The 47th edition of the annual Gonjaland Youth Association Congress witnessed in attendance very high profile personalities from far and near with Former President John Dramani Mahama, as the guest of honor.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Savannah Regional Communication Officer, RA Jalil.
According to him HE John Dramani Mahama congratulated the entire GLYA body for the successes chalked within the 47 year stretch of its existence, and for the well organized ceremony.
He mentioned that the Former President went on to proud himself as a Gonja, for witnessing once again the time tested Chieftaincy succession plan of the Gonja kingdom being put to test recently; after a new Yagbonwura was enskined without any disagreements.
Speaking on some key areas of development and on the theme of the occasion, “Promoting peaceful coexistence and investment opportunities for the sustainable development of Gonjaland, the role of the youth”, he elaborated on the food production and Agro-Business opportunities on the very vast land Ndewura Jakpa left for us. And urged the youth to exploit such opportunities, the statement added.
He however admitted poor road networks across Gonjaland is being a major hindrance to the utilization of these opportunities, and lamented on the abandoned roads projects started under his tenure as President that is Busunu Daboya road, Daboya bridge, Tamale-Salaga-Makango road, Npaha road, the statement stated.
According to RA Jalil the President promised to prioritize these projects when given an opportunity again to lead the country.
Citing the 147 km stretch of the Sawla-Damongo- Fufulso road as one major road done by him and his late boss vis-a-vis the economic benefits it is bringing onto indigenes along that stretch of road, he noted.
He outlined the great opportunities in the vast mineral deposits like Gold, lime stone, manganese, salt and river bodies within Gonjaland and the need, through right strategies, to exploit these natural resources as a means of getting jobs for the jobless youth in the region and Ghana as a whole, he furthered.
On the need to develop the tourism sector of the land when given the opportunity to lead, he cited well planned measures to further unearth the potentials of the Mole national park, the hippopotamus centuary, the Larabanga (mystic stone and Mosque), the tomb of Ndewura Jakpa, the slave trade market etc. all located on Gonjaland.
On Health, he stated a number of projects he undertook during his tenure as president which includes the Buipe Hospital, Sawla Hospital and the Bamboi Polytechnic.
He announced an agribusiness opportunity he is bringing onboard along the Tamale-Yapei and the Busunu-Daboya road to open up business opportunities for the young men and women within that area. Plans are far advanced in preparation of the land for that activities to take off.
Water they say is life; he lamented on the neglected nature of the Damongo water project, after securing funding for the project to kick start; but has been mercilessly abandoned by the Nana Addo/Bawumia government,the statement stressed on.
He has assured the Yagbonwura of his commitment to quickly commence work on the Damongo water project when voted into power.
On peace and coexistence among bounded neighbouring tribes,
he reiterated the point that the youth plays a very sensitive role in ensuring peace and stability in every area.
He called on the youth to use dialogue and legal means in settling both chieftaincy and land boundary issues with their neighbouring tribes to avoid blood shed.
The Former President was accompanied by a number of dignitaries which includes the Former Chief of Staff of Ghana Hon Julius Debra, Professor Joshua Alabi, Former Deputy Minister of Transport and Aid to the Former President, Hon Joyce Mogtari Bawa, the MP for Bole/Bamboi Constituency Hon Yussif Sulemana, the host MP Hon Hajia Zuwera Ibrahimah, according to the statement.
The S/R NDC executives according to Jalil was led by our able Chairman Alhaji Imoro Seidu and some constituency executives of the party were part of the entourage.
RA Jalil mentioned that an amount of Hundred thousand Ghana cedis (Ghc 100,000.00), one billion old cedi was donated to the Association to enable them run activities of the youth without hindrance.
Source: yagbonradioonline
