Paga — Mediated Wiki

{{Use Ghanaian English|date=January 2023}} {{for|the ICAO code listing|Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport}} {{Infobox settlement  | official_name = Paga | other_name = | native_name =  | nickname = | settlement_type = [[District]] Capital | motto =  | image_skyline = | imagesize = 300px | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = Ghana | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Paga in [[Upper East Region|Upper East region]] | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Ghana]] | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = [[Upper East Region]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[Kassena Nankana West District]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title =  | established_date = | established_title2 =  | established_date2 = | established_title3 =  | established_date3 =  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 =  | area_land_km2 =  | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi =  | population_as_of = 2013 | population_footnotes = {{citation needed|date=November 2015}} | population_note = | population_total = 102 | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = Religions | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  | timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|10|59|32|N|01|06|48|W|region:GH|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 210 | elevation_ft =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Paga''' is a town in [[Upper East Region]] of Ghana, lying north of [[Bolgatanga]]. Paga is the capital of [[Kassena Nankana West District]], a district in the [[Upper East Region]] in the northern part of [[Ghana]].<ref name="Kassena Nankana West District"/> The town is located on the [[Burkina Faso–Ghana border|border]] of [[Burkina Faso]] and is 166 km south of [[Ouagadougou]] via the N5 highway, the main road linking Ghana and Burkina Faso. The majority of the people of Paga are of the [[Kassena]] tribe.

== Overview == Paga is known for its sacred crocodile ponds,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ghana50.gov.gh/tourism/index.php?op=getUppereastsiteInfo&id=7 |title=Paga Crocodile Pond |publisher=Ghana50 |access-date=2011-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930192255/http://www.ghana50.gov.gh/tourism/index.php?op=getUppereastsiteInfo&id=7 |archive-date=2011-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> where most visitors are surprised that they can touch a live [[crocodile]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/regions/highlight_detail.asp?id=&rdid=139 |title=Paga Historic Sites |publisher=Ghana Expeditions |date=2007-09-07 |access-date=2011-09-21}}</ref> Paga is a small town in the [[Upper East Region]], and has a population of about 10,000.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} However, the entire population of Paga – including its outskirts – is over 100,000.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} Most of the inhabitants are [[farmers]] of the [[Kassena]] ethnic group, whose settlements and familial ties stretch over the colonial borders of Ghana into what is now [[Burkina Faso]]. The idea of different nationalities mean little to these people, who see their shared ancestry and ethnicity before what is the recent concept of nationality or religion. Many Kassenas in this small town Paga are [[Multilingualism|multilingual]], speaking their native [[Kasem language|Kasem]] and [[English language|English]] among other languages.

== Tourist site == '''Paga crocodile pond.'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-06 |title=The Paga crocodile pond - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/the-paga-crocodile-pond/ |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Foundation == According to legend, Paga was founded c. 1400 by a young man named Naveh, who was saved by a crocodile while on a hunting expedition.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}} He then left his village and settled in the place which is now Paga. The founder of the town, Naveh, when searching for a desirable place to settle, exclaimed 'Ayipaga' which means 'My eye is fixed on this land'. The place came to be called by that name, which in due course was shortened to 'Paga'.<ref name="Kassena Nankana West District">[http://www.kassenanankana.ghanadistricts.gov.gh/ Kassena Nankana West District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614140511/http://kassenanankana.ghanadistricts.gov.gh/ |date=2013-06-14 }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{sisterlinks|d=Q7124132|c=Paga, Ghana|n=no|q=no|b=no|v=no|voy=Paga|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}} * [http://www.ghana-pedia.org/org/index.php?option=com_directory&listing=Paga&page=viewListing&lid=28&Itemid=36 Ghana-pedia website - Paga]

[[Category:Populated places in the Upper East Region]]