THE government has given the assurance that would-be Muslim pilgrims from the northern sector of the country would from this year fly directly from the refurbished Tamale Airport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when embarking on the annual Hajj.
This measure is aimed at reducing the difficulties and stress pilgrims often go through in Accra before embarking on the pilgrimage. The first time Muslims in the area made such a direct flight to the Saudi Kingdom was in the late 1970s.
The Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama, was speaking in Tamale at the weekend at the final funeral rites of Alhaji Baba Gariba, father of Dr Sulley Gariba, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Alternative (IPA) who died last week.
The Veep who was on his first trip outside Accra after he was sworn into office on January 7, was accompanied on his visit by some leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). They included Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Alhaji Ibrahim Adam, Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader in Parliament, and Mr Moses Asaga, MP for Nabdam.
Also present were Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, Leader of the People's National Convention (PNC), and his wife, Mrs Comfort Mahama.
The Veep described the late Alhaji Gariba as a role model who imbued wisdom to all he encountered.
According to him, the late Alhaji Gariba was not only peace-loving but also exhibited a lot of humility that endeared him to all. He also cherished education and encouraged the youth to always study hard to attain the highest level in education.
On the just-ended general elections, Mr Mahama admonished Ghanaians to forge ahead in unity and also put all hands on deck to propel the nation ahead in prosperity, instead of engaging in acts with the tendency of dividing the country.
Mr Mahama said, "There is no reason why we should fight one another after the elections. We are all one with a common destiny and we need to be each other's keeper and guard jealously the peace in the country."
He gave the assurance that the government would not disappoint Ghanaians but would live up to its campaign promises of improving the lot of the people, irrespective of their political persuasions.
The Veep later paid courtesy calls on some chiefs and opinion leaders in the metropolis and thanked them for their immense support in ensuring peaceful elections.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
DAGBON OBSERVES BUGUM FESTIVAL (SPREAD, JAN 10)
RESIDENTS of Tamale last Wednesday night poured onto the streets in their hundreds to mark the traditional Bugum (fire) Festival that signifies the beginning of the lunar year.
Contrarily to the belief that the celebrations could spark violence, it rather helped in uniting the youth from both sides of the political divide who went on procession together through the principal streets of the metropolis.
Some of the revellers were joined by foreign tourists while a section of the combined team of the military and police personnel who were detailed to ensure law and order could not help but also respond to the thunderous beatings of the gong-gong drums that accompanied the intricate steps of the revellers amidst the incessant firing of musketry and the display of fireworks.
There were no reported incidents of violence or injuries as the carnival progressed peacefully into the early hours of Thursday.
The revellers, majority of whom were young ladies, masqueraded in a procession along the streets with babies strapped on the backs of some nursing mothers. With lighted thatches, they sang and danced to both war and profane songs.
With machetes raised above their sweaty bodies and talismans and cow tails dangling on their arms and waist, the ecstatic men and women danced energetically deep into the night.
Some residents the Daily Graphic spoke to described this year’s Bugum as very significant in uniting the people, being the first to be celebrated after the hotly contested presidential run-off.
Others also suggested the need to organise future festivals well to attract more tourists from within and outside the country to savour one of the oldest and cherished traditional festivals of the people.
Dagombas and other ethnic groups in northern Ghana mostly celebrate it on the 10th day of the new lunar month. It is believed to mark the edict of a prominent Dagomba chief, who, in tracing his lost son after dusk, ordered the lighting of portable bound thatches, which eventually led to the discovery of the son. It is also celebrated for its Islamic religious significance.
In these modern times however, the revellers dispose of their thatches at a thicket, while knowledgeable Mallams later reveal the events likely to occur in the New Year to chiefs who, in turn, announce the findings to the people.
Contrarily to the belief that the celebrations could spark violence, it rather helped in uniting the youth from both sides of the political divide who went on procession together through the principal streets of the metropolis.
Some of the revellers were joined by foreign tourists while a section of the combined team of the military and police personnel who were detailed to ensure law and order could not help but also respond to the thunderous beatings of the gong-gong drums that accompanied the intricate steps of the revellers amidst the incessant firing of musketry and the display of fireworks.
There were no reported incidents of violence or injuries as the carnival progressed peacefully into the early hours of Thursday.
The revellers, majority of whom were young ladies, masqueraded in a procession along the streets with babies strapped on the backs of some nursing mothers. With lighted thatches, they sang and danced to both war and profane songs.
With machetes raised above their sweaty bodies and talismans and cow tails dangling on their arms and waist, the ecstatic men and women danced energetically deep into the night.
Some residents the Daily Graphic spoke to described this year’s Bugum as very significant in uniting the people, being the first to be celebrated after the hotly contested presidential run-off.
Others also suggested the need to organise future festivals well to attract more tourists from within and outside the country to savour one of the oldest and cherished traditional festivals of the people.
Dagombas and other ethnic groups in northern Ghana mostly celebrate it on the 10th day of the new lunar month. It is believed to mark the edict of a prominent Dagomba chief, who, in tracing his lost son after dusk, ordered the lighting of portable bound thatches, which eventually led to the discovery of the son. It is also celebrated for its Islamic religious significance.
In these modern times however, the revellers dispose of their thatches at a thicket, while knowledgeable Mallams later reveal the events likely to occur in the New Year to chiefs who, in turn, announce the findings to the people.
A bush fire has swept through the farming community of Diare-Safam in the Savelugu-Nanton District, completely destroying a 10-acre mango plantation estimated at GH¢40,000.
About 1,000 trees were destroyed by the fire, the cause of which is yet to be established.
The owner of the farm, Mr Mohammed Bukari, an agriculturist, explained that he had created a fire belt to protect the farm against such incidents and so he was at a loss as to how the fire reached the farm because the farm was far away from the community.
Mr Bukari, who is the Zonal Agricultural Manager for the Northern Interaction Zone of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) in Tamale, said he was liaising with the Ghana Fire Service to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Bush fires are common in the northern part of the country during periods of severe Harmattan, as are being experienced currently in the Northern Region.
He said he embarked on the plantation in 2005 and had spent more than GH¢40,000 on it, adding that it would have been ready for harvest in three years.
Asked whether the trees could regenerate, Mr Bukari said it was not possible, since, according to him, the trees “were burnt in the process, probably because of the mulch we had created around them”.
The gutting of farms, particularly rice fields, is a common phenomenon in the north when the Harmattan is severe at this time of the year.
About 1,000 trees were destroyed by the fire, the cause of which is yet to be established.
The owner of the farm, Mr Mohammed Bukari, an agriculturist, explained that he had created a fire belt to protect the farm against such incidents and so he was at a loss as to how the fire reached the farm because the farm was far away from the community.
Mr Bukari, who is the Zonal Agricultural Manager for the Northern Interaction Zone of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) in Tamale, said he was liaising with the Ghana Fire Service to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Bush fires are common in the northern part of the country during periods of severe Harmattan, as are being experienced currently in the Northern Region.
He said he embarked on the plantation in 2005 and had spent more than GH¢40,000 on it, adding that it would have been ready for harvest in three years.
Asked whether the trees could regenerate, Mr Bukari said it was not possible, since, according to him, the trees “were burnt in the process, probably because of the mulch we had created around them”.
The gutting of farms, particularly rice fields, is a common phenomenon in the north when the Harmattan is severe at this time of the year.
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