14-member Savannah Regional lands commission inaugurated

14-member Savannah Regional lands commission inaugurated

The Minister for Lands and Natural resources, Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor has inaugurated a 14-member Regional Lands Commission to preside over the administration of land in the Savannah Region.

This falls in line with article 258 and 260 of the 1992 constitution, which mandates the creation of the lands commission and its regional offices across the country.

In inducting the commission members into office,the lawmaker disclosed that land was a very valuable natural resource which when managed properly can propel the needed socio-economic development and forestall conflicts.

According to him,the Savannah Region is blessed with a large tract of natural resources, making it the largest of the 16 regions in Ghana in terms of land size, adding that,"It is my hope that the Savannah Regional Lands Commission would lead the education on the new lands act in the region to ensure among others that,deeds are registered as mandated by the law".

He disclosed that the lands commission was in the process of undertaking a major digitization programme  to digitize its records and ensure a prompt and timely registration is done to prevent fraudulent dealings in land administration as stipulated by the Lands Act of 2020(Act 1036).

The law maker charged the Achanso led commission to bring their expertise and experience on board to make the administration of land better in the region and properly protect and manage public lands needed for critical infrastructure on behalf of government.

He called on traditional authorities and all stakeholders to lend the commission the needed support to work better, whilst commending the traditional leaders for the bold decision in banning outrightly,all forms of tree harvesting in the region.

The Savannah Regional Minister,Saeed Muhazu Jibreal who chaired the function commended the Lands and Natural Resource minister for making time to grace the occasion and appealed to the members of the commission to collaborate with the necessary stakeholders in the discharge of the mandated functions.

The Savannah Regional Lands Commission chaired by Dr. Adams Sulemana Achanso, a senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies was sworn into office by supervisory High Court Judge,Justice Richard Mark.

Other members of the commission are: Noel Tuotir,the Regional Lands Director;Takora Saaka from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, (LUSPA);Mbonwura Jimah Awudu from the Association of Farmers and Fishermen;Salia Abdul Kudus (Esq) from Ghana Bar Association;Charles Okyere Kwapong from Ghana Institute of Surveyors;Chief Kikpandewura Kanyiti II Mumuni Shaibu from Regional House of Chiefs;Saaka Dinonah from Bole district;Asawu Wone Williams from Central Gonja District;Chief Mabunwura Yakubu Jacob from East Gonja Municipality;Gabasiwura Daniel Amadu Iddrisu from North Gonja District;Sulemana Asimiru from North East Gonja District;Wakawakawura Akati Joseph Mumuni from West Gonja Municipality and Sawlawura Iddrisu Nugbaso from the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.

On behalf of the members of the commission,Dr. Sulemana Achanso gave the necessary assurance that they were going to work closely with chiefs and other stakeholders to start in earnest the process of registering land deeds as required by the Lands Act and take keen interest in the digitization drive of the records of the commission.

Alhaji Daud Sulemana Mahama, the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, said there was huge work to be done by the newly inaugurated regional office noting that, the commission will soon acquire 2,000 acres of land to initiate the satellite city process for Damongo and its environs.

He cautioned that Land Commission was not a place to make money,but rather to work harder to put things in order for the benefit of all in the Savannah region.

Source: Ananpansah,B. Abraham

'We were not influenced in our action;we really need jobs'-Busunu youth cry out

'We were not influenced in our action;we really need jobs'-Busunu youth cry out

The youth of Busunu in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region has reiterated calls for the Damongo legislator to come to their aid with employment opportunities.

In a press conference addressed by the president,Akuro Gbeadese Rafiu on behalf of the group,the youth maintained that they were never influenced by any party executive or influential person in their action,but rather,they were seeking to create a signal to the MP that they really need a helping hand interms of employment.

Made up of the Unemployed Graduate Association of Busunu (CUGAB) and the Busunu Youth Assocation (BUYA),the youth pointed out that employment was ongoing in the other districts and they were only craving for same from the Damongo Member of Parliament.

Whilst apologising for their action,they added that,it was never their collective intention to sabotage or backstab the legislator,but rather, they were reflecting on the suffering they went through during the elections and want the MP to listen to their concerns and come to their aid as promised.

Background:

Some irate youth of the New Patriotic Party in Busunu in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region on 18th July,2021, rose up in spleen against the Member of Parliament, Lawyer Abu Jinapor.

Expressing their strong feeling of antagonism towards the legislator, the youth rejected bags of rice sent to them by the MPs delegation to aid them celebrate the Eid,festival of sacrifice with a clear message that they need Jobs, not bags of rice.

In the widely circulated video authenticated by eyewitnesses,the youth could be heard chanting fuming words to establish a point that they had been eating rice before the coming of Abu Jinapor into the constituency.

Read below the full statement:

Press statement

For immediate release

22nd July, 2021.

A MESSAGE OF APOLOGY FROM BUSUNU NPP YOUTH

Fellow patriots, the chiefs and elders of Busunu community, all party executives, Concerned Unemployed Graduate Association of Busunu(CUGAB) and its executives, Busunu Youth Association(BUYA), media practitioners, ladies and gentlemen, greetings to you all.

We are here today in front of the general public to make clarification on some actions being taken by Busunu NPP youth on  Sunday 18th of July 2021. We believe very well that the entire community and the constituency at large will bear with us that the sharing of rice seems to be an annual activity performed by our abled Member of Parliament (MP) thus the minister for lands and natural resources Honorable Samuel Abu Jinapor.

Unfortunately this year on said date, the story changed from welcoming this philanthropic gesture. 

We therefore want to, on behalf of our colleagues seek apology from our chiefs and elders since the said rice was not for the youth of Busunu but rather for our chiefs, Clan heads and elders.

Media practitioners, ladies and gentlemen, We want to say that we are very sorrowful pertaining to our actions and inactions and thereby want to pronounce our regret.

Busunu; a homogeneous community is blessed with responsible elders full of wisdom, and when children belonging to them pick decisions that bring chaos, the children still will not hesitate to run back to them. You the elders know the suffering we went through during the elections, we therefore decided collectively to create the attention of our distinguished MP, since we are lucky in the Damongo constituency to have him as our MP, to hear our cry and come to our aid. Yes the message was 'we need jobs not rice' not because we wanted to sabotage or backstab our indefatigable MP, but rather to create a signal to him that we are really in need of his helping hand since employment is ongoing in other districts.

Moreover, to our hardworking party executives, those times when you were not sleeping, we were also not sleeping as well. We rallied behind each other during and after the elections, but we are deeply regretting and  apologising for our actions. Our fight on the 18th, we thought was on the right direction, but seem to have brought sleepless nights to you the executives.

We want the general public to be very much aware that we were not influenced by any party executive nor any influential person in the hierarchy. We never intended to pre inform you before as this would have ruined our decision useless.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this might cost you.

To CUGAB and the whole NPP youth, we still believe we are the patient type, hardworking and dying so hard for our party, fully connected and very respectful to our leaders, this in all, we still remain as loyal patriots. The  this, and that, of Busunu is us, not you, not me. Let us still stand tall, hoping and praying our MP listens and come to our aid.

We thank the chiefs and elders of Busunu community, all the party executives, Busunu Youth Association (BUYA), and the media practitioners for all your efforts, concern, and time with us.

Jira, and his elders, we pray you plead on our behalf.

………..Signed…………..

Akuro Gbeadese Rafiu

(PRESIDENT)

0556811077

Luke Kaposhi Gbulo

(SECRETARY)

0547073037

Abdulai Malick

(ORGANISER)

0556399788

Jakpa Adishetu

(WOMEN ORGANISER)

0551008728

Seidu Sakibu

(PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER)

0592619668

Source: Ananpansah B. Abraham

We need Jobs,not bags of rice- NPP youth fumes at Abu Jinapor

We need Jobs,not bags of rice- NPP youth fumes at Abu Jinapor

Some irate youth of the New Patriotic Party in Busunu in the West Gonja Municipal of the Savannah Region are up in spleen against the Member of Parliament, Lawyer Abu Jinapor.

Expressing their strong feeling of antagonism towards the legislator, the youth rejected bags of rice sent to them by the MPs delegation to aid them celebrate the forthcoming sala festival with a clear message that they need Jobs, not bags of rice.

In a widely circulated video authenticated by eyewitnesses,the youth could be heard chanting fuming words to establish a point that they had been eating rice before the coming of Abu Jinapor into the constituency.

The rankled youth who spoke in Gonja could be clearly translated as saying, "Lawyer,we need Jobs,we need jobs. This is just a tip of the iceberg. We need jobs,not rice. No occasion will ever be held in this town.We are here,but you people are selling the jobs.Go and tell Abu Jinapor that he is fooling us. Put the rice back and go away".

As the rage prevailed, a chunk of the youth could also be heard shouting or laughing derisively, whilst employing sarcastic words such as "away" "away" as if to ridicule the team and the legislator.

It is unclear what could have provoked the hell out of the youth,but information gathered by  this writer suggest that the youth felt disappointed that the Member of Parliament has not been able to secure them jobs as promised, meanwhile,same jobs are being sold to other people they consider "aliens".

Effort is being made to contact the office of the Member of Parliament to get their response to this story.

Watch the video below:

Source: Ananpansah, B Abraham

Open your eyes,there is an agenda against your presidential ambition- Vagla NPP group to Bawumia

Open your eyes,there is an agenda against your presidential ambition- Vagla NPP group to Bawumia

A group Calling itself concerned Vagla of the New Patriotic Party in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency of the Savannah Region is accusing the Damongo legislator who doubles as the Minister for Lands and Natural resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor of scheming to influence the appointment of all the MMDCEs in the region in his bid to be seen as the most powerful politician in the region coupled with his 'Vice Presidential Ambition.

In a press statement signed by Justice Tokoro and Jacob Dumakaww, the group called on the vice president of the Republic Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to 'shine his eyes wide as a grand scheme is being orchestrated in the Savannah Region against his bid to succeed president Akuffo-Addo.

They reminded Abu Jinapor that they were part of his success as MP, since they encouraged Vaglas'  in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency to cross to Damongo to register to vote for him, adding that,"the least reward we expected from him is a thank you, but not this kind of victimization against our people".

Whilst admonishing the Damongo MP to allow the process to work fairly,they indicated that they will take a political decision as a tribe at the end of the appointment process.

Read the full press statement below:

Press statement by the concerned Vagla of NPP in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency on alleged comments by Hon. Abu Jinapor MP for Damongo against Vaglas

Date: 15th July,2021

We are getting widespread information in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency that Lawyer Abu Jinapor, the minister for lands and natural resources and member of Parliament for Damongo has publicly made  an emphatic statement that it will take his dead body  for a Vagla to be appointed as the District Chief Executive for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba. 

Even though as a tribe and considering the pedigree of Lawyer Jinapor we don't believe that he will make such a tribal and backward comment, his recent actions in the process leading to the appointment of the MMDCEs are worrying. 

The quest for Lawyer Jinapor to be seen as the most powerful politician in Savannah today, coupled with his vice presidential ambition is making him over stretch his boundaries.

Today, he wants to influence all the appointments of the MMDCEs in the Region to satisfy his interests but not that of the party. We have never seen Abu in the campaign process of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency and he should not pretend to know the dynamics of the constituency than the inhabitants of the place. 

If not for his personal agenda, today Abu is asking the president to appoint Barikisu Losina as the DCE for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba when he should have known that the lady in question is a first time voter in the constituency. 

He should have also known that the husband of Barikisu is a strong NDC in Daboya and was among those who tormented NPP members in the area. 

Why should we empower such a family? He should have also known that the entire background of Barikisu is NDC with the exception of her mother. She can't add any significant votes to NPP if given the nod. 

When Barikisu had a military slot, was it not given to an NDC Youth at the expense of NPP? When she was given a motorbike, was it not given to an NDC Youth to aid him campaign against us? Why are we doing this to this party? Why would others work and a new person who doesn't know the constituency be given such a privilege position just because of a so called powerful individual? Are we now running a monolithic party? 

We heard that Lawyer Jinapor has indicated to the leadership of government that the lady in question is influential in the constituency. 

It is palpable falsehood. She has never been part of the activities of STKD. Apart from the dislike of the  Vaglas in the contest on the grounds of their tribal orientation, which most likely is influencing the choice of Lawyer Jinapor, all the candidates have more superior qualifications as well as experience than the lady. 

They have also served the party in different capacities than the lady. 

Her performance in the Regional and the National vetting is there to confirm our claim. 

Vaglas have remained committed to NPP since 2004. It is clear that the minority tribes vote for NPP in Savannah Region. But it's also clear that NPP has not recognised this. None of the appointments has favoured any of the minority tribes. 

With the alleged hatred being exhibited by Lawyer Jinapor against the minority tribes and his hijacking of every appointment process in the Region, it is becoming clear that no minority tribe will be considered. Sad though, there is a grand scheme aimed at preventing our lovely vice president from becoming a president.

We call on the vice president, kindly open his eyes wide. There is an agenda against his bid to succeed the president.

Barikisu cannot add any  votes to your votes in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba. 

All the different tribes in Savannah Region should be given an opportunity to participate in the governance process. 

Vaglas in Damongo and its surroundings like Gurpe supported the bid of Lawyer in becoming MP and voted massively for him and the least reward we expected from him is a thank you but not to victimize our people.

In helping him to succeed we made some Vaglas in Sawla-Tuna-Kalba to cross to Damongo and register there as voters to enable them vote for him. 

Like we said from the beginning, we don't believe that our respected Lawyer will ever say such a thing. But if we get to know that indeed it has been said as being alleged, we will pull out all our people from the constituency. 

Remember that one Vagla vote can make you or not make you a member of parliament. 

Please, let us respect all the teams that worked on the MMDCES oppointmentfrom  research at the district level  to regional vetting and national. 

The outcome of their reports is supreme over any

 individual's interest and

 must be respected because they are high profile party big wigs who supervised the processes. 

Abu Should allow the president  to listen to the men of integrity he assigned to do this selection.

We are waiting patiently for the process to end and we will take a political decision as a tribe.

By Concern Vaglas of NPP, STK constituency 

Justice Tokoro 0247939311

Jacob Dumakaww  0244746049

Source: Ananpansah, B. Abraham

Disregard smear campaign,Bole DCE deserves reappointment; she has an unalloyed proven track record-NPP youth groups

Disregard smear campaign,Bole DCE deserves reappointment; she has an unalloyed proven track record-NPP youth groups

Some youth groups and polling station executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party in the Bole-Bamboi constituency of Savannah Region are calling a bluff calls from a section of the youth against the reappointment of honorable Veronica Alela as the District  Chief Executive for Bole-Bamboi District.

They believe madam Alela Veronica is the best person to drive the fortunes and visions of the president and  party towards a consolidated development.

In a counter press release signed by Mohammed Atitor for and on behalf of the youth groups and polling station executives, hon. Alela who is incumbent DCE was described as God sent whose good works and unprecedented track records interms development initiatives deserve another term.

Excerpts of the press release described as "dead on arrival" attempts by some 'unrepresentative individuals' to dent the good works and hard-earned reputation of the incumbent DCE , adding that, their preliminary investigations reveal that the youth groups and polling station executives have since denied knowledge and distanced themselves from the write-up which seeks to kick against the reappointment of Madam Veronica Alela as DCE for the second term.

Bullet by bullet,the group Debunked allegations raised against the person of the DCE, maintaining that, she is incorruptible and an eazy going person who resonates very well with the grassroots. They believe the orchestrations against the person of the DCE is borne out of sheered hatred and envy.

Read below the full counter press release:

PRESS RELEASE.

RESPONSE TO R.K AWUDU'S SO-CALLED PRESS RELEASE 

14/07/2021 ;09:20

Mr. President, fellow Ghanaians, ladies and gentlemen, the youth of Bole-Bamboi, our friends from the media, all invited guest. 

We entreat each and everyone of you to disregard the "Dead on arrival"

PRESS RELEASE STATEMENT circulating on the various social media platforms that intends denting the good image and the hard-earned reputation of Hon. Madam Alele, DCE for Bole-Bamboi Constituency. 

This was a calculated plan to destroy the Unprecedented developmental initiatives she  undertook during her first 4 years as the DCE for Bole-Bamboi Constituency.

In the "Dead on arrival Press Release,

R.K Awudu said, the appointment of MMDCEs is the sole responsibility of the President of the republic. And  H.E the President will surely re-appoint persons who had won his heart with regards to their successes in their first 4 years. She deserves a re-appointment because her of selfless, competency and her good works she has brought to the good people of Bole-Bamboi.

Per our investigations the youth groups and polling station executives had denied having hands in this write up which seeks to against the re-appointment of Madam Veronica Alele as the DCE for the second term. 

YOUR REASONS.

Ladies and gentlemen, find the answers to the so-called concerns raised for your perusal.

R.K Awudu, you are the first person madam Alele gave an opportunity by appointing you into  Zoomlion  when she assumed office as the DCE, your gross disrespect to the management of Zoomlion and rudeness made them to fired you.

You later went to Madam  Alele to sponsor you to to take the party chairman  to court after you woefully lost the executive election position you contested.  Madam Alele wasn't in  agreement with you. The image of the party was paramount and she was not willing to bring the party  into disrepute,  that was  the Genesis of the hatred.  This is why you develop that hatred for Madam  Alele because she did not support you second legal case after supporting the first one in Wa, upper West Region.

Madam Alele  never refuse in completing the College of Education in Bole. Building a college is capital intensive for a District  Assembly as ours,She is still lobbying  the Education Ministry for the project.  She did everything possible to get the college built.

With regards to the accreditation of the only Technical School in Bole, no one ever came to Madam  Alele from any school for accreditation and was turn down. You can support this with evidence. 

This is purely mischievous.

Any contract/project she undertook or awarded and back dated it, as you have alleged, you can prove with evidence . No amount of hatred just because of your personal interest would hold "water" against her.

The youth of Bole never demostrated for the street lights to be fixed. They only petitioned  Madam Alele as the DCE to help work on some of the malfunctioned Street lights. It took less than 2 days for that to be done, because her compitency.

You said Madam  Alele refused to sponsor the party during 2020 elections. Your hatred for the best DCE in the history of Bole-Bamboi Constituency will not work. She had work closely with the PC and the pooling station executives during the 2020 campaign, where she finance most of the campaign activities and even gave the PC a pick-up for the campaign rounds.

The PC is still alive. You can find out from him.

Madam Alele will eventually help to break the Eight (8) we are all fighting for because of her good works. Since her tuner as the DCE the votes from Bole-Bamboi constituency got appreciated. We have never experienced any votes declining under her leadership. Where from this broad day hatred?

Hope you are not dreaming whilst calling for a SINGLE project she has completed during her turner..

Here are some few  of them:

UNDER EDUCATION:

* Put up a 6 unit classroom block in Bole SHS

* Put up a 12 unit classroom block at St. Anthony of Padua in Bamboi.

* Put up a 3 unit classroom block at Carpenter

* Put up a 3 unit classroom block at Banda-Nkwanta

* Put up a 3 unit classroom block at Maluwe

* Put up a 3 unit classroom block at Kpenayiri

* Put up a 3 unit classroom block at Dibouyiri.

* Some Seven(7) school blocks which were destroyed by rainstorm, she completed and renovated them as well and

*Over 2000 Dual desks were distributed across all Basic schools in the district

SOME SOCIAL AMENITIES:

* About 4 markets were constructed under her abled leadership

They are:

* Mandari Market

* Mankuma Market

*Jama and

*Tinga Markets.

* Bole Eid prayer grounds was constructed by her.

UNDER HEALTH:

* Put up a Sonyor chps compound 

* Constructed Teselima chps compound

*Bale chps compound completed

* Kakiase chps compound renovated

*Bole district hospital children's ward renovated and

* Bole hospital Covid-19 center also renovated under her abled leadership. 

UNDER AGRICULTURE:

* Under her leadership, Bole-Bamboi district won the 2nd best  position in the whole of Ghana and 1st in the five(5) northern Regions for nursing cashew seeds in larger quantity and distributed to farmers for free.

R.K Awudu, 

Your enviness will not work against our Affable, Competent all loving mother, Madam Alele

Hate or like Madam Alele she is God appointed one.

Her good works deserves another term.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the reason why we need NOT  give this so-called Press Release attention and must treat it with the contempt  that it deserves.

We have addressed all the concerns being raised in the "Dead on arrival Press Release and looking forward for your necessary intervention..

Under the signature of all Youth Groups and Polling station executives from Bole-Bamboi Constituency,

The Youth Activist/Leader MOHAMMED ATITOR...(AGABUTO CAMP)

Cc.

The President,

Jubilee house, Accra.

The Regional Minister,

Savannah Region.

National Chairman,

New Patriotic Party

Asylum Down, Accra.

The Regional Chairman,

New Patriotic Party

Damongo, Savannah Region.

The Chairman

New Patriotic Party

Bole, Savannah Region

Source: Ananpansah B. Abraham

Our DCE is epitome of corruption; We'll disassociate ourselves from party if she is reappointed- Bole-Bamboi NPP executives

Our DCE is epitome of corruption; We'll disassociate ourselves from party if she is reappointed- Bole-Bamboi NPP executives

Some Branch Executives of the ruling New Patriotic Party in Bole-Bamboi constituency of the Savannah Region are calling on president Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo to rescind any plans of reappointing the incumbent District Chief Executive,madam Veronica Alela into office.

Whilst appreciating the fact that the president has the sole right under the constitution to appoint whoever he deems fit to occupy the high office of MMDCE of the various assemblies, the polling station executives cum youth cautioned that any attempt to retain Veronica Alela as District Chief Executive for the Bole-Bamboi District would cause them to divorce the party and its related activities in the area.

In a press release signed by R. K. Awudu, the convernor of all youth groups and polling station executives from the Bole-Bamboi constituency and copied to this writer, the executives maintained among other things that the incumbent DCE since assumption of office has been an embodiment of corruption and an implementor of numerous anti-government policies.

The release noted that the tenure of office of the DCE has been marred with the award and backdating of contracts without budgetary approval from the assembly and also refusal to pay former assembly members their ex-gratia, adding that, the  future and continuous sacrifices of the youth for the party would be determined by the reappointment or otherwise of the DCE into office.

Excerpts from the press release reads:

"We the youth groups and  polling station executives across the Bole-Bamboi constituency disagrees with the president to re-appoint Veronica Alele for us as district chief executive again. And below are our reasons;

•Veronica Alele since her assumption of ofice in 2017 has been an anti government policy implimentor

She has refused to continue the College of Education project which the youth of bole-bamboi will benefit from. 

•She has also refused to seek accreditation for our only government Technical School in Bole since 2017".

The group further pointed out that:

"•Veronica Alele is an embodiment of coruption which the president has overlooked.She has not got budgetary approval from the assembly but she has awarded constructs and backdated them.

•She has refused to pay former assembly members their ex-gratia but has found monies to build high standard six bedrooms in her family house.

•It took the youth of bole two days of demonstrations before the assembly fixed the over two years faulty streets lights in bole township and its environs.

•She is one of the president's appointees who moved the fortunes of our party's parliamentary seats from 169 seats in 2016 to 137 seats in 2020 due to her refusal to work with the party's youth, polling station executives, and constituency executives".

The group challenged the DCE to mention a single project she initiated and completed with funding from the District Assembly Common Fund since her assumption of office and maintained that she is never a grassroot person.

Source: Ananpansah B. Abraham