The Ghana Education Service, through the Ministry of Education, announced Saturday, October 18, 2025, as the reporting date for new entrants who qualified and were placed in various senior high/technical schools through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) after sitting for the 2024 WAEC Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In the heart of the Savannah Region, Damongo students have started reporting massively at Damongo Senior High School and Ndewura Jakpa Senior High/Technical School, respectively, with smooth reporting processes and procedures, as observed by Spear FM News Team on Monday, October 20, 2025.

However, at Damongo Senior High School (DASS), there has been a different scenario altogether. The news team discovered that students are being asked to buy a 10-liter emulsion paint, specifically Savannah Emulsion paint. According to parents, this has not been part of the prospectus they downloaded from the government portal to prepare their wards for school.

Parents have lamented and questioned the move by the school, stating that this unforeseen cost will bring further burden and frustration to parents, especially those from far destinations. Some parents demand justification of this from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the school authorities, calling for further investigations and intervention from traditional leaders. They expressed shock that other schools are not demanding paint and questioned why Damongo Senior High School is an exception.

One parent, who sees it as an unforeseen additional cost, said he was told that the paint would be used for school rehabilitation, which he believes is a responsibility shared by both the government and parents. According to him, though it comes as an extra burden, he supports the move.

(Cue audio of Concerned Parent)

Meanwhile, close sources from school authorities say it was a decision by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). However, efforts to speak to school authorities and the PTA by spearfm.com was declined. However, many parents who spoke off the record have expressed frustration over the additional cost of buying paint, demanding a probe into the matter.

Tensions escalated in Gulumpe, located in the Kintampo Municipality of the Bono East Region, following a violent confrontation between two youth factions over the loading of charcoal onto a cargo truck.

The dispute, which involved members of the Gonja and Konkonba communities, turned violent when a young man from one faction allegedly stabbed another with scissors during the altercation.

Following the stabbing incident, both factions erected barriers in their respective territories, with reports indicating they were targeting individuals perceived to belong to the opposing group. The situation deteriorated further as the groups prepared for potential armed confrontation, with warning shots already fired in the area.

Local authorities moved swiftly to prevent further escalation. The Ghana Police Service deployed heavy security personnel to Gulumpe to restore order and maintain peace in the community.

The conflict highlights ongoing tensions in the area over economic activities, with the charcoal trade becoming a flashpoint for inter-ethnic disputes. Community leaders and security officials are working to de-escalate the situation and prevent further violence.

At the time of this report, one person is receiving medical treatment for stab wounds. No arrests have been confirmed, though police investigations are ongoing.

Residents have been urged to remain calm as security forces work to maintain peace in the community.

In a historic ceremony held at the Palace of the Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Jirah Bikunuto Jewu Soale I, on Monday, October 20, 2025, three students were given a royal send-off as they prepare to pursue medical education in China under a pioneering scholarship scheme.

The students—Mahama Jawu Kamal-Deen, Ebu-Yeh Najuan Khalid, and Khadija Akunatu are the first beneficiaries of the Yagbonwura Bikunuto Educational Fund, an initiative aimed at advancing educational opportunities for the people of the Gonja Kingdom.

The scholarship program, coordinated by Mufti Borejinkpir, who also serves as Secretary to the Gonjaland Youth Association, received applications from 44 students. Through a meticulous selection process, the pool was narrowed down to 15, then nine, and ultimately the three successful candidates.

The initiative was undertaken with the support of Hon. Yussif Sulemana, Member of Parliament for Bole Constituency and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

Speaking to the media at the ceremony, Mr. Borejinkpir outlined the vision behind the educational fund. “It’s been a year and half since we established the Bikunuto Educational Fund purposely to support the people of the Gonja Kingdom,” he said. “God willing, we have been able to secure scholarships for three of our children to study Dentistry and Medicine in China through the good name of our Overlord.”

He emphasized that the scholarship comes with a commitment to community service. “They have signed an undertaken agreement to come and give back to the people of Gonjaland before moving to any other hospital when they are back home after their studies in China,” Mr. Borejinkpir explained.

Looking ahead, the coordinator announced plans to expand the program. “Next year 2026, God willing, two of our students will be going to the United Kingdom to pursue their Masters Degree,” he revealed.

(Cue Audio of Mufti on Yagbonwura Educational Fund Scholarship)

Mahama Jawu Kamal-Deen, who will study Dentistry, expressed profound appreciation for the opportunity. “I promise to go and study hard to come back and give back to my people,” he pledged. “I am going to study Dentistry and will make sure I bring back the impact to my people, Gonjaland.”

(Cue audio of Kamal-Deen a Beneficiary)

Ebu-Yeh Najuan Khalid, one of two students who will read Medicine, could barely contain her excitement. “I just want to be grateful to the Yagbonwura, God and everyone for this opportunity to go and study and come back to Ghana, and I promise the people of Gonjaland that I will not disappoint them,” she said.

(Cue audio of Ebu-Yeh Najuan Khalid one of the beneficiary)

Khadija Akunatu, who was in Accra finalizing her passport arrangements, was represented by her father, Mr. Abdullai Nasiru Gyatta. “We thank God that Yagbonwura has set up such a foundation to support us,” he said. “They were about 44 students who applied and later shortlisted to the three which my daughter is one of them. May God bless everyone who helped make this come to reality.”

(Cue Audio of the Father of Khadija Akunatu, a beneficiary)

In a gesture of support, Yagbonwura Jirah Bikunuto Jewu Soale I gave the students his blessings and promised to back them with prayers. The Overlord also presented them with an undisclosed sum of money to assist with their initial upkeep upon arrival in China.

The Yagbonwura Bikunuto Educational Fund represents a significant investment in the future of Gonjaland, with the expectation that these scholars will return to serve their communities and inspire future generations to pursue excellence in education and healthcare.

The Headmaster of Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed has donated two-hundred dining benches worth thousands of cedis to the school.

The donation formed part of the headmaster’s contribution towards efforts tailored at inaugurating a newly constructed dining hall in the school.

Alhaji Mohammed during the presentation on the sidelines of the school’s Monday morning assembly, encouraged the students to remain focus on the primary reason of their existence in the school.

This admonishment when heeded to he said, will create a bright future for themselves.

In an exclusive interview with Spearfm.com, he explained the rational behind his generosity.

“The construction of the dining hall is at its final stages and as such, efforts have been made by stakeholders to put it into use so I decided to augment those efforts by donating the two-hundred benches as my contribution”.

He further disclosed that the donation of the benches was to also assist in curbing the menace of students delaying at the hall due to the inadequacy of dining furniture.

According to him, he funded the benches with support from his home-based association in the east Gonja municipality of the Savannah Region which has membership from the diaspora.

Students who spoke to spearfm.com, conveyed words of appreciation to the headmaster for his munificence and unrelenting pursuit of academic excellence in the school.

They implored other benignant individuals and organizations to emulate same.

Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed a few months ago, donated waste bins to help improve the sanitary situation in the school.

His continued support towards the school has received widespread commendations from teachers and students alike.

In a bid to resolve the conflict and ensure peaceful coexistence between Gonjas and Brifors in Gonjaland, Buipewura Jinapor II, Paramount Chief of Buipe Traditional Area and Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, has directed a delegation of Lobi chiefs from Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire to the Yagbonwura.

The delegation, led by the Overlord of Lobis in Africa and Vice President of the National House of Chiefs in Burkina Faso, accompanied by the Paramount Chief of Brifors in Bouna, Côte d’Ivoire, and other Brifor leaders in Ghana, sought the Buipewura’s intervention to resolve the conflict. However, they were directed to meet with Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Sale (I), the overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, led by Jewuasewura, a sub-chief from the Buipewura’s palace.

The Yagbonwura expressed gratitude for the Brifor chiefs’ efforts toward a resolution and peaceful coexistence, while condemning the unfortunate incident at Gbinyiri. He asked the delegation to step back, noting that the Gonja Kingdom is drafting bylaws for settlers in the kingdom. The Yagbonwura reiterated the kingdom’s commitment to resolving the issue and ensuring a peaceful relationship with all settlers, including the Lobis, while emphasizing that the Gonjas are the sole and allodial owners of all lands in Gonjaland and beyond.

After the meeting, Jewuasewura briefed the media on the outcome, providing insights into the discussions and agreements reached.

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Pastor Frank Tawiah Kuala, spokesperson for the Brifor delegation, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception accorded to them by the Buipewura, Yagbonwura, and the entire Gonjaland community. He commended the Yagbonwura’s leadership and commitment to peace, assuring that the Brifor delegation would fully comply with any bylaws drafted by the Gonja Kingdom. Pastor Kuala also promised that the delegation would work with the Gonja Kingdom to identify and sanction any violators of the law, ensuring a peaceful coexistence between the Gonjas and Brifors.

(Cue audio of Prophet Frank Kuala)

Gonjaland is experiencing mounting tensions over the planned enskinment of Ali Inusah Jallo as the Savannah Regional Fulani chief, scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the forecourt of the Jakpa Palace. The proposal has sparked heated debates within the community, particularly among youth groups, with opinions deeply divided over the implications of the appointment.

The controversy has played out prominently in online forums, including the WhatsApp groups “The Hearts of Gonja” and “GLYA OFFICIAL,” where youth have engaged in spirited discussions about the merits and drawbacks of elevating a regional Fulani representative within the traditional governance structure.

Proponents of the enskinment argue that the appointment will foster improved coordination and accountability among the Fulani pastoral community residing in the Savannah Region. They contend that the establishment of a dedicated regional chief will help curb illegal activities and address security concerns linked to Fulani herdsmen. Supporters point to precedents within Gonja communities elsewhere in Ghana, citing the successful integration of regional Gonja chiefs in Greater Accra and other areas as evidence that such arrangements can function effectively without creating complications.

However, a larger faction of youth has mounted staunch opposition to the proposal. Critics fear that granting formal recognition to a regional Fulani chief could fundamentally alter the power dynamics within Gonjaland by elevating the status of the Fulbe/Fulani people and potentially challenging Gonja authority over the land. This concern is particularly acute given recent communal tensions in the region.

Opponents cite the recent Gonja-Brifor conflict in the Gbinyiri area of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba as a cautionary tale, warning that similar disputes could emerge if the Fulbe/Fulanis gain greater institutional recognition. They argue that the current system adequately addresses grievances, with local Fulani chiefs already recognized by paramount chiefs capable of handling community disputes.

According to this view, unresolved issues can be escalated through proper channels to the Yagbonwura, the supreme overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, for final adjudication.

The opposing youth express particular concern that a regional Fulbe chief could circumvent paramount chiefs and appeal directly to the Yagbonwura, potentially creating governance complications and security vulnerabilities within the kingdom’s traditional structures.

According to reports gathered by local media outlets, the opposing youth have organized plans to stage a demonstration and petition Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale (I) to block the enskinment. The petition aims to convince the paramount ruler to reject the proposal ahead of Thursday’s scheduled ceremony.

The unfolding controversy reflects deeper questions about land rights, cultural identity, and the integration of immigrant pastoral communities within Gonjaland’s traditional governance framework. As Thursday approaches, all eyes remain on the kingdom’s paramount leadership to determine whether the enskinment will proceed as planned or whether community pressure will prompt a reconsideration of the proposal.

The Paramount Chief of the Damongo Traditional Area, Damongowura Seidu Kelly Boresa I, in collaboration with the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, has introduced new bylaws aimed at regulating the activities of butchers within the municipality.

The bylaws, which were unveiled on October 3, 2025, are designed to promote hygiene, safety, and respect for local customs and the environment. The bylaws include:

1. Registration of Butchers: All butchers and kebab vendors must register their identity and business location with the Chief Butcher under the supervision of the Damongo Youth Chief.
2. Slaughterhouse Regulations: All animals must be slaughtered at the abattoir (slaughterhouse) under the supervision of a joint inspectorate team from the Damongowura’s Palace and the Veterinary Office.
3. Inspection and Display: Heads, feet, and skins of slaughtered animals must be displayed on the workbench until close of day or exhibited until 12:00 noon the following day.
4. Kebab Vendors: Kebab vendors must comply with the display regulations and notify the joint committee/team when purchasing portions of slaughtered animals from registered butchers.
5. Leftover Meat: Leftover meat/unsold meat must be inspected by a veterinary officer and the youth chief before sales continue on the next day.
6. Sales Restrictions: No one is allowed to sell meat at the house level, obscured or changed location, except when registered with the authorities.
7. Cattle Owners and Fulani Herdsmen: Cattle owners and Fulani herdsmen are banned from traveling overnight to the Buipe market with their livestock for sale.
8. Night Slaughtering: No animal should be slaughtered at night, except in urgent cases, and must be done under the supervision of the Damongowura’s Palace or Youth Chief.
9. Dispute Resolution: All concerns regarding butchers and kebab vendors should be channeled to the Chief Butcher and the Youth Chief for resolution.
10. Scaling and Weights: All meat dealers are required to introduce scaling in gram measurements to avoid misunderstandings.
11. Fulani and Zambarama Retail Ban: Fulani and Zambarama people are not allowed to engage in direct retailing business on animal market days in Damongo.

The Paramount Chief has urged all stakeholders to comply with the bylaws, which aim to safeguard public health and contribute to the orderly growth of the municipality. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of livestock or meat for further investigation and sanctions.

Signatories include;

1. Damongowura Seidu Kelly Boresa I (Paramount Chief, Damongo Traditional Area)
2. Chief Luckman Salifu Soja (Damongowura’s Youth Chief)
3. Alhaji Yussif Adam (Chief Butcher, Damongo)
4. Mr. Bawa Masawud Ali (Butchers’ Youth Representative, Damongo) and cpoied to;
6. The Jakpa Palace, Damongo
7. All Paramount Chiefs in Gonja Kingdom
8. Hon. Regional Minister, Savannah Region
9. Regional Police Commander, Savannah Region
10. Regional Crime Officer, Savannah Region
11. Municipal Chief Executive, West Gonja Municipal Assembly
12. Municipal Crime Officer, West Gonja, Damongo
13. Municipal Police Commander, West Gonja, Damongo
14. Municipal Veterinary Officer, Damongo
15. Chief Butcher, Canteen
16. Minority Tribal Chiefs, Damongo
17. The Youth Chief, Damongo
18. All Animal Owners, Damongo
19. All Youth Groups, Damongo
20. All Media Houses, Damongo

The Bole Traditional Council held an emergency meeting yesterday Monday 13th October 2025 to address escalating tensions between the Gonja and Lobi communities while appealing for government support on critical infrastructure and administrative needs.

The meeting, held at Mom and Dad Lodge in the Bole Municipality, was called as communal violence between the two ethnic groups has sparked widespread concern among traditional leaders who view themselves as guardians of peace.

Speaking on behalf of Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I), Council Registrar Mohammed Abdulai described the conflict as a matter weighing heavily on their collective conscience, noting that the incident has caused pain, fear, and destruction that everyone must condemn in the strongest terms.

While acknowledging the Gonja people’s historical commitment to peace, tolerance, and neighborly respect, Bolewura emphasized that one principle remains non-negotiable: territorial integrity. “One thing Gonjas don’t tolerate is the claim for even an inch of our land,” he stated.

However, the Bolewura urged all parties to abandon violence in favor of dialogue, tolerance, and mutual understanding. “Violence has never been the solution to any disagreement; it only deepens wounds and divides families that were once united,” he said, calling on combatants to lay down their arms.

The traditional leader expressed confidence that government intervention will yield results, noting that authorities have established a committee to work with the Yagbonwura to investigate the conflict’s root causes and recommend sustainable solutions to prevent future incidents.

Beyond the immediate security crisis, the Traditional Council outlined systemic challenges hindering its operations. Most pressing is the lack of a permanent, adequately equipped office space. For years since the council’s inauguration, operations have proceeded under substandard conditions that officials say do not reflect their status or dignity.

The council seeks a modern office complex that would serve as both administrative headquarters and ceremonial center, providing proper meeting space, record-keeping facilities, and improved coordination of traditional affairs.

Transportation challenges compound administrative difficulties. The Council Registrar lacks reliable vehicles to attend meetings outside the traditional area, respond to emergencies, or fulfill official duties effectively.

Beyond these immediate needs, the Traditional Council faces multifaceted challenges including inadequate educational facilities, unresolved chieftaincy disputes, youth unemployment, insufficient healthcare services, poor internal road networks, and unresolved land boundary issues.

Rather than expressing despair, the Bolewura framed these challenges as surmountable through collective effort. “If we speak with one voice, if we put aside our differences, and if we uphold the values of respect and brotherhood, nothing will be impossible for us,” he stated.

The Bolewura made a passionate plea to President John Dramani Mahama, the Savannah Regional Minister, the Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi Constituency, and district administrators from both Bole Bamboi and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba districts to incorporate the identified challenges into their developmental agendas.

He emphasized that traditional leaders serve as agents of development and pledged that under his leadership, the council would continue engaging government and development partners to secure resources for the traditional area.

Invoking President Mahama’s recent remarks at the UN General Assembly—”if not now, then when”—the Bolewura urged stakeholders to seize present opportunities for development, particularly initiatives benefiting youth.

“This is the time for the development of Bole Traditional Area,” he concluded. “Let us utilize all the opportunities before us and no stone shall be left unturned until we get the needed development for our people.”