A MESSAGE PRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT FORUM(NDF) DR. HAKEEM WEMAH TO THE GURUNIES AND DAGAABA DURING THEIR FUN GAMES IN ACCRA ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2008
Chairman of BONABOTO, The Chairman of the Dagaaba Association, Executive members of the two Ethnic groups, Invited Guests my dear sisters and brothers:
I wish on behalf of the Northern Development Forum(NDF) and in my own name, to congratulate you for the joint sports and cultural activities that have been promoted over the years by your esteemed associations in Accra and Tema.
Through these activities, I believe, personal differences are resolved and friendly relationships strengthened and comradeship built among the members of your two ethnic groups.
I have observed, with great delight, that through these games there has been an increase of inter-marriages which have further strengthened and maintained the already existing cordial relationship between the Gurunies and the Dagaaba. You must keep this up.
The value and importance of these cultural and social activities cannot be over-emphasised. They reduce hidden prejudices and help maintain the long existing solidarity between your two ethnic groups. May I therefore, suggest that you research into the history of your relation and pass it onto the younger generations .Indeed I would like to take this opportunity to call on historians,writers and playwriters of northern extraction to apply themselves and come up with credible histories of the various ethnic groups in northern Ghana.Our rich oral history and folklore can also provide ample material for fantastic plays and films to hit the electronic media.
On behalf of ,NDF I humbly call on the leaderships of the Kassenas, Gonjas and Sissalas as well as Moshies and Dagombas and indeed all other ethnic groups in the north who have this truly unique relationship to emulate the Gurunies and Dagaabas and initiate and or revive these games and other solidarity building activities which help to promote lasting peace and unity among our people.
My, Sisters and brothers, I do not need to tell you that ,developmentally , the three Northern Regions are in a very sorry state.It is therefore incumbent on all of us that we combine our efforts for our own development through peace and unity. We have to avoid acts that generate violence and disunity and rather unite to hasten the pace of integral development in our three regions- Unity in diversity.
I wish to commend BONABOTO and other ethnic groups and individuals who are putting their knowledge,skills and other resources at the disposal of our less fortunate brothers and sisters in order to improve their lot.
At this juncture ,kindly allow me to say a word about NDF. As you are all aware, the Northern Development Forum (NDF) was established on September 30 last year at the aftermath of the floods that devastated our part of the country. This heightened the need for us to advocate for the bridging of the development gap between the North and the South of Ghana.
I hasten to emphasis that the NDF is non-partisan, non religious and non-ethnic .It comprises of, and seeks to provide, a united advocacy platform for the people and friends of Northern Ghana.
NDF has the endorsement of the various leaderships of the North including, the Vice President of Ghana, His Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama; members of the Council of State and Members of Parliament from the three northern regions; and the traditional rulers through the various Regional Houses of Chiefs among others.
NDF is inviting and encouraging the various Associations, ethnic groups, youth groups, etc from the three northern regions not only to become active members but more importantly to support the work of the Forum. The main objective of the Forum is to play an advocacy role in order to change the sordid conditions under which the people of the three northern regions find themselves. We are of the conviction that no one can get people of Northern Ghana out of poverty without the commitment of the people themselves.
Time and again when the names of ethnic groups are mentioned in Ghana, one of the terms used is northerners. It is an identity that conveys positive feelings and pride for those of us being so defined, but for some of those who do not hail from any of the three northern regions, it invariably attracts negative comments. The marginalization, and the deplorable conditions of people from the northern part of Ghana is the legacy of the past socio-political arrangement. Part of all this has also persisted due to our own omission or commission.
Dear Sisters and brothers, we need to unite as a people with a common objective. If we do not know where we are going we will never get there. In the same vein if we do not know what we want we will never get it. We have to find a lasting solution to the developmental challenges that confront our three regions.We have no choice in the matter.
The NDF meeting of September 30, 2007, most probably encourgaed the Government to see the need to bridge the socio-economic and development gap between the north and the south. In the light of this the government in its 2008 Budget announced the establishment of a Northern Development Fund. A Bill on the establishment and operation of the Fund has therefore been presented to Parliament.
We have to do all within our means to lobby and sustain our advocacy efforts for parliament to pass the Northern Development Fund Bill before it goes on recess. The NDF will therefore like to take this opportunity to kindly appeal to all Parliamentarians to pass the Bill on the principle of equity and social justice without partisan considerations. What matters to us is the development of the three northern regions.
May the Almighty grant us all what it takes to achieve this goal. Once more, I congratulate you and best of wishes in your games and other endeavours and may the best team win.
Thank you.
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Announcement: the next NDF meeting will take place on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at Christ the King Parish Hall, Accra.
