By Abdulai Zulkaninu | December 28, 2025
The Paramount Chief of the Damongo Traditional Council, Damongowura Kelly Seidu Boresa I, has taken the fight against drug abuse to the streets of Damongo, calling for the arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in the illicit trade and use of drugs.
Leading a street sensitisation campaign alongside organisers of the 2025 Dingoro Street Movement Festival and the leadership of the Gonjaland Youth Association, the Damongowura engaged residents along the principal streets of Damongo and visited selected chemical drug stores to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse.
Addressing participants during the campaign, the Damongowura urged law enforcement agencies to decisively enforce the law against drug offenders, assuring them of the full support of traditional authorities. He stressed that no individual arrested for drug-related offences would receive interference or protection from traditional leaders.
“No one will interfere with the operations of the security agencies, and no one will go to the police station to secure the release of anyone arrested for drug abuse. We want to build a peaceful and harmonious society, and we fully support the security agencies to remove all drug actors from the system,” he said.
The Dingoro Street Movement Festival is an annual initiative that recognises individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to community development within the Gonja Kingdom. According to the coordinator, Muftawu Habib Borejinkpr, the festival also serves as a platform for advocacy and public sensitisation on critical social issues, including drug abuse.
Mr Borejinkpr called on government, through the Savannah Regional Minister, to establish a rehabilitation centre in the region to support victims of drug abuse. He further advised the youth of Damongo and Gonjaland to desist from illicit drugs, warning of their severe health and social consequences.
The 2025 festival attracted hundreds of young people from across the Savannah Region. As part of the event, citations were presented to individuals in recognition of their selfless service to the community. Amariya Banku and Mma Hawawu Aqui were honoured for their consistent generosity in feeding street youth without discrimination.
The Damongo Redemption Children’s Home also benefited from the festival, as organisers treated the children to meals and entertainment to mark the occasion.
Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Bi-Awuribe, commended the Dingoro Movement Festival and the Gonjaland Youth Association for spearheading the anti-drug campaign. He assured residents that government, through the security agencies, is intensifying operations against unauthorised drug outlets and criminal networks, adding that arrests and prosecutions would continue.
President of the Gonjaland Youth Association, Alhassan Darison, appealed to the youth of the Savannah Region to abandon drug abuse and pursue education and skills development as pathways to a better future.
Participants at the event expressed appreciation to the organisers for bringing the campaign directly to the youth. One participant, Bawa Hamid, called for collective action to end the menace.
“We are grateful to the organisers of this festival and appeal to parents, traditional authorities, religious leaders and the state to intensify education, prevention and rehabilitation efforts to end drug abuse,” he said
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