The Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) has decided to lend its support to the call by the king of Gonjas, Yagbonwura Bawa Doshi I, chiefs and elders on the government to carve another region out of the present Northern region.

The creation of the new region, according to the GLYA, would remove all bottlenecks that impede the smooth administration and development of the area. The Gonjaland alone covers about one third of the total land area of the 3 northern regions and have a population of almost half a million.

In a communiqu? issued at the end of the 27th Annual Delegates Congress held at Damango, the seat of the Gonja king, also appealed to the government to build more schools, both first and second cycle as well as a teacher training college.

The communiqu? signed by the president of GLYA, Mr. Ahmed Ewura, stated that available statistics indicate that there is a low number of schools in Gonjaland.

It further stressed that getting more schools in the area would help to improve human resource capacity for the Gonjas and the country as a whole.

The communiqu? reminded parents of the need to send their children - especially the girl-child - to school to reduce the high illiteracy rate in Gonjaland.

On discipline and patriotism, the association advised all its members to learn how to tolerate each other's views and work together so that they can improve upon the worsening socio-economic, cultural and educational conditions in the area.

It expressed dissatisfaction about the untapped agricultural, mineral, as well as tourism potentials in Gonjaland and therefore called on the government to take the necessary steps to support as well as to attract the needed investment for these sectors.

The GLYA congress at Damango attracted about 600 delegates from all branches throughout the country and overseas.

It was also attended by all MPs from the Gonjaland. They included Hon. Boniface Abubakar Saddique, deputy minister for Tourism and Modernisation of Capital City and MP for Salaga; MP for Bole, Hon. John Mahama; MP for Yapei Kusogwu Hon. ABy Ransford Ocanseylhaji Seidu Amadu, MP for Damango/Daboya, Alex Seidu Sofo; and a deputy minister for Roads and Highways. Only the MP for Sawla/ Kalba was not present at the meeting.

Other dignitaries included Alhaji Jawula, former GFA chairman, Alhaji Gilbert Seidu Iddi, Northern regional minister during the NDC regime and the guest of honour was Hon. Baah Wiredu, minister for Education, Youth and Sports