There was a huge turnout at the palace of the Bissa Chief of Ashiaman on Saturday as the Greater Accra regional executives of the Bissa Development Association (BDA) met with the people to sensitise them on the association’s strategic goals.
More than a hundred participants turned up for the meeting at the chief’s palace to listen to what the BDA had to offer, and it ended on a positive note as members showed immediate interest in joining the association in building a better Bissa fraternity.
The Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee (GIREC), backed by some members from the National Executive Committee (NEC), met with the Chief and his people to explain what the strategic goals entail and why there is a need to join the Association.
The Gutare-Zanni administration designed the BDA Strategic Goals upon taking office last year, and sensitization in Greater Accra has only recently begun following the inauguration of the GIREC two months ago.
Addressing the gathering, National Chairman, Shaibu Musa Gutare Zanni, said Ashaiman will play a huge role in making the Bissa dream a reality as he took time to explain each of the six goals to the people.
“The turnout here today is overwhelming, and I am sure we still have more members who couldn’t make it here,” he said.
“One of our aims is to establish a zone in Ashiaman and we therefore urge each and every Bissa to show interest in being a member.”
“The six goals address lots of the challenges we face today as Bissas, and that’s what we need to achieve the Zekula we are yearning for.”
Among the key messages in his address was a clarion call on Bissas to be proud of speaking the Bissa language, a statement hugely endorsed by the Chief Alhaji Usman Issa Bansi and the Imam Abdallah Bansi.
Chairman Gutare further urged members to subscribe to the Nuna dues-paying system, which will ensure every member automatically pays at least GHC 5 cedi to the National Bissa Coffers.
Building Regional and Zonal Structures
Goal 2 of the BDA talks about the establishment of regional and zonal structures, and Saturday’s programme was an absolute responsibility on the wings of the GIREC.
Since its inauguration in August, the GIREC, led by its Chairman, Shaibu Adam Alale, has begun a vigorous sasitisation campaign to build the zonal structures in the region, and Ashiaman became just the second community to be visited in a matter of weeks.
The regional chairman, as the leader of a 9-member regional executive team to the event, hailed the people of Ashaiman for the warm welcome.
” Let me thank the Chiefs and people of Ashaiman for the warm welcome, as today marks another beautiful opportunity in our journey to meet and fraternise as Bissas,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for me and my executive members to be offered the opportunity to serve our people.”
“Our task is to engage more members and establish a zone in every corner of the region, and we are ready for it.”
“We have already visited some members at Kawokudi and others at Mamobi-Nima, and we are here today at Ashaiman for the same zekula mission.”
Chairman Alale further thanked the General Bissa people for rising to the occasion to donate when some Bissas were affected by the Waija floods.
“Not long ago, some of our kinsmen and women in Weija were affected by the floods and it was very overwhelming how Bissas rose to the occasion to donate to their support,” he said.
“I felt so proud of being a Bissa, looking at the outpour of love towards them.”
“Things like this encourage some of us to pick up the responsibility to lead the BDA at the regional level, which we expect other regions to take up.”
At Saturday’s meeting at Esikafo Amba Ntem in Ashiaman, the Chief and his elders, including youth leaders, were elated by the recognition given to them by the BDA.
Members have therefore expressed their readiness to vie for leadership positions when nominations are open.
According to the youth leader, Hamza Halidu Sarene, mobilization of the youth will begin with immediate effect to expedite action in forming the Ashaiman Zone.
The nine regional members who made it to the event were Chairman; Shaibu Adam Alaie, his deputy; “Magaajia” Khadija Ali Dabonni, deputy Women’s Organiser; Samira Sumani Yemboni, Financial Secretary; Samira Yahya Yemboni and Treasurer; Jamila Abdul Wahab Samandulugu.
Others were Regional Secretary; Abdul Razak Hussein Gullah, his deputy; Abdul Karim Abdulai Zanzeh, deputy Organiser; Adnan Saed Tarnageda and the officer in charge of Culture; Yakubu Issah Zerba.
Members of the NEC, who accompanied the regional team, were Chairman Shaibu Musa Gutare-Zanni, Acting Deputy Organiser Mahmoud Bancey and deputy General Secretary Mohammed Abdul Malik Guerni.
Great, that’s a good one.