As part of their ongoing educational tour in Accra, the Education for Change team visited the palace of the President of the Inner City Tribal Chiefs, Chief Dr. Mohammed Sungtaaba, to seek blessings and share the vision behind their initiative.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Abubakar Ahmed, briefed the chief on the objectives of Education for Change, a non-governmental organization aimed at inspiring and mentoring students, especially from underserved communities. He proudly mentioned that Queen Teeya, winner of Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2022, is a product of the initiative a symbol of what students can achieve with the right guidance and support.
The Vice President and Queen Mother of the Inner City Chiefs and Queen Mothers, Naa Adzakumah Awudome Manye, also addressed the gathering. She encouraged the students to take their studies seriously and to remain hopeful regardless of life’s challenges. “Education is your weapon. Don’t allow your background to limit your dreams. Keep going, and never give up,” she advised.
In his remarks, Chief Dr. Mohammed Sungtaaba emphasized the importance of unity among Northern tribes, stating that unlike the Akans who have united under a common identity, Northerners must also work towards cohesion and collective progress.
“These young ones are our future leaders. They must be taught peace, unity, and respect for diversity. Without unity, we cannot grow,” he said.
The chief also commended the efforts of the Education for Change team and offered a token of support to encourage the continuation of their impactful work. The visit ended with words of appreciation and a renewed call to invest in the next generation of leaders through education and mentorship.
The visit followed an earlier encounter with an officer of the Ghana Prisons Service. He engaged the students on key topics including types of crimes, the consequences of criminal behavior, and the role of prisons in national security and rehabilitation.
Speaking to the 38 students drawn from various Junior and Senior High Schools in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, He emphasized that crime has no age limit, and young people must be cautious of the choices they make.
“Many of those behind bars started with what they thought were ‘small mistakes’, truancy, theft, peer pressure, drug abuse. One wrong decision can change your life forever,” he cautioned.
He also took time to explain the different categories of crime in Ghana, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, and gave practical examples that the students could relate to.
On the issue of prison life, He demystified common myths and painted a realistic picture of the daily routines of inmates. He explained the types of vocational training and skills offered to inmates, such as tailoring, carpentry, bead making, and farming, skills that could help them reintegrate into society after their sentence.
The prison is not only a place of punishment; it is also a place of reform. He said there are a lot or artisan works that can be learnt whiles in custody. Some of these includes; (Tailoring/seamstress, carpentry, masonry, plumbering, welding etc). But it’s best to never enter there at all,” he stressed”.
The session ended with a strong appeal to the students to stay focused on their education, obey rules, choose the right friends, and always strive to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
The students, who are on a mentorship and sightseeing tour in Accra, expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity, describing the session as both informative and transformational.
The tour is part of Education for Change’s mission to empower rural students through exposure and mentorship, under the leadership of the Regional Coordinator Mr. Tanko and the Municipal Coordinator Mr. Joshua, with support from the Ghana Education Service and media coverage by Spear FM’s Mr. Jamal Iddrisu.
