UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The Paramount Chief of the Jaagbanni Traditional Area, His Royal Highness Mba Jaagban-Daana Sulemana Abdulai Sheriga, has called for peace, unity and accelerated development in Mamprugu as he hosted his maiden Jaagbanni Damma Festival
The colourful festival, held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Jaagban-Daana’s Palace in Jaagbanni in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region, was celebrated under the theme: “Preserving Our Heritage Through Culture, Unity, and Development.”
Mba Jaagban-Daana, son of the 29th Nayiri, Naa Sheriga Abdulai (1947–1966), used the occasion to outline key development priorities for the Jaagbanni community and appealed for collective efforts to improve the living conditions of residents
Addressing a gathering of traditional rulers, government officials, dignitaries, and residents, Mba Jaagban-Daana described the event as a landmark moment in the history of Jaagbanni, emphasizing that the Damma Festival is a priceless cultural heritage handed down by ancestors and must be preserved for future generations
Mba Jaagban-Daana, urged the people of Jaagbanni and Mamprugu to rise above ethnic, political, and religious differences and embrace peaceful coexistence.
“Peace is the bedrock of development, and without peace there can never be the needed development in Jaagbanni and Mamprugu in general,” he said
The Chief also highlighted the importance of education, quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela’s famous words that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
He commended former North East Regional Minister, Yidana Zakaria, and the previous administration for initiating the construction of a six-unit classroom block for the community. He equally praised the current Municipal Chief Executive for West Mamprusi, Mohammed Rabiu Jabaah, and the government for completing the project
Despite the achievement, the Chief noted that the new school lacks furniture for both pupils and teachers. He appealed to the Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service, the MCE, the Member of Parliament, NGOs, and development partners to provide furniture and support the construction of an additional classroom block to accommodate a Junior High School
He revealed that discussions with the Municipal Assembly on the JHS project were already underway and appealed for the process to be expedited
The Chief further appealed to the youth to exercise restraint in political activities, stressing that politics should never divide families and communities.
“We are one people before politics, and regardless of which political party is in government, we all belong to one nation,” he stated
On sanitation, the Chief expressed concern over the collapse of many household toilets during the rainy season because they were built with mud. He appealed to the Municipal Assembly, WASH Ghana, and sanitation-focused NGOs to assist in constructing durable household and public toilet facilities
He also raised alarm over the growing menace of drug abuse among the youth, calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to stop the circulation of illicit drugs while urging young people not to destroy their own future through substance abuse
Recognizing the rapid growth of Saandanfongu as a suburb of Walewale, the Chief appealed to the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly to include the area in its development plans by providing essential infrastructure such as pipe-borne water, improved roads, street lighting, and other social amenities
The Chief expressed profound gratitude to the King of Mamprugu, His Royal Majesty Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, for granting permission to host the festival. He also thanked Wun-Naa Salma, Paramount Chief of the Wungu Traditional Area, fellow chiefs, government officials, security agencies, development partners, and residents from Jaagbanni, Gbimsi, Saandanfongu, Sayoo, and across Mamprugu for making the maiden celebration a success
The maiden Jaagbanni Damma Festival is expected to become an important annual cultural event, celebrating the rich traditions of Mamprugu while serving as a platform to advocate for development and unity in the traditional area
Source – gbcuraonline.com
