padfm.com.gh / by Zulka
The 45th Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) Congress was held on 3rd April, 2021 in the Bole district of the Savannah region. The grand durbar that climax an intense and colourful congress was attended by the Vice President, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia, the Savannah regional minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril, all MPs across Gonjaland, MMDCEs, heads of departments, Chiefs, Queen mothers, religious and political leaders, various youth groups among others.
The Congress was under the theme ” Beyond Election 2020, Uniting Gonjaland for Rapid Socioeconomic Development “.
Addressing the durbar as the Special Guest of honour, the Vice President of the Ghana H.E Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of Gonjaland for making him to be part of the long standing tradition of the annual congress of Gonjaland Youth Association.
Dr. Bawumia commended the leadership of the Gonjaland Youth Association for the inclusiveness of all ethnic groups resident in Gonjaland. He was full of praise to the association for the role played in the restoration of peace to Bole and other traditional areas within Gonjaland.
Dr. Bawumia appealed to the leadership of the association to work hand in hand with his office to enable them develop the Savannah region, saying “any one who tries to separate the brotherhood of Gonjas and Mamprusis will failed”.
He promised the chiefs and people of Gonjaland that more developmental projects will come. The construction works on Daboya bridge will commence in June/July this year.
“We have constructed 630 projects in Gonjaland in four (4) years and 150 at various stages of completion. Major roads have been constructed across Gonjaland. The project that is so dear to my heart is the Daboya bridge.The contract has been awarded and work will begin in June or July 2021”,Dr.Bawumia said in Bole
Meanwhile Dr. Alhaji Mahammudu Bawumia presented a cash amount of Fifty Thousands Ghana cedis [ GHc50,000 ] towards the development of Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum and worship center at Nyange.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Damongo constituency, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor appealed to the Gonja Traditional Council (GTC) and the chiefs to support government in the fight against illegal charcoal burning and logging within the Savannah enclaved.
Abu Jinapor said with the support of the traditional rulers in the region government will be able to achieve its agenda in the fight against the depletion of the environment.
He opined there cannot people in our forests destroying the vegetative cover and a chain saw operator within the area without the knowledge of the traditional rulers. But promised government will do everything possible to preserved the ecosystem of the Savannah region.
Bolewura Kutugefeso I Safo, the Paramount Chief of the Bole traditional area in a welcome address read by Tunawura Isaac Dramani Mumuni appealed to government to upgrade the Bole District Assembly to a Municipality status. He said the assembly is one of the oldest among few ones in Ghana and also one of the biggest in terms of land size.
Bolewura further called to government to carved new district out of the Bole district.
The President of the Gonjaland Youth Association Lawyer Mohammed Amin Osman Esq, commended members and said the association will forever be grateful to the Gonja Traditional Council. He assured that members of the association will remain positive advocates and ambassadors for peace, unity, mutual respect, fairness, equity and justice in Gonjaland.
Touching on the congress theme “Beyond Election 2020, Uniting Gonjaland for Rapid Socioeconomic Development “, Lawyer Amin added that plans are underway in consultation with the Gonja Traditional Council to get a credible land register for the area. He said the Land register when adopted will help solve the land disputes in Gonjaland.
Lawyer Amin Osman appealed to government to upgrade the Damongo Agriculture College into full Agriculture University to complement the efforts of farmers in the area. He said Gonjaland is blessed with a lot of natural resources and so the need for an Agric university for the area
MP for Bole/Bamboi Constituency Yussif Sulemana Ori, who spoke on behalf of all the Gonjaland MPs called on government to collaborate with traditional leaders to end the illegal commercial charcoal production and logging, mitigate the growing insecurity and provide employment to the people of the area.
Yapei/Kusawgu MP, John Jinapor on behalf of the former President John Mahama donated Ten thousand Ghana cedis (GHc 10,000) to the association to help in the development of the Jakpa center.
padfm.com.gh / Abdulai Zulkaninu
