NaYAD IS BORN
NaYAD IS BORN May 03, 2010
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
A non-partisan and non-religious youth group, the Navrongo Youth Agenda for Development [NaYAD] which was formed on December 13, 2009 has been officially inaugurated in Navrongo, capital of the Kassena-Nankana East district of the Upper East region. The inauguration was under the theme: “Development, a collective responsibility of all”. The youth group has the overriding goal of collaborating with the district assembly and other key stakeholders to propel development in the area.
The group seeks to achieve the above through fostering peace among people in the district, promotion of democracy, accountability and good governance, promotion of education, health, agriculture etc. and the creation of a platform for the youth to realize and utilize their leadership potentials.
The Executive Director of NaYAD, Mr. Amos Ayuure noted in a speech that Navrongo has produced and nurtured many luminaries in the sciences, health, law, technology and other fields but regrettably, the township is yet to derive maximum benefit from these professionals. He said in the 1960s, 1970s and early eighties, Navrongo was described as “the Cape Coast” of the north due to the vibrancy of schools like Notre Dame, NAVASCO and St. John Bosco’s College of Education but today, this pride has faded away due to falling standards.
Mr. Ayuure also observed that Navrongo boasts of a huge irrigation dam at Tono where hard working farmers produce a lot but there is lack of ready market for their produce notably, tomato. Also, a modern hotel and market complex started by Acheampong’s regime has been left to its fate since 1970 with business men and women apportioning it to themselves.
He commended the district assembly for clearing the main lorry station in the township for development into a well-planned lorry station while urging it to extend the decongestion exercise to the main road that runs through the town to the Navrongo hospital saying the said road is always converted into a market square by traders on market days leaving only little space for various vehicles to meander through.
A rise in HIV/AIDS prevalence of 2.8% in the district as contained in a 2009 Ghana Health Service Sentinal Survey and the rapid decline of the youth’s interest in upholding the rich cultural heritage of the Kassenas also received the condemnation of Mr. Ayuure.
The Executive Director stated that a worrying phenomenon for NaYAD is alcoholism among the youth which it plans to conduct some studies into and prescribe possible solutions to the menace. He however, refuted claims by a recent news publication in the Ghanaian Times that the youth of Navrongo lead in alcohol consumption in Upper East. He questioned the credibility and methodology of a research by an NGO, Friends of the Future whose findings led to the publication.
The Upper East regional minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo in his inaugural address observed that unity is a crucial element in every human institution because it allows for the mobilization of collective strengths and resources for the achievement of common set goals.
He said the youth have a high stake in the country’s future and should strive to acquire leadership qualities such as patriotism, honesty and love which will enable them to live exemplary lives. There is also the need for them to pursue professional and vocational skills.
The regional minister told NaYAD members that in their quest to promote good governance, they should endeavour not to create divisions through their deeds and utterances. According to him, the Bawku conflict alone has already taken a chunk of government resources which otherwise would have gone into development projects.
Mr. Woyongo hinted that government is determined to fashion out a non-partisan national youth policy that will provide a platform for the youth to engage in matters that affect their welfare. He said youth employment will become an essential aspect of this policy with emphasis on vocational training, apprenticeship training and job creation.
A friend and associate member of the Navrongo Youth Agenda for Development, Dr. Clement J. Nabare in a word to members of the organization, called on professionals of Navrongo descent to return home periodically to offer services to their communities adding that, this has been his guiding principle to community service since he enrolled at the medical school in 1997.
Dr. Nabare also urged the enlightened youth and professionals to visit their former schools especially the basic ones as this has the tendency of inspiring young children to strive for higher education.
Other dignitaries including the Navrongo Central MP, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda and the acting Navro Pio, Mr. Arthur Balinia Adda also addressed the inaugural ceremony.
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
A non-partisan and non-religious youth group, the Navrongo Youth Agenda for Development [NaYAD] which was formed on December 13, 2009 has been officially inaugurated in Navrongo, capital of the Kassena-Nankana East district of the Upper East region. The inauguration was under the theme: “Development, a collective responsibility of all”. The youth group has the overriding goal of collaborating with the district assembly and other key stakeholders to propel development in the area.
The group seeks to achieve the above through fostering peace among people in the district, promotion of democracy, accountability and good governance, promotion of education, health, agriculture etc. and the creation of a platform for the youth to realize and utilize their leadership potentials.
The Executive Director of NaYAD, Mr. Amos Ayuure noted in a speech that Navrongo has produced and nurtured many luminaries in the sciences, health, law, technology and other fields but regrettably, the township is yet to derive maximum benefit from these professionals. He said in the 1960s, 1970s and early eighties, Navrongo was described as “the Cape Coast” of the north due to the vibrancy of schools like Notre Dame, NAVASCO and St. John Bosco’s College of Education but today, this pride has faded away due to falling standards.
Mr. Ayuure also observed that Navrongo boasts of a huge irrigation dam at Tono where hard working farmers produce a lot but there is lack of ready market for their produce notably, tomato. Also, a modern hotel and market complex started by Acheampong’s regime has been left to its fate since 1970 with business men and women apportioning it to themselves.
He commended the district assembly for clearing the main lorry station in the township for development into a well-planned lorry station while urging it to extend the decongestion exercise to the main road that runs through the town to the Navrongo hospital saying the said road is always converted into a market square by traders on market days leaving only little space for various vehicles to meander through.
A rise in HIV/AIDS prevalence of 2.8% in the district as contained in a 2009 Ghana Health Service Sentinal Survey and the rapid decline of the youth’s interest in upholding the rich cultural heritage of the Kassenas also received the condemnation of Mr. Ayuure.
The Executive Director stated that a worrying phenomenon for NaYAD is alcoholism among the youth which it plans to conduct some studies into and prescribe possible solutions to the menace. He however, refuted claims by a recent news publication in the Ghanaian Times that the youth of Navrongo lead in alcohol consumption in Upper East. He questioned the credibility and methodology of a research by an NGO, Friends of the Future whose findings led to the publication.
The Upper East regional minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo in his inaugural address observed that unity is a crucial element in every human institution because it allows for the mobilization of collective strengths and resources for the achievement of common set goals.
He said the youth have a high stake in the country’s future and should strive to acquire leadership qualities such as patriotism, honesty and love which will enable them to live exemplary lives. There is also the need for them to pursue professional and vocational skills.
The regional minister told NaYAD members that in their quest to promote good governance, they should endeavour not to create divisions through their deeds and utterances. According to him, the Bawku conflict alone has already taken a chunk of government resources which otherwise would have gone into development projects.
Mr. Woyongo hinted that government is determined to fashion out a non-partisan national youth policy that will provide a platform for the youth to engage in matters that affect their welfare. He said youth employment will become an essential aspect of this policy with emphasis on vocational training, apprenticeship training and job creation.
A friend and associate member of the Navrongo Youth Agenda for Development, Dr. Clement J. Nabare in a word to members of the organization, called on professionals of Navrongo descent to return home periodically to offer services to their communities adding that, this has been his guiding principle to community service since he enrolled at the medical school in 1997.
Dr. Nabare also urged the enlightened youth and professionals to visit their former schools especially the basic ones as this has the tendency of inspiring young children to strive for higher education.
Other dignitaries including the Navrongo Central MP, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda and the acting Navro Pio, Mr. Arthur Balinia Adda also addressed the inaugural ceremony.
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