Tamale, Northern Ghana, is preparing for a major music event. Renowned Afro-pop artist Fancy Gadam will join dancehall giant Shatta Wale. They will perform at the highly anticipated 1Don Concert.

The concert is set for Saturday, June 8, 2025. It will take place at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale. The event promises to deliver an unforgettable evening of music. Attendees can expect high energy and top-tier entertainment. The show will feature a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between two of Ghana’s most prominent musical icons, drawing fans nationwide.

Fancy Gadam has made an enormous impact in Northern Ghana. His unique blend of Afro-pop and local influences reaches beyond the region. He will share the stage with Shatta Wale. Shatta Wale is the self-proclaimed “King of African Dancehall” known for his chart-topping hits and electrifying performances.

This monumental concert marks a key moment for the entertainment scene in Tamale. It further establishes the city as a rising hub for music and culture. It also underscores the growing influence of Northern Ghana’s music industry on the national stage.

Fans can choose from two ticket categories for the event: VVIP at GHC 100 and Regular at GHC 50. The performers have star power. There is widespread excitement surrounding the concert. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

Prominent media and promotional partners, including Zaa TV, Xpress FM, Hype TV, TV3, and Vibes Online, support the 1don concert.

The 1Don Concert boasts a star-studded lineup. It promises an unforgettable experience. It is set to be a historic night for both Tamale and the Ghanaian music scene.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, urges newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to remain within their jurisdictions. This is necessary to ensure the effective delivery of their mandate.

“Let me make it clear to you that it is not acceptable and will not be tolerated for any MMDCE to reside outside your district and commute daily to your district, you must live with your people, understand their challenges first hand and be accessible, your visibility is not only a symbol of leadership but a catalyst for accountability and trust,” he stated.

Mr. Lwanga made this statement during the swearing-in ceremony of nine MMDCEs. They were confirmed by their regional assemblies. The ceremony took place in Wa, the regional capital.

The Minister emphasised that he would not condone a situation where MMDCES lived outside their districts. He insisted that MMDCES need to be living among the people they serve, not commuting daily. He stressed that anyone found guilty of this would face legal consequences.

He also urged the newly sworn-in MMDCEs to visit their communities regularly. They should make sure to visit especially the more remote areas. Building strong relationships with community leaders and residents is essential.

The Minister highlighted the importance of addressing critical issues. These include sanitation, education, and road construction. The Minister also emphasized regulating unauthorized building activities and providing potable water.

“To be an MMDCE is not just managing an office. It is to inspire hope where there is despair, to champion equity where there is exclusion, to build roads, schools, clinics, and markets—yes—but also to build trust, integrity, and unity, your decisions today will echo across generations, you cannot afford to fail, you must work with the departments of the Assembly and opinion leaders,” he stated.

He further urged the MMDCEs to follow due process. He advised them to collaborate closely with their District Coordinating Directors. They should also work with other technical officers to achieve success.

The Wa High Court Judge, Justice Yusif Assibey, led the nine confirmed MMDCEs. They took the oath of office. They also pledged allegiance.

The nine MMDCEs include Alhaji Nuru Issah Danwana (Wa Municipal Assembly). James Wor represents the Daffiama Bussie Issa District. Richard Wulo serves Wa West. Alhaji Adams Muazu is with Lawra Municipal. Anthony Ziniel is from the Nandom Municipality.

Naawulie Ireneous Basingbie was sworn in for the Lambussie District. Abudu Fuseini Gbene took the oath for the Sissala West Municipality. Adamu Yakubu assumed office in the Sissala East Municipality. Peter N.N. To-Ang was sworn in for the Jirapa Municipality.

Meanwhile, two of the remaining nominees were rejected by their respective assemblies. Mary Haruna is from the Nadowli-Kaleo District, and Adamu Sayibu is from the Wa East District. They await further instructions from the President.

The World Bank is rolling out the second cycle of 680 subprojects. These projects are part of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project. The initiative targets 48 districts across six regions in Ghana.

These regions include Upper East, West, Northern, Savannah, North East, and Oti.

The SOCO project is being implemented through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. It is designed to tackle drivers of fragility. The project aims to enhance access to essential services. It also promotes economic and social inclusion. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups, such as youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

This regional initiative involves Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin and aims to strengthen community resilience in the northern corridor. The project focuses on five key components: community infrastructure investments, livelihood and youth support, and institutional capacity building.

Ms. Elizabeth Dwamena, the SOCO Project Communication Specialist, shared the initiative’s details in an interview with The Ghanaian Times in Tamale.

She explained that the SOCO project represents Ghana’s strategy for addressing fragility, conflict risks, and climate vulnerabilities in border-zone communities.

During the first cycle of implementation, the project successfully delivered 530 community infrastructure subprojects. Of these, 489 were completed and handed over to the communities early in 2025.

She highlighted that these projects focused on critical areas such as health, education, and road connectivity. They also targeted water and market infrastructure. These efforts significantly improved the quality of life for residents in remote and underserved communities.

“The first cycle also saw the creation of over 6,200 jobs—both interim and permanent—benefiting especially women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), who had been central to the project’s inclusive approach,” she noted.

Looking ahead, Ms. Dwamena emphasised that the second cycle of the project would build on these successes. The focus will be on enhancing community engagement and expanding access to social services.

In the Northern Region, districts such as Karaga, Saboba, and Gushegu are seeing benefits. Yendi, Tatale-Sanguli, and Sagnarigu are also benefitting from the construction of various facilities. These facilities include classrooms, teachers’ quarters, CHPS compounds, youth centres, and mechanised boreholes.

She mentioned that the subprojects also include road rehabilitation. They also involve constructing culverts. These efforts aim to improve connectivity between previously isolated communities.

Additionally, the project involves developing classroom facilities, cassava processing centres, ICT hubs, and school furniture. There is a strong emphasis on addressing the region’s educational, sanitation, and water needs. The project also fosters local agro-processing and entrepreneurship.

Ms. Dwamena elaborated on the significant health sector interventions and projects. These projects are aimed at early childhood education, markets, and sports infrastructure. They also focus on community roads and water access.

She further disclosed details about other projects. These include the rehabilitation of dams, livestock markets, drainage systems, and community centres. These projects are driving economic and social transformation in the region.

“Markets like the Nangbag-Yapala livestock market in the Sagnarigu Municipality provide jobs, structured trading spaces, and better services for local farmers and traders,” she said.

She explained that each subproject is the result of thorough community needs assessments. There is active participation from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Community facilitators, traditional leaders, and local residents are also involved.

“This participatory planning process ensures that the investments are demand-driven, context-specific, and locally monitored, fostering both ownership and sustainability,” she added.

Ms. Dwamena also emphasised that the second cycle of the SOCO project demonstrates the government’s broader commitment. This commitment focuses on promoting equity, stability, and inclusive growth in vulnerable communities.

She pointed out that this continued investment in infrastructure bridges development gaps. It helps mitigate the risk of conflict by improving access to services. Additionally, it creates economic opportunities.

“The SOCO Project exemplifies how strategic, community-driven investments can bridge development divides, foster social cohesion, and safeguard communities from the spillover effects of regional conflict and climate threats,” she concluded.

By focusing on deliberate planning, local partnerships, and resilience, the Government of Ghana demonstrates that inclusive development is achievable. It is crucial for ensuring lasting peace and prosperity.

A recent study has revealed that approximately 11.4% of university students in the northern region have been involved in the misuse of tramadol at some point. Alarmingly, 24% of these students have exhibited signs of dependence. These findings are published in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Research, which is an international research journal.

Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Ali Adolf John Nburidiba, the Minister expressed concern. This occurred during a Stakeholders Strategy Mapping Meeting on Combating Drug Abuse held on Monday. He was worried about the growing trend and called for urgent action to address the issue.

The Minister noted that the research findings highlighted the vulnerability of young people to substance abuse. This could have potential consequences on the region’s socio-economic stability.

The meeting gathered key stakeholders from across the region. It focused on discussing strategies and initiatives to combat drug abuse in the area.

“The government is committed to combating drug abuse,” the Minister stated. He emphasised the need for a united effort to tackle the problem. He stressed that addressing drug abuse requires collaboration from government agencies. NGOs, religious and traditional leaders should work together. Educational institutions and the public must also collaborate.

Mr. Nburidiba urged all parties to be determined and committed. He highlighted the crucial role of collective action. This is essential in ensuring the region’s health and long-term well-being.

He also took the opportunity to advise the region’s youth to refrain from using tramadol and other substances. He encouraged them to focus on their health. They are the region’s future leaders.

The Northern Regional Security Liaison Officer, Mr. Adams Mohammed, also expressed grave concern over the increasing drug abuse problem among the region’s youth. He described the situation as alarming.

He cited statistics showing a 28% increase in drug-related arrests, with 1,200 school dropouts linked to the drug crisis.

Mr. Mohammed called for a broader collaborative response to address the menace. He emphasised that the issue’s complexity required coordinated action from various sectors. He outlined proposed measures. These included establishing a Regional Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force and joint enforcement operations. Additionally, he suggested community sensitisation campaigns and youth engagement programs. Finally, he recommended intelligence-sharing roundtables.

“Through these initiatives, the importance of collective action, decisive measures, and a united front to effectively combat the drug abuse crisis would be achieved,” he stated.

He concluded by reiterating the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders. This cooperation is essential to develop a comprehensive and strategic approach. Such a plan is crucial for tackling the pressing issue of drug abuse in the region.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has arrested eight individuals. They are connected with the kidnapping of two Ghanaian women, Anastasia Baidoo and Evelyn Serwaa Konadu.

The victims were seen in a disturbing viral video that sparked public outrage and prompted swift action by law enforcement. In the footage, one of the women was shown nude. She was assaulted with a machete. This prompted immediate intervention by the security agencies.

The first round of arrests occurred on May 1, 2025, by the Upper East Regional Police Intelligence officers. Four suspects—Christian Emeka, 27, Basil Okonkwo, 29 (Nigerians), Titus Mba Awuni, 25, and Amalbeo Alfred, 21 (Ghanaians from Bolgatanga)—were apprehended.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Marmah Mahasseh Nii Martie, 31. He was arrested in Teshie by the Police Intelligence Department in Accra.

Three additional suspects—Peter Okoye, 31; Paulinus Chidokwe, 35; and Chinonso Okafor, 35—were captured in Port Harcourt and Onitsha, Nigeria. The two victims were rescued during this operation.

The Director-General of CID, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, addressed the media in Accra. She confirmed the arrests. She also confirmed the successful rescue of the victims. She credited the joint operation between the Ghana Police Service, the National Signals Bureau (NSB), and the Nigerian Police Force.

“We are grateful to the NSB and the Nigeria Police Force for the collaboration in rescuing these women,” she said. “The suspects demanded a ransom of GH₵500,000 from each victim’s family. A total of GH₵18,000 was paid to various phone numbers provided by the suspects.”

Currently, both victims are in the custody of Nigerian authorities and have undergone medical checks. Efforts are underway to repatriate them to Ghana and to extradite the suspects.

In a separate case, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor announced the successful rescue of three Chinese crew members. They were kidnapped during a pirate attack on the Ghanaian fishing vessel Mengxin 1 near Nyanyano in April.

Reports revealed that seven armed men boarded the ship, fired warning shots, and abducted the three Chinese nationals. They were later found abandoned at a remote location in Nigeria.

Four suspects linked to the abduction were arrested following coordinated efforts by the Ghana Police and other relevant agencies.

DCOP Donkor emphasised the importance of inter-agency and cross-border collaboration in tackling transnational crimes.

“The success achieved in these cases underscores the critical need for enhanced cooperation between security agencies both locally and internationally,” she stated.

The Northern Regional Police Command acted on intelligence. They successfully apprehended three individuals. This was concerning alleged weapon smuggling in Savelugu, Northern Region.

The suspects were identified as Gaba Abdallah Alhassan, Alhassan Abdallah, and Alhassan Abdul Kudus. They were arrested on May 1, 2025, following a well-coordinated operation.

During the arrest, the police seized a variety of weapons and ammunition from the suspects. Among the items recovered were: one AK-47 rifle. There was also one submachine gun (SMG) and one Smith & Wesson SD40 VE pistol. A single-barrel gun and two magazines were found. The police recovered 15 rounds of AK-47 ammunition. They also retrieved 13 rounds of pistol ammunition. Additionally, there were 27 more rounds of ammunition and five BB cartridges.

The suspects are currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing. Once the probe is complete, they are expected to be arraigned in court.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) in Ghana supports the Ghana Education Outcome Project (EOF) / Education Outcome Fund (GEOP). It also receives backing from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Additionally, the World Bank and the Education Outcome Fund support the project. It has successfully increased school enrollment in its target communities. There is a particular focus on Mimima in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East region.

The initiative aims to engage out-of-school Children (OOSC). It integrates them into formal primary education. This strives for better literacy and numeracy outcomes.

Since its launch in 2023, approximately 21,316 children have been enrolled in the program.

The EOF/GEOP Complementary Basic Education initiative consists of three cohorts. Cohort 1 enrolled 6,619 children. Cohort 2 enrolled 7,467. Cohort 3 brought in 7,652 participants. Plan International Ghana is the primary service provider for the project.

Children in the program have undergone training in numeracy and functional literacy, taught in their native languages.

Amadu Mahama, the Project Manager for the Education Outcome Fund at Plan International Ghana, emphasised the project’s focus. He stated that it addresses illiteracy among children in rural areas.

“We initially targeted 20,000 children, but as of now, we have successfully enrolled 21,316 children back into school,” he explained.

He also noted that data suggests approximately 8 million children are currently without access to education. This underscores the importance of such initiatives.

The project is being rolled out in the Savannah, North East, and Bono East regions.

Mr. Mahama appealed to parents to let their children join the program. He highlighted a common challenge faced by the project.

“One of the challenges we face is parents’ willingness to send their children back to school, as many rely on them for support in economic activities such as farming. However, we have conducted community sensitisation efforts to help parents understand the importance of education, leading to increased consent for enrollment.”

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate for the 2024 presidential elections. He has declared that the accusations made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been thoroughly debunked. These accusations linked him to the Bawku conflict.

He explained that certain NDC politicians had wrongfully alleged his involvement. They claimed he was part of the ongoing dispute between the Kusasis and Mamprusis in Bawku. They claimed he had supplied weapons to the Mamprusis to attack the Kusasis.

“During the campaign, they spread lies about me. They falsely claimed I had purchased weapons for the Mamprusis to attack the Kusasis in the Bawku conflict. However, God has revealed their lies. Now, their Members of Parliament can’t even return to their hometowns,” he said.

Dr. Bawumia further pointed out that these falsehoods and unmet promises had created a difficult situation. NDC parliamentarians found it impossible to return to their constituencies.

He called for peace between the two feuding groups, emphasising, “All we want is peace because we are one people. We must not allow conflict to destroy the friendship we share; we need peace in Bawku for development.”

The NPP flagbearer urged the Mamprusis and Kusasis to engage with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He encouraged them to work with the mediation committee to find a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict.

During his ‘Thank You Tour’ in Nalerigu, Dr. Bawumia expressed deep appreciation to the people of the North East Region for their strong support in the 2024 election.

He highlighted that the North East Region was the only area with an increase in the NPP’s votes. This happened in the 2024 general election.

“Our votes rose in the North East Region, while in other regions, we saw a decline. You showed me love, and I am grateful,” he remarked.

The former Vice President also shared that around 2.1 million citizens did not participate in the 2024 election nationwide. He dismissed claims that Ghanaians rejected the NPP due to his Muslim background.

“All the other candidates vying for the flagbearer position were Christians, and I was the only Muslim. 61% of NPP delegates voted for me to lead the party in the 2024 general election. I also reviewed the election results, and in 236 out of 276 constituencies where NPP parliamentary candidates were Christians, I received more votes than they did as a Muslim flagbearer. So the claim that we lost votes because I’m a Muslim is false,” he explained.

Dr. Bawumia also mentioned that the NPP had learned essential lessons from the Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye report. They sought forgiveness from Ghanaians. The party assured that they would emerge stronger when allowed to return to power in 2028.

“I am optimistic that the NPP will win the general election in 2028, so let’s stay united as a party,” he concluded.