Chairman of the Bissa Development Association (BDA) Shaibu Musah Gutare Zanni has made a clarion call on Bissas to show commitment in helping the association achieve it’s goals.
Delivering a speech at the 1st anniversary celebration of his administration, Chairman Gutare Zanni said he wants to see a stronger collaboration between members and leadership for greater achievements.
The virtual address on Sunday afternoon highlighted some significant achievements of his administration in the past 12 months, amid some difficulties.
“A lot more needs to be done if we are to achieve the goals of our strategic plan,” he said.
“Specifically, we ask for support in the following areas: Commitment by members and Executives at all level to sacrifice and serve the BDA to achieve ou bbr goals.
“Appeal to all those who are not dues paying members to enroll and pay dues to support BDA.
“Collaborate with leadership for us to take systematic steps towards achieving our goals.”
He admits his 13-member National Executive Committee (NEC) may be facing a big task but believes it “definitely not insurmountable” with the support from everyone.
He expressed hopes his administration will be able to tell a better story in it’s second year.
“Fellow Kinsmen and Women, the task may appear big, but definitely not insurmountable,” he said.
“Let us all put our hands to the wheel and work towards achieving our strategic plan. It is our prayer that by 6th March, 2023 we will have more good news for the Bissa community.”
Read the full text of the address below
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC)
BISSA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (BDA)
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPEECH OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF BDA DELIVERED BY ALHAJI SHAIBU MUSAH GUTARE, CHAIRMAN ON 6TH MARCH, 2022
The Lemagan and members of the Office of the Lemagan present,
Members of the Council of elders present,
Members of the Council of BISSA Chiefs present,
Fellow Kingsmen and Women.
Exactly a year ago, a five (5) member National Executive Committee (NEC) was sworn into office for a three year term. Some work has so far been undertaken by the new executives towards achieving the overall goals of the BDA. These include the drawing of a Six (6) Goals three (3) year Strategic Plan and several activities undertaken towards implementation of the plan. The six goals of the strategic plan include: Improving BDA Revenue; set up fully functioning Regional/Zonal Structures; Improving Bissa Culture; Improve falling Standards of Education in the Bissa Belt; Economic Empowerment, Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development; and Raising the Political Consciousness of the Bissa people.
Fellow Kinsmen and women, this presentation will focus on the first two goals of the strategic plan. This is because the rest of the goals (3 – 4) depend largely on the success of the first two goals. The presentation will also identify some other successes outside the strategic plan as well as challenges and recommend the way forward.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal 1: Improving BDA Revenue
The following have been achieved under this goal:
Dues system on National BDA platforms strengthened
Number of contributors – 143k
Total contributions – GHS25,035.00
Total Expenses. – GHS7, 302.00
Benefits or welfare package for contributors in place
1 Bissa, 1 GHS concept in place for least contributors
Publication of monthly contributions
50% of monthly contributions saved to cater for benefits
Account numbers created for all contributors
Goal 2: Strengthen and Set up fully Functioning Regional / Zonal
Some successes achieved under this goal include the following:
Structure of Regional/ Zonal branches clearly outlined in Strategic plan document
Regional sensitization in some seven regions by NEC in the following regions:
Ashanti – Kumasi
Northern – Tamale
Upper East – Bolga
Upper East – Bawku
Upper West – Was
Bono Regions – Techiman
Greater Accra – Parts of Accra
Unity visit to Ashanti Region, Kumasi to bring together the following five (5) Bissa groups who were previously operating on their own under the umbrella of BDA: Ashanti Chapter – Kumasi, Bissa Biyaan – Amomai, Bissa Ti’norgor/Yenta – Ankase Mpobi, Obuasi group, and Ejura group. Work is in progress to create zones for all these groups to come under BDA through Ashanti Region.
Dissolution and appointment of Interim Regional Executives Committee for Upper East, Bawku to oversee registration and re-organization of zones among other functions.
Membership Registration Forms designed and supplied to six regions for registration of members.
Identification of Zonal branches in 6 regions.
Registration of members underway in 6 regions
Inauguration of Madina Zone as the first Zone in Greater Accra.
OTHER SUCCESSES OUTSIDE THE STRATEGIC PLAN
Writing to the Ghana Statistical Service to insist the name Bissa rather than Bussanga be used for the Housing and Population Census.
Collaboration with Office of Lemagan and other stakeholders to avoid Bissas being drawn into the Bawku conflict and consequences thereof.
Recognition of fallen Bissa heroes and heroines by mobilizing for massive attendance and donation to support families among others. E.g. @Lady King and ALHAJI Weapon.
Admission of three (3) American brothers who trace their ancestry to Bissa into the BDA.
Maintenance of social media presence on Facebook, twitter and instergram:@bdanational
Re-organization of national WhatsApp platforms and increment from 2 to 4.
Revision of Ground Rules for all platforms
Periodic publication of BDA news via bissanewsonline to Bissas and the world.
Payment of extra classes fees to support 36 Bissa students to prepare and write WACE 2021 at Bawku Senior High School.
Acquisition of recording equipment to support the Bissa Tutorial Hub to record and distribute Bissa learning content on various platforms.
CHALLENGES
Some of the challenges encountered towards the effective implementation of the goals include:
Very few members contributing dues to support BDA despite our growing numbers. Out of over 700 members on the national platforms, only ….are dues paying members. Out of that number, only ….have so far paid up to date.
Lack of commitment by persons who willingly offer themselves to serve as executives across national, Regional and Zonal levels. Getting national executives to attend a one hour zoom meetings is always a challenge, prompting the chairman to issue queries to offenders. All request and appeals sent to the EXECUTIVES PLATFORM, which contain all Regional Executives have always fallen on dearth ears. The platform has almost become redundant.
Too much expectations by members. Most members expect so much to be done overnight. However, they forget that the only way to achieve more is by everyone contributing their little.
THE WAY FORWARD
Flowing from the above, a lot more needs to be done if we are to achieve the goals of our strategic plan. Specifically, we ask for support in the following areas:
Commitment by members and Executives at all level to sacrifice and serve the BDA to achieve our goals.
Appeal to all those who are not dues paying members to enroll and pay dues to support BDA
Collaborate with leadership for us to take systematic steps towards achieving our goals.
CONCLUSION
Fellow Kinsmen and Women, the task may appear big, but definitely not surmountable. Let us all out our hands to the wheel and work towards achieving our strategic plan. It is our prayer that by 6th March, 2023 we will have more good news for the Bissa community.
OYAADA BAR’KA.