Waa Naa's Palace

The Upper West Region was carved in 1983 out of the then Upper Region of Ghana. The West African nation had started a decentralization policy which aimed to bring modern political governance to the everyday citizen. The region is located in the north-western part of Ghana and shares borders with La Cote D’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Upper East Region to the East and the Northern Region to the south. Its regional capital is Wa.
The Wa-Naa’s Palace (Wa king) Palace is over two hundred (200) years old. The edifice serves as a visual reminder of the centralised traditional authority of Wa Naa the overlord of the Waala. It also serves as his residence. The Wala state was founded by Naa Pelpuo I. complex sculptural piece.
The visual composition of a building (Unity) is conspicuously displayed. It is both simple and complex. Simple at distance with powerful vertical buttresses and massive walls giving a bold and simple image. The repetitive arrangement of the buttresses along the façade introduces vertically into an otherwise horizontal composition. The visual composition of the palace is further enhanced by the contrast of colour. The black painted plinth is contrasted by the white body of the walls and the black pots capping the pinnacles of the buttresses. The fenestrations form an interesting geometry. The two main entrances (as by cultural principles) along the south façade are harmoniously related to the small sized windows as they run along the walls and rhythmically play with the buttresses.