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 Interior Minister pledges to fast-track passage of NADMO Legislative Instrument

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• Mr Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (fifth from right) with some management of NADMO and other dignitaries Photo: Stephanie Birikorang

 THE Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Moham­med-Mubarak, has pledged urgent reforms and re­source allocation to the National Disaster Management Organisa­tion (NADMO), stressing that Ghana cannot afford to remain unprepared for emergencies.

“We cannot continue to do things the way we do them. If we do, then God forbid, the day something major hits us, we will have ourselves to blame,” he warned during a working visit to NADMO in Accra on Wednesday.

Expressing concern over the state of NADMO’s infrastructure during a working visit to its head­quarters in Accra on Wednesday, he described the facility as “crying for renovation” and promised to push for immediate improve­ments.

“It’s such a shame that as I entered the building, I realised that the building itself is in dire need of renovation. And that’s one thing we need to prioritise,” he said.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak assured staff that the government is committed to strengthening NADMO, both in terms of logis­tics and human resources.

He highlighted the importance of a well-defined scheme of ser­vice for employees, which would clarify career progression and benefits. “One of the top priori­ties on our agenda is to establish a clear scheme of service to ensure fairness in promotions and career development,” he stated.

Additionally, he pledged to fast-track the passage of NAD­MO’s Legislative Instrument (L.I.), which has been pending in Parliament. “With my two decades of experience in Parliament, if I cannot help NADMO get its L.I. passed, then what’s the use of my time there?” he remarked, assur­ing that he would collaborate with stakeholders to see the process through.

Acknowledging funding chal­lenges, he disclosed that he had secured a commitment from the Finance Minister to allocate $1 million to NADMO, which he believes will significantly improve resource availability.

“We hope this funding ma­terialises. If it does, it means NADMO’s resource allocation, by the grace of God, is going to improve,” he noted.

He also emphasised the need for technological integration to enhance efficiency, suggesting that digitisation could reduce opera­tional costs by as much as 70 per cent. “We need to explore ways technology can help us reduce manual work and improve our di­saster response capacity,” he said.

The minister assured NADMO staff that his visit was not a one-off event. “This will not be the last time you see me here. I want to return annually so that we can assess the progress we’ve made,” he promised.

His visit ended with a Ques­tion and Answer session where some staff raised concerns about promotions, staffing levels, inade­quate basic working essentials and collaboration with the police.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to addressing their challenges and working closely with NADMO’s leadership to implement reforms.

 BY STEPHANIE BIRIKO­RANG

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 60 beekeepers trained in Volta, Oti regions

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• participants at the event

 Sixty beekeepers from the Volta and Oti regions have undergone a day’s capacity training in Ho to enhance their skills in improved way of harvesting honey.

The training which was organised by VOR­AB Project International, a non-governmen­tal organisation with funding from UNDP Global Environment Facility, seeks to school participants on the requisite knowledge on how to use modern equipment to enhance their work.

They were taken through hygienic ways of harvesting honey, guidelines of quality product, packaging and customer care.

Mr Devine Okoe Odonkor, Executive Director of VORAB Project International, noted that the NGO has been part of the beekeeping development effort in the Volta and Oti regions.

Therefore we are desirous of putting our expertise at the disposal of the district assemblies to develop the beekeeping industry as a sustainable nature conserva­tion and sustainable employment unit of the assemblies.

However, degradation of the natural environment due to primary production ac­tivities such as farming, sand winning and charcoal production have been alarming.

“We need to take advantage of a lot of benevolence for humanity, pollination for forest and farm crops production bee prod­ucts for food, medicine for these priceless gifts from bees.

Toured Amaglo, Customer Service Officer of the Forestry Commission in his remarks said we need to promote the establishment of one bee farm per district in the Volta and Oti regions as an integrated socio-economic and natural environment management unit of the assemblies.

He said despite financial challenges within the region, VORAB had demonstrat­ed appreciable efforts in making sure education gets to many more people in the communities.

He advised more youth to be ready to learn beekeeping and apply the various en­trepreneurial skills that would be provided.

From Kafui Gati, Ho

Sixty beekeepers from the Volta and Oti regions have undergone a day’s capacity training in Ho to enhance their skills in improved way of harvesting honey.

The training which was organised by VOR­AB Project International, a non-governmen­tal organisation with funding from UNDP Global Environment Facility, seeks to school participants on the requisite knowledge on how to use modern equipment to enhance their work.

They were taken through hygienic ways of harvesting honey, guidelines of quality product, packaging and customer care.

Mr Devine Okoe Odonkor, Executive Director of VORAB Project International, noted that the NGO has been part of the beekeeping development effort in the Volta and Oti regions.

Therefore we are desirous of putting our expertise at the disposal of the district assemblies to develop the beekeeping industry as a sustainable nature conserva­tion and sustainable employment unit of the assemblies.

However, degradation of the natural environment due to primary production ac­tivities such as farming, sand winning and charcoal production have been alarming.

“We need to take advantage of a lot of benevolence for humanity, pollination for forest and farm crops production bee prod­ucts for food, medicine for these priceless gifts from bees.

Toured Amaglo, Customer Service Officer of the Forestry Commission in his remarks said we need to promote the establishment of one bee farm per district in the Volta and Oti regions as an integrated socio-economic and natural environment management unit of the assemblies.

He said despite financial challenges within the region, VORAB had demonstrat­ed appreciable efforts in making sure education gets to many more people in the communities.

He advised more youth to be ready to learn beekeeping and apply the various en­trepreneurial skills that would be provided.

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 Dagbon bows in majesty to bid farewell to Late Mion Lana

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Sambu, the ancestral heartland of the Mion Traditional Area, has become a river of royal memory and cultural splendor as Dagbon bids farewell to one of its most revered sons, the late Mion Lana, Nyab Abdulai Mahamudu, in a grand specta­cle of tradition, reverence, and unity.

For a week now, the town has pulsed with a sacred rhythm resounding with ancestral drumming, soul-stirring dirges, ceremonial dances, and the thunderous salute of muskets.

The air is thick with incense and history, as Dagbon’s ancient customs unfurl in a symphony of grief and grandeur.

At the centre of it all stands the enduring spirit of the Mion Lana “The Peacemaker of Dagbon” whose final funeral rite, culmi­nated in a historic durbar, drawing chiefs, royals, politicians, and mourners.

All have gathered in Sambu not merely to mourn, but to celebrate a life that bridged tradition and transformation.

Nyab Abdulai Mahamudu was enskinned as Bolin-Lana at the tender age of 14, following the death of his father, the late Ya-Na Mahamadu IV.

For over three decades, he waited in the wings of tradition, observing sacred pro­tocols and enduring royal seclusion until March 3, 2019, when he was enskinned as Mion Lana, one of the most powerful positions within the Dagbon Kingdom and a direct heir to the revered Ya-Na throne. Yet his reign, though brief, was profoundly impactful.

With a voice firm in wisdom and a heart anchored in peace, the Mion Lana became a cornerstone in healing the fractured legacy of Dagbon’s past.

In 2019, his public endorsement of Ya-Na Abukari II symbolised the dawn of a new era—one of reconciliation, renewal, and shared destiny.

He was more than a royal figure; he was a visionary. Under his leadership, the Mion Traditional Area witnessed a surge in youth engagement, education reform, and com­munity development.

His “Back to School” campaigns reignit­ed hope for thousands of young people. Through partnerships with organisations like the Ghana National Petroleum Corpora­tion (GNPC), he oversaw the construction of new classroom blocks and championed the drilling of over 15 mechanised boreholes, bringing clean water to remote communi­ties.

In every action, the Mion Lana embodied a rare fusion of tradition and progress of ancient authority and modern compassion.

The final rites spearheaded by the elders of the Abudu Royal Gate and the Mion Traditional Council are as much a cultural renewal as they are a farewell.

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 GTA official honoured for outstanding support to TOUGHA

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• Mr Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi being honoured

 Mr Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Director in charge of Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has been honoured for his ex­ceptional contributions to the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA).

The honour was conferred by Mrs Alisa Osei-Asamoah, the immediate past president of TOUGHA, during a thanksgiving dinner she hosted to mark the end of her four-year leadership of the Union.

Mr Kusi received a citation acknowledging his pivotal role in enhancing TOUGHA’s visibility and fostering strategic partnerships during her tenure.

“Through your expertise and extensive media connections, you have significantly amplified TOUGHA’s visibility and highlight­ed our efforts across the industry. Your strategic media guidance has been instrumental in shaping pos­itive narratives about our work,” the citation read.

It continued, “Beyond media support, your role as Deputy Di­rector of Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Tourism Authority has been crucial in strengthening TOUGHA’s collaboration with key institu­tions. Your counsel, professional­ism, and unwavering commitment have been a pillar not only to me personally, but to the entire union.”

Mr Kusi’s professional jour­ney reflects a blend of academic excellence, industry experience, and dedication to national devel­opment.

A proud alumnus of Prempeh College, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Ghana, Legon, be­fore obtaining a Master of Arts in Public Relations from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now UNI­MAC-GIJ) in 2020.

He further pursued an MBA in Marketing at the Methodist Uni­versity College Ghana, graduating in 2022. He also holds a Certifi­cate in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

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