Major Don-Chebe (Rtd) NDF Ghana

WE DEMAND PEACE IN BAWKU- NDF

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The Northern Development Forum (NDF) is deeply troubled by the resurgence and intensifications of mindless violence and the resultant needless deaths of innocent citizens in Bawku.

The peoples of Bawku and its environs have witnessed untold suffering in the last four (4) years. There are no signs that this carnage will end anytime soon because the acts of provocation and impunity appear to be intensifying by the day.

We are much appalled that scarce resources have to be diverted from promoting livelihoods and development to the endless security and so-called mediation efforts. Citizens of Northern Ghana are completely dismayed and traumatised by the intensity of the recent clashes and call upon the government to exercise its authority to sanitise the Bawku area for peace to prevail.

We are greatly concerned by the seeming absence of discernible government strategy and programme aimed at removing the agent provocateurs in the Bawku area.

The NDF once again wishes to admonish our Northern compatriots to reflect deeply on the consequences of the resort to violence to resolve matters arising from minor ethnic, traditional and Cultural differences.

Unless we the people of Northern Ghana unite in one accord in the pursuit of peace and development, we will dissipate our energies and resources in never-ending conflicts founded upon dubious historical narratives that have no relevance for the accelerated development of our communities as we so much desire.

Once again, Northern Ghanaians without exception, are confronted by poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. These intolerable ethnic clashes will not contribute to the success or development of any community.

We should continue to cherish the richness and diversity of our cultures and history. We believe that our cultural and historical diversities are an invitation for mutual respect, cooperation, learning and sharing of our unique identities. These differences should never provide any grounds for power struggles and domineering.

Brothers and sisters, put the guns and swords aside and let us join hands to make our communities better places for our future generations.

Signed: Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd.)

Chairman, NDF

The NDF is a non-partisan organisation that brings together people from the five Northern Regions of -Ghana to promote peace and development of the northern part of Ghana and ultimately equitable and peaceful development of our country,Ghana.

Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu 11 is the Liaison Officer for the NDF in the Northern Region

Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu 11 is the Liaison Officer for the NDF in the Northern Region

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By Amadu Kamil Sanah,

Yendi (N/R), Feb. 13, GNA – Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II has enskinned Mr. Mustapha Sanah, a development management specialist as the Chief of Dalun, under a traditional title Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu II. 

Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu II, known in private life as Mr. Mustapha Sanah, is the Executive Chairman of Northern Development and Democratic Institute, NDDI, a premier liberal democratic public policy think-tank based in Tamale, in the Northern Region.

     During the enskiment at the forecourt of the Gbewaa Palace, many people extolled Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu II as a pragmatist and a progressive royal of Dagbon who prioritised peace, development and intra and inter ethnic harmony and co-existence as the surest way forward for the sustainable development of the Dagbon State and Northern Ghana.  

     The Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu II served the Ya-Na Abukari II creditably and the Dagbon Traditional State in many roles. 

     He served in many committees including finance, protocol and publicity during the investiture of Ya-Na Abukari II in 2019.  

     He is a speech writer at the office of the Ya-Na and also co-ordinated the external relations affairs of the King of Dagbon.    

     Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu II is a member of the royal family of Dagbon. He was born to His Royal Highness, Diare-Lana Amadu-Sanah, a grandson of Diare-lana Dahamani. 

      Diare-lana Dahamani, a respected chief of Diare and an astute Islamic scholar and astronomist was a grandson of Ya-Na Andani Jangbariga, from his famous daughter Princess Pagsan, Sister of Pakpan Shetu, mother of Yelzol-Lan Lagfu and Tijo-Naa Abdulai. 

     By royal lineage, the parents and grandparents of Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu II are referred to as pagbihi, to wit, royals from the princesses. 

     Dalun Traditional Area is a farming area and a strategic geo-political zone located at the North-West of Tamale, along the White Volta, and near Kumbungu. 

     The new Dalun -Lana will be outdoored on Friday 16th February 2024 at the forecourt of the Dalun Palace at Dalun, in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

NDF Logo 2024

REINFORCING THE FOUNDATIONS OF PEACE IN THE EASTERN CORRIDOR OF THE NORTHERN REGION

by News and EventsPress Releases

24th July 2023                                                                     

Following the recent heightening of tensions in the Eastern Corridor of the Northern Region as a result of provocative social media posts and reckless pronouncements by some citizens, the Northern Development Forum (NDF) quickly reached out to the parties in dispute, notably the Dagomba Youth Association (DAYA), the Konkomba Youth Association and the Basare Youth Association (BAYA) to forestall any escalation. These interactions by the NDF have been undertaken to support the efforts of the Joint Ministerial Peace Team which visited the Northern Region recently to dispel rising tensions, and set in motion actions aimed at peaceful coexistence, social cohesion and ethnic harmony in the Eastern Corridor of the Northern Region.

The NDF wish to commend the Joint Ministerial Peace Team for their swift intervention and also applaud the Gbewaa Palace, the Dagomba Youth Association (DAYA), the Dagbon Forum (DF), the Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA), the Basare Youth Association, the Northern Regional Peace Council (NRPC) and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) for consulting continuously and cooperating closely to ensure that the conflict hysteria which was sweeping through the Northern Region has been curtailed.

Recent engagements by the NDF with the parties in dispute have emphasized the overwhelming appetite of the parties for peace in the region, in spite of some disagreements about the issues at stake. The NDF is urging all stakeholders to continue to engage continuously as we dialogue in order to reach a common ground. The NDF is acutely aware that the absence of violence is not necessarily the presence of peace. Proactive measures need to be introduced purposely aimed at addressing some of the existing disagreements, with a view to tackling the sources of these disagreements in order to achieve the much-deserved lasting, long-term and sustainable peace.

The NDF call on the parties in dispute to exercise maximum circumspection and restraint, and allow for a thorough interrogation of the issues at stake. All advocates of peace and development are concerned about the deleterious effects of talk and social media posts about impending

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conflict in the Eastern Corridor because even such mere talk discourages investment and aggravates the poverty of the North, which is actually the Enemy of the North.

As we work assiduously to reconcile the parties and reinforce the foundations of peace in the Northern Region, the NDF is inviting all activists and advocates for peace and the accelerated development of Northern Ghana, to collaborate with the NDF to safeguard the peace of the North.

Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd)

Chairman, NDF

ALL MEDIA

NDF GHANA

Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam: Stakeholders Finalize Land Issues

by News and Events

The Lands Commission and the Site Advisory Committee working on the Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam Project have finalized land acquisition issues with stakeholders in the Upper East and North East Regions for the project to commence.

Mr. Emmanuel Nartey, the Settlement Manager of the Volta River Authority (VRA), who updated the stakeholders on the progress of work, said community engagements and land mapping were completed with resettlement processes ongoing.

He said a total of 814 households comprising 4,228 people spread across 22 communities in the main reservoir, 11 households made of 52 people across three communities in the Weir area who were physically affected would be resettled.

He said 335 households with human population of 2,618 who were economically displaced would be provided with agriculture development support, marketing schemes and technology improvement facilities to sustain their livelihoods.

For social cohesion, the Resettlement Manager said 10 community centers and five Chief Palaces would be constructed at convenient locations including five churches, six mosques and football parks would also be provided in all the four resettlement towns which would further be connected to the national grid.

Mr. Nartey said the communities would also benefit from CHPS compounds with staff accommodation, while two health facilities at Wulugu and Samni would be upgraded and equipped to supplement health care delivery.

Four Kindergarten, Primary and three Junior High Schools would be built, boreholes and water points would also be provided with toilet facilities in each resettlement, and 80kilometre link feeder roads would be constructed within the communities.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon Stephen Yakubu, in his address, reiterated government’s commitment to the construction of the Multi-purpose Dam.

He said it took a “Visionary leader in the person of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to demonstrate the commitment to the people of the North that this laudable vision could be executed to the benefit of all Ghanaians. 

“Apart from serving as a reservoir or receptacle to harvest water from the upland which has been the main source of our perennial floods from the Bagre Dam, it would also provide 25,000 hectares of irrigable land and Hydro- Solar hybrid system of 60 Megawatts Hydro Power and 50 Megawatts Solar Power,” he said.

Hon Yakubu said the project was a game-changer that would check the migration of the youth from the North to the south for greener pastures.

Mr. Daniel Onny, the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam Project Manager, said the World Bank had given the assurance that it would soon release funds for the project to start.

UER-RCC

SOURCED: APEXNEWSGH

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NDF officials meeting with British High Commission

by News and Events

We received an invitation to meet the Northern Ghana Team at the British High Commission yesterday, Thursday 1 June 2023. We were able to mobilise tge following to attend the meeting:

  1. Dr. Hakeem Wemah
  2. Hajia Sawaratu
  3. Mr. Peter Sangber-Dery
  4. Mr. Ben Assorow
  5. Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd)

The purpose of the meeting was to follow up on an earlier brief meeting between the chairman and the team at the airport.
The meeting afforded the NDF Team an opportunity to get properly acquainted with the new Northern Ghana Attache at the British High Commission, Mr Paul Edwards, who arrived in Ghana barely eight weeks ago.
We briefed the Team about the NDF, our activities, plans and programmes.
This was a familiarisation meeting: the two sides agreed to hold more targeted meetings in the future.

Preliminary discussions have brought up the following:

  1. Education
  2. Security and conflict
  3. Social cohesion

The idea is to raise issues for which we have firm proposals which we can submit to them.

Major Don-Chebe (Rtd) NDF Ghana Northern Development Forum (NDF Ghana)

CLASHES IN THE NORTH GONJA DISTRICT OF THE SAVANNAH REGION

by Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE

News about ethnic clashes in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region that have resulted in the destruction of lives, property and livelihoods have been received with sadness and sorrow by the Northern Development Forum (NDF).
Against a background of debilitating poverty, atrocious living conditions and deteriorating physical infrastructures, it is depressing to hear about another clash between groups who have shared a common heritage of neglect, lack of development and poverty. The NDF is distressed that in spite of the reality of our common challenges, some persons are quick to resort to acts of destruction and despoliation to satisfy claims to ethnic hegemony.
It is an incontrovertible fact that these clashes, and the resultant acts of destruction of livelihoods and the displacement of vulnerable rural communities, contribute to the damaging narrative of an inhospitable environment peopled by belligerent citizens prone to destruction at the least provocation.
The NDF wishes to call on children of Northern Ghana to reflect on the immeasurable damage these flare-ups do to the image of the North and the ready ammunition given to our detractors, and ‘unfriendly’ interests, to use these unfortunate incidents to deny vast swathes of peaceful Northern Ghana physical infrastructure, social amenities and economic opportunities.
Once again, the NDF is appealing to Northern Traditional Authorities, Ethnic Associations and Development Organizations to intensify initiatives to minimise the minor linguistic differences among the peoples of Northern Ghana and rather highlight the major similarities that should serve to unify us as Ghanaians with a common destiny. Misguided attempts at achieving an elusive and ultimately destructive ethnic hegemony will only lead to conflict, destruction and death.
The NDF is urging all persons of influence from Northern Ghana to work assiduously for peace in Northern Ghana. We should use our influence in the various traditional councils and
district/Municipal assemblies to preach peace and advocate for dialogue in the event of boundary disagreements and land disputes. The North Gonja clashes must not be allowed to define the future relations between two hitherto friendly neighbours. The peoples of Northern Ghana have a common enemy called poverty and we need to combine all our efforts and energies to fight this enemy

Major Albert Don Chebe (Rtd.)
Chairman, Northern Development Forum

Major Don-Chebe (Rtd) NDF Ghana

Use your influence to work towards peace in Northern Ghana -NDF urges eminent citizens

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By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH

The Northern Development Forum (NDF) is calling on all persons of influence from Northern Ghana to work assiduously for peace in the region.

According to the group, any misguided attempts at achieving an elusive and ultimately destructive ethnic hegemony will only lead to conflict, destruction, and death.

The call was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of Northern Development Forum, Major Albert Don Chebe (Rtd.).

“We should use our influence in the various traditional councils for peace, unity, and equitable development in the district and municipal assemblies to preach peace and advocate for dialogue in the event of boundary disagreements and land disputes,” the statement said.

Portions of the statement read: “News about ethnic clashes in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region that have resulted in the destruction of lives, property, and livelihoods have been received with sadness and sorrow by the Northern Development Forum (NDF).

Against a background of debilitating poverty, atrocious living conditions, and deteriorating physical infrastructure, it is depressing to hear about another clash between groups who have shared a common heritage of neglect, lack of development, and poverty.

The NDF is distressed that, in spite of the reality of our common challenges, some persons are quick to resort to acts of destruction and despoliation to satisfy claims to ethnic hegemony.

It is an incontrovertible fact that these clashes and the resultant acts of destruction of livelihoods and the displacement of vulnerable rural communities contribute to the damaging narrative of an inhospitable environment coupled with belligerent citizens prone to destruction at the least provocation.

The NDF wishes to call on children of Northern Ghana to reflect on the immeasurable damage these flare-ups do to the image of the North and the ready ammunition given to our detractors. and ‘unfriendly interests, to use these unfortunate incidents to deny vast swathes of peaceful Northern Ghana physical infrastructure, social amenities, and economic opportunities.

Once again, the NDF is appealing to Northern Traditional Authorities, Ethnic Associations, and Development Organisations to intensify initiatives to minimise the minor linguistic differences among the peoples of Northern Ghana and rather highlight the major similarities that should serve to unify us as Ghanaians with a common destiny.

The North Gonja clashes must not be allowed to define the future relations between two hitherto friendly neighbours. The peoples of Northern Ghana have a common enemy called poverty, and we need to combine all our efforts and energies to fight this enemy”.

SOURCED: Gbcghanaonline