The Chairman of the Bissa Development Association (BDA), Lawyer Shaibu Musa Gutare (Zanni), has held an impromptu sensitisation meeting with Bissa leaders from the Western Region in the town of Effiekuma, charging them to expedite efforts to build a strong, unified front under the Zekula Umbrella.
After attending the Islamic memorial ceremony for his deputy secretary’s late father, the Chairman seized the occasion to issue a call for unity, urging those present to come together under the “Zekula” banner – a growing campaign pushing for solidarity among the Bissa people nationwide.
He delivered his impassioned plea during the short but significant gathering of Bissa Chiefs and elders at the Effiekuma Central Mosque, where the Dua for the late Guerni had been held.
“Our strength lies in our unity,” Gutare asserted.
“As Bissa in the Western Region, you must act swiftly to forge a strong bond under the Zekula Umbrella. This is not just a request, but a call to action that will define our community’s future.”
The BDA Chairman’s visit to Takoradi, accompanied by Hajia Fati-Ali Yallah Esq., a member of the esteemed Lemagan Council, underscores the national leadership’s commitment to regional issues. Their journey from Accra to offer condolences to the Guerni family also provided a strategic opportunity to address pressing community matters.
The chairman’s rallying cry comes at a critical juncture for the Bissa community of Effiekuma as they are planning to install a new Chief following the passing of their Chief, Kir Iddris Haruna Nombre, on April 10th
But the BDA Chairman’s vision extends beyond political structures. He passionately advocated for the preservation of Bissa heritage, urging regional leaders to become stalwart guardians of their rich cultural heritage.
“Our culture and language are the very threads that weave the fabric of our identity,” Gutare declared. “As leaders, you bear the sacred duty to preserve and promote these treasures. Every Bissa word spoken, every tradition upheld, strengthens our Zekula cause.”
The Western Region holds a key position within the BDA’s national structure plans, with Abdul Malik Guerni serving on the National Executive Committee (NEC) as the region’s representative.
While it has yet to establish its own branch of the BDA association, the sensitization meeting allowed the Chairman to educate members on the organization’s mission and potentially lay the groundwork for a new regional body.
In a move that further cements the national leadership’s support, Gutare pledged his team’s active participation in any event geared towards the development of the fraternity.
“My team and I stand ready to support any initiative that champions this noble mission,” he stated.
“Extend an invitation to any event that advances the Zekula cause, and we will be there, not just in spirit, but in person.”
Abdul Malik, the Deputy Secretary, lost his father on May 23, 2024, and the Dua was held on June 2nd, an occasion that brought people together and provided a platform for reinvigorating regional unity and cultural pride.
Among those who attended the impromptu meeting were the regent of Bissa Effiekuma, Hamidu Yankini, the Bissa Chief of Kwesimintsim, Kir Issaka Bambara, Sheikh Hamid Jinkor (popularly known as Sarkin Faila), Imam Yakubu Kompaore, the Chairman of the Bissa group Fusseini Salifu Bandaogo, and many other youths from Effiekuma.
