By Abdulai Zulkaninu
The King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, has commissioned and handed over a modern Guidance and Counselling Centre to Damongo Senior High School, reaffirming his unwavering commitment to education and youth development in Ghana.
The state-of-the-art facility was constructed through the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund to strengthen student welfare by providing professional guidance and counselling services, career development support, emotional assistance, and psychosocial care in a safe and student-friendly environment.
The commissioning ceremony, held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the forecourt of the school’s administration block, attracted high-profile dignitaries, including the Savannah Regional Minister, the West Gonja Municipal Chief Executive, officials of the Ghana Education Service, traditional authorities, heads of institutions, security service commanders, and members of the public.
Addressing the gathering, the Coordinator of the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund, Mr. Habib Muftawu Borejinkpar, explained that the Fund, established in 2023, was founded on the belief that no child should be denied access to quality education because of financial hardship. He disclosed that since its inception, the Fund has awarded scholarships worth more than GH¢300,000 to over 60 tertiary students across Ghana, with three beneficiaries currently pursuing medical studies in China.
According to him, the newly commissioned Guidance and Counselling Centre is designed to complement academic learning by providing students with emotional, psychological, and career guidance.
“This is not just a structure of bricks and mortar; it is a centre of hope, healing, mentorship, and transformation,” he stated.
Mr. Borejinkpar praised the Yagbonwura for his visionary leadership and dedication to education despite not having had the opportunity for formal education himself. He described the King as a leader whose legacy is defined by wisdom, humility, and an unwavering commitment to investing in the future of young people.
He also expressed special appreciation to Mr. Iddrisu Mohammed, Special Assistant to the Yagbonwura, for his instrumental role in coordinating the successful implementation of the project.
The Savannah Regional Director of Education, Mr. Bright A. Lawoe, underscored the growing importance of guidance and counselling in contemporary education. He noted that quality education must address not only academic achievement but also the emotional, moral, and social development of students.
Referring to the Ghana Education Service’s new Guidance and Counselling Framework, Mr. Lawoe explained that the policy promotes preventive and developmental support systems to equip learners with resilience and essential life skills.
“True education nurtures the whole child, equipping learners with the resilience and life skills needed to thrive in an unpredictable world,” he remarked.
He urged the school authorities to maintain the facility properly and encouraged students to make full use of the counselling services available.
The Savannah Regional Minister, Lawyer Salisu Be-Awuribe, commended the Yagbonwura for the initiative, describing it as a significant investment in the future of the country’s youth. He emphasized the importance of learning, guidance, and mentorship in leadership development, noting that learning begins with listening. He further called for sustained support for counselling services, observing that even counsellors require guidance to perform effectively.
In his welcome address, the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Di-Yakah Ibrahim Salifu, described the commissioning as a historic milestone in the school’s development.
He said the facility represents more than a physical structure, describing it as a deliberate investment in students’ emotional well-being, mental health, character formation, and personal growth alongside academic excellence.
“We are not merely commissioning a building, but celebrating a vision that places the welfare and holistic development of our students at the centre of education,” he stated.
Mr. Salifu expressed profound gratitude to the Yagbonwura and the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund for what he described as a remarkable and generous contribution, noting that the centre would help address challenges such as peer pressure, mental health concerns, career uncertainty, and other issues confronting students.
The colourful ceremony featured impressive cultural performances by students and a guard of honour mounted by the school’s cadet corps, adding splendour to the occasion.
The newly commissioned Guidance and Counselling Centre stands as a lasting symbol of the fruitful collaboration between traditional leadership, educational institutions, and the wider community in nurturing a resilient, confident, and well-guided generation of future leaders.
