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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.

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

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

We paid a courtesy call on the new Ag. CEO of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Mr. Sulley Sambian Esq. and his two new deputies, Mad. Janet Biibi Bashir and Mr. Zakaria Iddi on Tuesday, 28 March, 2023.