In a heartwarming display of commitment to education and community development, the Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor, has donated furniture to the Educational Directorate of the West Gonja Municipal Assembly. This generous gesture aims to alleviate the furniture deficit in schools, enhancing the learning environment for students.

The donation, presented on behalf of the MP by the NPP Constituency Chairman, Alhaji Adam Braimah, underscores the lawmaker’s tireless efforts to bring development to his constituents. Chairman Braimah emphasized that this act is part of the MP’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of the people, citing notable achievements in healthcare, education, farmers’ empowerment, women’s empowerment, and youth employment.

“The MP’s achievements in our area are unmatched,” Chairman Braimah said. “He has brought development to all aspects of life in our constituency, and we are grateful for his tireless efforts.

The furniture donation was financed from the MP’s share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), highlighting his commitment to utilizing available resources for the betterment of education in the constituency.

The Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Issahaku Iddisah, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the MP for the donation. He revealed that upon assuming office, he was faced with a significant furniture challenge in schools, which prompted him to reach out to the MP for support.

“This donation is a huge relief,” Mr. Iddisah said. “It’s not the first time the MP has supported education in our area. He has previously donated furniture, motivated teachers through award schemes, and even built Kindergarten blocks for us.”

However, Mr. Iddisah appealed for further support, highlighting ongoing challenges such as electricity power debt, lack of computers, printers, and other office logistics. He urged stakeholders, chiefs, businessmen, and the general public to support education, emphasizing that children are the future leaders of the community.

The Headmistress of St. Theresa’s Primary School, Soale Latifa, also expressed gratitude for the donation, stating that it will significantly improve the learning environment. She noted that the furniture shortage had hindered group work and other activities, with some students forced to lie on the floor to write.

“We are thrilled to receive this donation,” Soale Latifa said. “We hope for more support to completely eradicate the furniture problem in our school.”

This donation is a testament to the MP’s commitment to education and community development. As the West Gonja Municipal Assembly continues to face challenges, the support from stakeholders like Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor is crucial in shaping the future of the area’s children.

The Directorate of Education’s plea for additional support highlights the need for collective effort in addressing the community’s challenges. As the community looks forward to more development, the MP’s efforts serve as a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

The Savannah Regional Branch of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) held its first delegates conference at Damongo, the regional capital on Saturday 10th May, 2025.

The conference, which saw the election of new regional executives, was attended by various stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Savannah Regional Lands Commission and the Electoral Commission of Ghana who supervised the election.

The newly elected executives, who will serve for the next four years, are:

1. Regional Chairman: Dr. Kapori Abutu
2. Regional Vice Chairman: Al-Hassan Mustapha
3. Regional Secretary: Peter Mahama
4. Regional Organizer: Asumah Baba Iddisah
5. Regional Financial Secretary: Mahama Awa
   6.Regional Treasurer: Ibrahim Shafiwu
6. Regional Women’s Organizer: Gbolo Dawuda
7. Regional Youth Organizer: Zakaria Mohammed Amin

1. In a speech delivered on behalf of the Regional Director of MOFA, Alhaji Ibrahim Mumuni, by the Deputy Regional Director emphasized the importance of supporting the new leadership to ensure the success of the association. He noted that the congress was not just about electing new leaders but also about strengthening the bond between all stakeholders.

“We all need to support them to successfully steer the affairs of the association to the promised land,” she said. “The new leadership must also be prepared to carry the torch of advocacy, reconciliation, consultation, capacity building, influencing policy, and ensuring that the voices of farmers and fishermen are heard at every level of decision-making”.

A representative of the Regional Lands Commission highlighted the importance of land registration, including farmlands. He noted that registering farmlands would help secure them from sale or encroachment by other individuals.

“Registering your farmlands will help you secure your lands from sale or encroachment by any other person,” he said. “It’s been a worrying issue for us when farmers lose their land due to their inability to register with the Lands Commission.”

He urged all farmers within the association to register their farms with the Lands Commission.

The National Women Organizer of GNAFF, Naana Asi Tettey Akplehey, emphasized the importance of women’s roles in promoting GNAFF activities. She noted that women are key stakeholders in every society and organization.

“In every society and organization where women find themselves, they are seen as key stakeholders,” she said. “I urge all women to play their roles well in promoting GNAFF activities.”

The Consultant of GNAFF, Francis Opai Tetteh, called for the reorganization and rebranding of GNAFF to effectively promote its work. He noted that GNAFF, which was established by the 1992 Constitution, has over the years lost its status and effectiveness due to poor leadership.

“GNAFF is the mother trade union of all associations in the agriculture sector,” he said. “We need to uphold the vision of the Association to perform well as per its slogan ‘We feed the Nation’.”

The newly elected Chairman of the Savannah Regional Branch of GNAFF, Dr. Kapori Abutu, expressed his gratitude to the members for electing him and his team. He noted that the election marked an important milestone for the association in the region.

“Today marks an important day in the Savannah region,” he said. “We’ve come together to lift the image of Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen in the Savannah region, and together as a team, we shall move forward the crusade, objectives, and plans of GNAFF in the region.”

He emphasized that leadership is not just about leading people but about working together as a team to transform the region in terms of agriculture.

“Change will come, and change will start from the farmer,” he emphasized.

Dr. Abutu concluded by stating that his team is committed to serving the people of the Savannah region, particularly farmers. “We have duly accepted to serve the people of Savannah region, especially farmers,” he said. “We will work tirelessly to ensure the development of agriculture in the region.”

The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, has inaugurated a 14-member Savannah Regional Lands Commission Committee, chaired by Kulukuwura Alhaji Sachibu Harruna. The ceremony took place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Conference Hall of the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council in Damongo.

The committee’s membership is prescribed by the 1992 Constitution and comprises representatives from selected professional groups, farmers, and fishermen associations, the Ghana Bar Association, traditional leaders, and local authorities from all seven districts in the region.

During his inaugural speech, Deputy Minister Sulemana emphasized the critical role lands play in human setups and the importance of proper management. He noted that land is a catalyst for socio-economic development and that the government has identified its proper management as a priority.

“The Savannah region, being the largest in Ghana in terms of land size, has a great opportunity to leverage its natural resources to accelerate socio-economic development, create jobs for the youth, and curb the menace of high opioid intake in the region,” he said.

Sulemana added that the Regional Commission, mandated by Article 260(1) of the 1992 Constitution, has a significant role in managing and utilizing land in the region. He charged the board to engage traditional rulers in the effective discharge of their duties, acknowledging the importance of farmers and chiefs in land administration and management.

The Deputy Minister concluded by expressing hope that the Regional Lands Commission would lead education on the Land Act in the region, ensuring that deeds are registered as mandated.

In response, Board Chairman Kulukuwura Alhaji Sachibu Harruna expressed gratitude for the early inauguration and promised to deliver as expected. He committed to overseeing the administration and management of land in the Savannah region in accordance with the Land Act of Ghana, 2020 (Act 1036).

Harruna outlined his priorities, including: Efficient and transparent land allocation and utilization, Alternative dispute resolution, Promoting registration of land ownership and interest, Land use planning to eliminate arbitrary development and urban slums and Enhancing collaboration among traditional leaders, government agencies, civil societies, and the private sector.

He concluded, “I commit to working tirelessly to address the challenges of land management and ensure that our systems are efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.”

The ceremony was chaired by the Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Issifu Be-Awuribe, Esq.

This inauguration marks a significant step towards effective land management and administration in the Savannah region, with the potential to drive socio-economic development and improve the lives of its people.

The people of Sonyo in the Bole municipality are crying out for help as they endure a total power outage that has befall the community after a rainstorm broke some electricity poles last Sunday 27th April, 2025 causing the only tranformer serving the Sonyor community to fall.

Sonyowura Adamu Kanyiti, the paramount chief of the Sonyo Traditional Area, made a heartfelt appeal to authorities to intervene and restore electricity to his community when Spear FM’s news team visited him at his palace on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

According to Sonyowura Kanyiti, the power outage has had far-reaching consequences, affecting businesses, households, and even public health, as traders in perishable goods, such as cold or seafood, are struggling to keep their products from deteriorating, while grinding mills lie idle, making it difficult for women to prepare food for their families.

The Sonyowura expressed concern about the potential health risks associated with the prolonged power outage, citing the increased risk of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) as people are forced to sleep in warm, poorly ventilated rooms. He also lamented that the lack of electricity has disrupted communication, as his mobile phone has been off, making it impossible for the Yagbonwura, the overlord of the area, to reach him.

Sonyowura Kanyiti specifically appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, Savannah Regional Minister Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe, and MP for Bole-Bamboi Constituency and Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Yusif Sulemana to intervene and restore power to Sonyo. He also urged the authorities to expedite the process of appointing a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Bole Municipality, which he believes would facilitate quicker response to such issues.

The Sonyowura explained that the absence of an MCE has hindered the community’s ability to address pressing issues like the power outage, emphasizing that the MCE would have been his first point of call in this situation. He hopes that with an MCE in place, the community would receive more prompt attention to its needs.

(Cue Audio of Sonyowura on power)

As the people of Sonyo wait with bated breath for relief, the Sonyowura’s appeal serves as a reminder of the critical role that electricity plays in modern life and the need for effective governance to address the needs of communities.

Deputy Lands Minister Breaks Ground for Lands Commission Office Complex in Savannah Region

In a groundbreaking event, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Yusif Suelmana, on behalf of the substantive minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has cut the sod for the construction of a two-storey office complex for the Lands Commission in the Savannah Region.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the Deputy Minister said the construction of the magnificent office is to enable the Lands Commission to perform its duties well. According to him, the Lands Commission was established by the 1992 Constitution, making it a vital institution.

“It is important to the extent that if the Lands Commission does its work well, many land disputes will be resolved.” “You go to many communities, and what you see is conflict among friends and neighbors due to land litigation. It is the responsibility of the Lands Commission to demarcate and register lands appropriately to reduce conflicts and unnecessary fighting,” he added.

He added that many entrepreneurs are unable to provide landed property when asked to produce it for banks to advance loans, denying many people access to bank loans due to lack of land documentation. He also noted that foreign investors require land documents when coming to the country to do business, highlighting the need for the Lands Commission to have a suitable edifice to discharge its duties effectively.

He revealed that the Lands Commission has disclosed to the ministry that $165 million is needed to digitize the land administration system, easing difficulties in land registrations. The ministry will partner with the private sector to secure the necessary funds.

He cautioned the contractor against shoddy work, stating that he would visit the site frequently and not hesitate to terminate the contract if the work is not done properly. Conversely, he would recommend the contractor to the ministry for more jobs if they perform well.

The Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of operations at the Lands Commission, Surv. Adu Nsafuah, said this is a dream come true for the commission, and he is delighted. According to him, the Lands Commission’s management, through its five-year strategic plan, decided to have its own office complexes across all regions. Out of the 16 administrative regions, only four have their own offices, while the remaining 12 rent facilities, which comes with significant financial difficulties.

This is the first among the six newly created regions to get an office complex and one of the remaining 12 regions. He added that they spend more time at their workplaces than at home, so they need a comfortable working environment to discharge their duties perfectly.

He assured the minister of the commission’s commitment to ensuring the work is executed on time within the 12-calendar-month contractual agreement. The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry has yet to announce the commencement of office construction for the remaining districts.
The contract has been awarded to CK Engineering LTD.

The event was attended by the Savannah Regional Minister, the West Gonja MCE, chiefs, stakeholders, and workers of the Savannah Region Lands Commission.