Where did the GA people of Ghana originally come from?

Answer 1

Well a Ga professor told me That through his research ( including The Bible) he found evidence suggesting that we are isrealites hear is the story:

When we examine and discern Biblical prophecies (1 Peter 1:1; Genesis 15:13; Acts 7:6) that describe the "scattering" of the nation of Israel, we come to the realization that GOD(YAH) has fulfilled HIS devine promise to scatter HIS Israel people throughout "ALL" nations and countries, and among all tribes, especially, throughout the African continent. Deuteronomy 28:64 states, "And the LORD shall scatter (disperse) you among all people, from one end of the earth even unto other." There are some African tribes that identifies themselves and can be identified as Hebrew Israelites through their oral histories and cultural practices.

There are tribes in Africa, whose Hebraic customs and oral histories identify them as authentic descendants of the nation of Israel. Throughout the culture and history of the Ga-Dangmes of Ghana, is a very strong conclusive evidence that they are direct descendants of the Hebrew Israelties that migrated to West Africa by way of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Lake Chad, Ile-Ife, Dahome, Togo and to the Gold Coast (modern Ghana). Their cultural practices, laws and customs and even, some of their names are so identical to those described in the Holy Bible. Thus, the only logical conclusion to make is that they are, as they claim descendants of Biblical Hebrew Israelites.

Yet, debate goes on unabated as to the true origins of the GaDangmes of Ghana. Historians, anthropologists, geneticists, etc., may attempt to answer the question as to the origins of GaDangmes through different research methodology. Here, Dr. Josesph Nii Abekar Mensah attempts to respond to the question through Biblical history, oral history, scientific or logical reasoning. Consider an animal cell, for example, we may be able to identify it by staining techniques, and then examine it under a microscope. The presence of such structures as the cytoplasm, cytoplasmic membrane, nucleus and the nuclear membrane, nucleolus, golgi bodies, mitochondria, ribosomes, centriole, centrosome, fat globules, metaplastic inclusions, etc., may lead the scientist to infer that more likely than not the specimen or structure under examination in an animal cell.

Similarly, if we consider the Holy Bible, we find names of GaDangmes, their customs and tradtions, such as the Homowo Festival (see, Exodus 11:4-7; Exodus 12:1-50; Exodus 13:1-9; Numbers 9:1-5), names of some of their towns and villages (such as Tema (Job 6:19, Isaiah 21:14), Ada, Hebron, La, Osu, etc); GaDangme proverbs and laws (similar to the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20: 1-17) etc., are so identical to those in the Bible, and along with their oral history, the only logical conclusion one may make is that the GaDangmes are, as they claim descendants of Biblical Hebrews Israelites. The reader will find examples of GaDangme names, GaDangme cities, towns and villages, GaDangme proverbs and laws, customs and traditions on this website that are so similar to those in the Holy Bible in support of Dr. Mensah's contention.

Oral history had it that Ga-Dangmes people migrated from Israel about 6th Century B.C through Egypt, then to Ethiopia, having been expelled or exiled by the Assyrians (Hebrew Biblical Revelations, July 2008; see also: OMANYE ABA by A.A AMARTEY). In Ethiopia, they settled in the Gonder Province in northern Ethiopia, where the Blue Nile originates. That is where the name NAI WULOMO, meaning, HIGH PRIEST OF THE NILE comes from. In 640 B.C, the Assyrians attacked the Ga-Dangmes again while they were in Ethiopia. From Ethiopia, they travelled through Southern Sudan and settled for a period of time at Sameh in Niger and then to Ileife in Nigeria. They migrated again in 1100 A.D and settled at Dahome and later, travelled to Huatsi in Togo where they stayed briefly.

From Huatsi, the Ga-Dangmes travelled to the eastern banks of River Volta (know as JOR). From there, they crossed the Volta River at a place between the Old Kpong and Akuse and established settlements on the plains of Tag-logo where they lived till 1200 A.D. Later, the Ga-Dangmes migrated to the plains of Lorlorvor between Lorlorvor and Osudoku Hills. The Shai occupied a settlement in Shai highlands.

The Ga-Dangmes claim to be descendants DAN and GAD, the fifth and seventh sons of Jacob. Biblical history suggests that Jacob, whom God named YISRAEL had Leah as his wife who gave birth to four sons for him. When Leah noticed that she had passed child-bearing age, she gave her maid servant, ZILPAH, to Jacob to wife. Through Zilpah, Jacob had and Gad and four more sons. Jacob has two sons with Rachel. Rachel gave her maid servant Bilha to Jacob to wife when she passed her child-bearing age. Jacob had Dan with Bilha. Gad's fifth son was Eri who later formed a clan known as Erites (Genesis 30:9, Genesis 46:16, Numbers 26:15-19 and Deuteronomy 3:12; Genesis 30:4-8, 3:12.The descendant of Eri, son of Gad are believed to have founded the Nri Kingdom around 900 A.D of the South Eastern and parts of the mid-western Igboland in Nigeria with other tribes of Levi, Zebulon, Ephraim and possibly more. In the Book of numbers, the Bible had made extensive references to the children of Israel, which includes Gad and Dan and their children (Numbers 1:1-54).

Gad was the full brother of Asher (Genesis 35: 26; Genesis 46:16-18; Exodus 1:4;

I Chronicle 2:2). Gad (1749 BCE) was the 7th son of Jacob, first born of Zilpah (Leah's maid) and uterine brother of Asher. Numbers 26:15 cites the "son of Gad. The sons of Gad by clans: Zephlon and the Zephonite clan; Haggi and the Haggite clan; Suni and the Shunite clan; Ozni and the Oznite clan; Eri and the Erite clan; Arondi and the Arondite clan; Areli and the Arelite clan. The clans of Gad numbered about 40, 500 men (20 years and older, able to serve in the army of Israel.

Areli was the son of Gad according to Genesis 46:16 and Numbers 26:17. Areli was one of the 70 souls that migrate to Eqypt with Jacob (Genesis 46: 27). The GaDangmes of Ghana claim to be descendants of Gad and Dan according to their oral history and supported by their ancient Israeli traditions. Eri was the 5th son of Gad. The descendants of Eri were believed to have founded the Nri Kingdom about 900 A.D in Nigeria. The Igbos practice many of the same laws that GOD(YAH) gave to the Israelites.

Hosid Levi (2005) suggested in his writing, THE LOST TRIBES OF ISRAEL IN AFRICA, that the name Igbo is a form of the name HEBREW. In many ways, the affinity between the native Igbo law and the Mosaic legal system is remarkable, according to Levi (2005).

The GaDangmes of Ghana are believed to be related by blood to the Igbos of Nigeria. However, in his book, GA HOMOWO, Charles Nii Ammah (1982) stated that according to oral tradition, the Ga believe they migrated from Israel. Ammah suggested that the Ga people are descendants of Cush (Benjamin) from the twelfth tribe of Israel. He contends that the Ga people were really 'JEWS' who migrated from "Egypt" and settled on the land they now occupy. However, it is believed that the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were left behind in Israel following the attack of Israel by the Assyrians in 6th Century B.C. Ten of the twelve tribes were exiled by the Assyrians. If the GaDangmes were decendants of Benjamin as Charles Nii Ammah claims, they would probably have remained in Israel with tribes of Benjamin and Judah following the attack by the Assyrians. Regardless of whether one accepts Ammah's assertion or not, it is clear that the GaDangmes are Hebrew Israelites as suggested by their oral history, Hebrew names, customs and traditions.

Biblical history strongly lends support to the claim by Ga-Dangmes that they are HEBREW ISRAELITES due to the fact Ga-Dangme names are found throughout the Old Testament. Examples are: NIIKOILAI (Rev:2, 6, 15); AMASA (2 Samuel 17, 25; 1 Chronicle 33 20-21 DJAANI/JANNE, 2 Timothy 3: 8; AMON, 2 Chronicle 33: 20-21; ASHALE (ASAHEL), 1 Chronicle 2:16, 2 Samuel 2: 18-19.

King AYI KUSHI, spelled Cush in Hebrew, Genesis 10: 6 Jeremiah 13:23, Isaiah 18:12) led the Ga-Dangmes from Cush in Jerusalem to Ayawaso and was the founder of the GA DYNASTY. It is believed that the Ga-Dangmes Kingdom at AYAWASO was the first Kingdom in GHANA. It is interesting that Queen Dode (Dodi) Akaibi's name DODI is a Hebrew Name. Also, the name of the hunter, KADI, who found a group people at OSU DOKU and introduced them to the Nungua Mantse, is a Hebrew name. The Nungua Mantse, in consultation with the Ga Mashi Mantse gave Osu lands to the "KADI GBOI" or " guests of KADI as people of Osu were referred to.

Ga-Dangmes custom of circumcision (Luke 2:21; Acts 15:1-2,7,10; Romans 2:17-19; Romans 3:1; Col.2:8-14) of their male born; their Outdooring/Sanctification (Kpodjiemo) and naming of the GaDangme newly born baby on the eight day after birth, is in accordance with ancient Hebrew custom (Matthew 2:1-12); and their patriach or patrilenial traditions (Gen.15:5; Gen.25:19; Gen,12:2) further lend support to their claim that they are of Hebrew Israelites origins (Genesis 17: 1-12). The HOMOWO FESTIVAL ( FEAST OF PASSOVER, Matthew 26:17); (Exodus 11:4-7, Exodus 12: 1-50, Exodus 13: 1-9, Numbers 9 1-5) celebrated by the Ga-Dnagmes supports their claim that they are Hebrew Israelites, descendants of children of Jacob. One may note that in traditonal Ga Mashi (Accra) and other areas of Greater Accra, the GaDangmes used to paint the door posts of their houses with the blood of a lamb during the Homowo Festival. This was done to commemorate what the angel of God told Moses to ask the Israelites to do when they were under bondage of Pharoah. That way, the angel of God would only kill the first male born Egyptians babies and not the Hebrews (Exodus 11: 4-7). The door posts of houses painted with the blood of the lamb would let the angel of God know that those houses belong to the Hebrews; and thus, the angel would not enter those houses to kill the first male born. After the angel of God had passed, the Hebrews were to feast (Exodus12: 1-50); Exodus 13:1-9); Numbers 9:1-5). This is exactly what the GaDangmes do during the Homowo Festival. In subsequent years, the GaDangmes replaced the blood of the lamb with a red mud known as "ntsuma", when the lamb became too expensive for most GaDangmes to afford.

According to Abbey in his book KEDZI AFO JORDAN (1968), Ga-Dangmes tradition during which they put money in the coffins of their deceased relatives prior to burial is an ancient Hebrew Israelites custom. In ancient Israel of the Bible, the deceased were said to had been buried across the river Jordan. Coins were placed in the coffins of the deceased believing that their spirits will use it in "paying" for their passage across the River Jordan. The GaDangmes still practice this custom by placing coins in the coffins of their deceased relatives. The "abayan", a cloth belonging to the deceased, which is torn to pieces, and each piece placed on the left wrist of the deceased relatives and very close friends, is believed to be an ancient Jewish custom. Also, the DIPO or OTUFO female initiation custom of the GaDangmes is said to be ancient Hebrew Israelites customs. These and other ancient Hebrew Israelites traditions and customs still observed by Ga-Dangmes clearly lend credence to their claim that they are of Hebrew Israelites origins and which is supported by Tamar Kemp.

Tamar Kemp in his writing, "The Lost Tribes Of Israel" states that the GaDangmes did not just woke up to realize that they are Hebrew Israelites. Kemp contends that the ancestors of the GaDangmes knew all along that they are Hebrew/Israelites. Tamar Kemp describes the GaDangmes as authentic Hebrews Israelites whose ancestors once reigned supreme in the motherland -- Israel. Kemp assertion that the GaDangmes are of Hebrew Israelites origins is supported by Joseph J.Williams(2003) in his book, "The Hebrews of West Africa". New York, The Dial Press, 2003; and by Hosid Levi (2005) in his writing, "The Lost Tribes of Israel In Africa". That the GaDangmes are authentic Hebrew Israelites of the Bible is further supported by "Hebrew Biblical Revelations" of July 20, 2008

Since the Hebrew Isrealites origins of GaDangmes of Ghana is a matter still subject to debate, there are those who may say that the oral tradition of the GaDangmes is far-fetched (though the oral tradition of the GaDangmes strongly suggest that they are who they say their ancestors were ----- Hebrew Israelites. We are at a point, therefore, where it will be helpful if the oral tradition of the GaDangmes of Ghana is backed by science (geneticsts) as in the case of Lemba of Southern Africa (Tudor Partiff, 2000).

Answer 2

South Africa in the village of Mosembueqe.