally placed on lion or antelope skins symbolizing power.
Y-Shaped Wooden Columns19th century
Distinctive wooden supports that uphold the flat mud roofs, characteristic of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style used in the palace.
Royal Burial Grounds
Located in front of the palace, these are the graves of former Wa kings, marking the palace as a sacred site of ancestral reverence.
