Gonjaland Thanks the President

The Gonjaland Youth Association wish to express the profound appreciation of the Yagbonwura, Chiefs and people of Gonajaland to His Excellency the President, Mr. John Agyekum Kufour, for his elevation of Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Sadique to the status of a cabinet Minister.

We are happy that, our thoughts about the performance of the Minister have largely coincided with those of the President, resulting in this important vote of confidence by the highest office of our land.

Since Alhaji Sadique earned a call up into government in 2001, we of the Gonjaland Youth Association have watched his performance with keen interest and have been generally impressed by his immense skill and ability to combine high performance with down-to-earth humility. We have watched the skilful manner in which he was able to handle the affairs of our volatile home region. He combined admirably, his role as a Member of Parliament for Salaga and that of Minister of the largest region in Ghana, which also happens to be the most difficult. Varying degrees of poverty, unemployment, sporadic destruction resulting from rain storms and the issue of Dagbon presented crucial challenges.

Overall we have been satisfied with his performance, given the circumstances of the time and the logistical resources available to our dear country.

We are also aware that, the new Ministry to which Alhaji Sadique has been assigned is not exactly the most peaceful. But we are encouraged by the opportunities for new challenges and are excited by the fact the President recognises Alhaji Sadique?s ability to handle difficult negotiations.

We are also deeply moved by the outpouring of concerns expressed by people of different backgrounds both in the Northern Region and outside, that his absence from the region is likely to disturb the on-going peace process in Dagbon. While we take these concerns as a public vote of confidence in the Minister?s performance, we are prepared to allow the President his prerogative in these matters.

We pray that Allah would grant him the wisdom, fortitude and strength to handle his new assignment with an enhance level of excellence. We pray that his performance in his new role would meet the expectations of the President, which informed the decision to appoint him to the position. But most importantly, we pray that his performance would have a meaningful and positive influence on the development of our dear nation.

The people of Gonjaland are very excited about this appointment and are indeed very proud to have him as one of our own. Since we have no better way of expressing our gratitude, we hope it would suffice to say, with all humility, to His Excellency; ?Asan kushung? (Thank you)

Issued by the Gonjaland Youth Association

National Secretariat, Tamale