Vice-President Bawumia speaking at the Gbewaa Palace
The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, says the Dagbon Kingdom is grateful to President Akufo-Addo for the immense role he has played in ensuring peace in the Kingdom.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him by Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the Gbewaa Palace yesterday, Ya-Na Abukari II expressed profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo and the government for the wind of peace blowing in the Dagbon Kingdom, as well as his commitment to the development of the area.
“Today is a special day in the life of the people of the north. A moment of pride which reflects the development through which Yendi, and for that matter Dagbon, has gone through for the past three years,” the Ya-Na stated.
“His Royal Majesty, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, wishes to express his gratitude for the enviable contribution of Dagbon Malti Naa I, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and the people for ensuring the peace we enjoy today in Dagbon.
“I wish to state categorically that the state of Dagbon is being affirmed with each passing day and is a factor of peace and stability in the country,” he added.
The Ya-Na also commended the President for his commitment to the progress of Dagbon, by acknowledging his presence during last year’s Damba Festival with a high-profile guest, as well as development projects in the area.
“Dagbon is particularly grateful to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for gracing last year’s Damba Festival and most importantly his accompanied august guest, H.E. Mia Amar Motley, QC, MP, the Prime Minister of Barbados and her high-level dignitaries and ambassadors which automatically catapulted our previously local Damba celebration onto the international scene,” he indicated.
“We are also deeply grateful for the commissioning of the Yendi Water Supply Project in July 2020,” he added.
The Ya-Na praised Vice-President Dr. Bawumia for his efforts at ensuring development in the north.
Addressing the Ya-Na and his elders, Vice-President Bawumia assured Dagbon and the entire northern regions of President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to ensure more development in the north, especially in the areas of providing critical infrastructure and education.
Apart from countrywide social intervention programmes of the government, such as Free SHS, One Constituency One Ambulance, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory, etc., Dr. Bawumia listed a number of development projects the government of President Akufo-Addo had specifically undertaken in the north and the Yendi Kingdom, as a demonstration of President Akufo-Addo’s sincerity towards the progress of the north.
The Vice-President announced that government was in discussion with the University of Development Studies (UDS) to set up a satellite campus at Yendi.
He also announced government’s decision to convert the Pong-Tamale Veterinary College into a university for agriculture.
The Vice-President said “the Dagbon people are indebted to President Akufo-Addo for bringing peace to Dagbon and once you owe someone a debt you should pay and Insha Allah the people of Dagbon will vote massively for the NPP, come December 7.”
“John Mahama cannot be trusted with the Free SHS because he said it wasn’t possible then; he said if he had GH¢2 billion he wouldn’t spend it on Free SHS so we don’t think we can trust him with it,” he fired.
Dr. Bawumia said a new era of development had come to the north and said it is development based on accomplishment, adding “the era of flying guineafowl to Burkina Faso is over; it’s an era of real development on the ground in every district .”
The Ya-Na later said he was allocating over 500 acres of land for the establishment of the University for Development Studies satellite campus at Yendi, adding that the teeming youth of the area would benefit from the establishment of the university situated within the Eastern Corridor.
The Vice-President is on a working visit to the five northern regions of Ghana, where he is expected to meet chiefs and community leaders and will also inspect and commission government projects during his tour.
Accompanying the Vice-President were Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, Local Government Minister Hajia Alima Mahama, Deputy Roads Minister Anthony Karbo, Deputy Energy Minister Mohammed Amin Adam, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, Hassan Tampuli, and Hajia Abibata Shani Mahama Zakaria, Deputy CEO of MASLOC.
From Eric KombatYendi