Bissas have bigger task to ensure peace before, during and after elections – BDA Chairman

The Bissa community in Ghana faces a significant responsibility in maintaining peace throughout the upcoming 2024 election cycle, the chairman of the Bissa Development Association (BDA) has said.

His call for unity and peaceful coexistence came during a cultural durbar that brought together Bissa representatives from across the country.

At the inaugural Greater Accra Bissa Sukuma held on Saturday at the Alajo Astroturf Park, Alhaji Shaibu Musah Gutare, Esq., stressed the importance of preserving Bissa cultural identity while promoting peaceful integration within Ghana’s diverse society.

“As the campaigns for election 2024 intensify, the BDA, the Council of Chiefs, and the entire Bissa people have a bigger task to remind ourselves of the need to ensure peace before, during, and after the elections, he said In his keynote address.

“There is no reason why we can co-exist peacefully for the past three (3) years, eight (8) months, and only use the short election period to destroy the beautiful relationships and country we built together.

“As citizens of Ghana, we all have a responsibility to preserve and develop the country entrusted to us by our forebears, so that we can transfer onto our children and future generations, a better Ghana than we came to meet.”

The event, which saw participation from all 16 regions of Ghana, served as a platform for cultural celebration and political discourse, with representatives from major political parties in attendance.

He went on to explain the meaning and importance of the Sukuma, stressing the significance of maintaining cultural identity while fostering peaceful coexistence.

“Sukuma in the Bissa language means coming together,” he said.

“It is a durbar initiated by the Bissa community in the Greater Accra Region to celebrate our culture and unity. The theme for this year’s celebration is: ‘Preserving Our Culture and Building Unity to Promote Peace Towards Election 2024 — The Role of All Citizens’.”

Alhaji Gutare added: “Despite living far away from our homeland of Bawku, we consider it important to continue to hold on to our culture and preserve our identity.

“Traditionally, the Bissa people are known to be very hardworking, especially in the area of vegetable production and many other crops, particularly groundnuts, which we believe were domesticated by our ancestors.”

The festival was organised for the first time in Greater Accra by the regional chapter of the BDA under the auspices of the Greater Accra Council of Bissa Chiefs.

A highlight of the occasion was the outdooring of the new chief of the Greater Accra Bissa community, Kir Salisu Ali Dabre IV. This marked his first public appearance since his installation six months ago. As the newly appointed president of the Greater Accra Council of Bissa Chiefs, his presence added significant importance to the event.

The event provided a colourful backdrop for the chief’s introduction while reinforcing the community’s commitment to peace and national unity.

The gathering brought together Bissa representatives from all 16 regions of Ghana and was graced by numerous dignitaries, including chiefs, religious leaders, government officials, and representatives from the two main political parties.

These political figures were given a platform to present their messages to the attendees, underscoring the event’s significance in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.