The King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, has called on traditional leaders, politicians, religious leaders, civil society organisations and residents of Gonjaland to unite and prioritise the development of the Savannah Region.
The Yagbonwura made the call at the grand durbar of the 2026 Yagbon Grand Damba Festival held at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Speaking on the theme, “Celebrating Our Heritage:
The Role of Traditional Leadership in Promoting Unity and Development,” the Yagbonwura said traditional leaders were not only custodians of culture and tradition but also important partners in development.
He urged chiefs to strengthen engagement with government, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders to attract development projects and opportunities to their respective traditional areas.
The Yagbonwura stressed that political differences should not be allowed to undermine relationships and unity among the people of the Gonja Kingdom.
He said although residents might support different political parties, they must remember that political contests were temporary, while the bonds of brotherhood and community remained.
The Gonja overlord further called on stakeholders to rely on dialogue, consultation and traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms to address disagreements and create a peaceful environment for development.
The Yagbonwura also commended the government of President John Dramani Mahama for its efforts to address the country’s economic and social challenges.
He cited the 24-Hour Economy, Big Push infrastructure programme, Adwumawura, Free Primary Health Care Programme, measures to stabilise the cedi and agricultural transformation initiatives as policies with the potential to improve livelihoods, create jobs and expand opportunities.
He, however, appealed to the government to expedite work on ongoing development projects in the Savannah Region to ensure their timely completion.
The Yagbonwura also commended the Governor and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, who chaired the 2026 Damba celebration, for his leadership and efforts towards economic and monetary stability.
He said the stability of the Ghanaian cedi was important to ordinary Ghanaians because it affected the prices of goods and services, the cost of doing business and household purchasing power.
Describing Dr. Asiama as a “true friend of Gonjaland,” the Yagbonwura expressed appreciation for his presence, friendship and support for the Gonja traditional institution.
On education, the Yagbonwura described it as one of the greatest investments the region could make in its future and called on chiefs, parents, teachers and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to improve educational outcomes in the Savannah Region.
He announced that the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund had fully settled US$20,000 in outstanding tuition fees for Kassim Bakari, a young Gonja student undertaking Commercial Pilot Licence training at Paramount Aviation School in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kassim, who was at the final stage of his training but had been withdrawn because of outstanding fees, can now resume and complete his programme.
The Gonja overlord said Kassim was expected to become the first commercial pilot from Gonjaland upon successful completion of his training.
He appealed to individuals, organisations, institutions and development partners to support the Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund to enable it to provide similar opportunities to more brilliant but needy young people across Gonjaland.
The Gonja overlord also expressed concern over the abuse of drugs and other harmful substances among some young people in the region, describing the situation as a serious threat to the future of Savannah.
He warned that drug abuse could undermine young people’s health, education, families and future prospects while contributing to crime and violence.
The Yagbonwura urged young people to resist peer pressure and instead pursue education, skills training, entrepreneurship, agriculture, sports and other productive ventures.
He also called on parents, chiefs, religious leaders, teachers, security agencies and relevant government institutions to work together to tackle drug abuse and create opportunities for young people to acquire skills, secure employment and establish businesses.
The Yagbonwura said the annual Damba celebration remained an important occasion for the Gonja people to celebrate their history, culture, religion and traditions, while reflecting on the values that had united their communities for generations.
He expressed appreciation to the Special Guest of Honour, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Dr. Julius Debrah, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama and other dignitaries for honouring the invitation and joining the people of Gonja to celebrate the 2026 Damba Festival.
Source:nkilgifm.com
