Chiefs and People of Nabdam celebrates Nangod-Naab Goug Festival

26-05-15    

This year’s Nangod-Naab Goug festival of the chiefs and people of Nangodi Traditional Area in the Upper East Region has been celebrated in pump and pageantry.

 The colourful event brought together sons and daughters of Nabrug including revered paramount and divisional chiefs, departmental heads as well as visitors from other communities in the region. 

Correspondent Isaac Asare was there for Radio Ghana and has filed this report

Report

Unlike other festivals celebrated annually, Nangod-Naab Goug is a biennial festival celebrated in April to usher in the raining season, seek the protection and guidance of the ancestors and also renew the bond of friendship and brotherliness among the people of Nabdam and its neighbouring communities. 

The festival according to the customs and traditions allows the chain of survival among animals in the forest; so that animal species are not endangered. 

However, the maiden edition of the Nangod-Naab Goug festival which served as a home coming summit brought together citizens from Nabrug as well as visitors and development partners. 

The ultimate goal was to reflect on the development needs the Nabdam community and to initiate development projects and to contribute financially towards these projects. 

Addressing the gathering on the theme: “Our Heritage and environment, the Basis for Nabdam Development”, the Paramount Chief of the area, Naab Kosom Asaga Yelzoya, touched on the development aspirations of the people.

 He said the development of the Nabdam community hinges on their output and how well they contribute to the reduction of poverty in the area. 

Naab Asaga Yelzoya, therefore advised the people against the high intake of alcohol, burning of the vegetation as well as wastage of resources especially during funerals.

 This, he, lamented contribute to their privation.

 He moreover advised the youth to have respect for authority and refrain from violence. 

Naab Asaga Yelzoya, also used the opportunity to thank the government for the numerous developmental projects in the area and further called for support in the area of road construction, particularly the Bolga-Bawku, Nangodi -Yakote-Pelungu and Asonge-Pelungu-Sakote roads.  

The upgrade of the Nangodi health centre and the provision of technical and infrastructural support for farmers and the Kongo Senior High school were key on his priority list and called on authorities concerned to come to their aid. 

There were solidarity messages from various chiefs present at the occasion.  On behalf of the Regional Minister, the Nabdam DCE, Vivian Anarfo challenged the people to develop the habit of tree growing in order to protect the environment. 

Madam Anarfo emphasized the urgent need for the chiefs to mobilize their communities to take active part in the upcoming National Sanitation Day exercise schedule to take place in the region next month. 

Other speakers including the MP for Nabdam, Boniface Gambila, stressed on the need for people to uphold their cultural heritage and no succumb to the negative global influences. 

This year’s Nangod-Naab Goug festival was marked with series of activities including a football gala, quiz competition as well as a hunting expedition.

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MASLOC disburses GHc 262,000 to 20 women groups in UE

Mrs Tamakloe (middle) flanked by some of the beneficiary women groups 

Mrs Tamakloe presenting  a cheque at Zebilla 

About 20 women targeted groups in the Upper East Region have received cheques covering 262 Ghana cedis as loans to expand their businesses. 

The amount, which was being disbursed by the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, MASLOC, is to be repaid in six months with two percent interest. 

Beneficiary groups include small holder farmers, market women as well as petty traders among other vulnerable groups. 

They were given amounts ranging from 5 thousand Ghana Cedis to 14 thousand Ghana cedis depending on their businesses. 

Presenting the cheques during her two day working visit to the region, the CEO of MASLOC, Sedina Tamakloe, said budgetary allocation for the disbursement of the loan is limited, therefore as and when the budgetary support improves the facility will be extended to benefit other needy groups. 

 

 Report

The Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions are said to be among the poorest regions in the country. 

Majority of the people with women constituting the majority, lives in abject poverty despite their contribution to the economic development of the `country. 

It is believed that once these vulnerable people are empowered financially, they will be able to improve their livelihood and give enough support to their families.

 It is for this reason that the MASLOC, which is a body set up to implement government’s microfinance programmes, has focus its attention to reach out to vulnerable women in the area of loan disbursement. 

The visit by the CEO of MASLOC, Mrs Sedina Tamakloe, and her team to the Upper East Region was to reaffirm government’s resolve to reduce the vulnerability of women while ensuring the growth of their businesses.  

Areas visited incude Zebilla, Bawku, Navrongo and Sandema. Mrs Tamakloe’s first point of call was at the Bawku West District where she disbursed 32 thousand two hundred and seventy two Ghana cedis to two groups. 

They are Googo Anontaba and Binaba Asongtaba women groups. At Bawku, three out of 25 groups namely; Yingande Tinkpenee, Megogo Asaal-Taaba and Yakut Akulutaaba women groups also received about 33 thousand Ghana Cedis. 

Next was in the Bolgatanga Municipality where Business Women Association, Asanabisi and Kumbosco Ateletaba Women groups were assisted with 18 thousand Ghana cedis. 

The monies were handed over to the executives of the various groups on behalf of their members. Seven women groups from Navrongo were also supported and 30 thousand cedis was disbursed to three women groups in Sandema. 

Rounding up her tour, Mrs Tamakloe, said the although there were many vulnerable groups in the region and the Northern Ghana in general, the focus has been on women having realized  the invaluable role they play in the overall development of the country. 

While commending women for their contribution to nation building, Mrs Tamakloe, cited misconception as some of the major challenge confronting the scheme.

Mrs Tamakloe was accompanied by the Head of Operations at MASLOC, Daniel Axim, and the Media Relations Officer of MASLOC, Fadilatu Mumuni, among other officials from Accra and Tamale.

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GBC NEWS:    Report by Correspondent Isaac Asare