Pishigu Lana Dr Alhassan Andani Admonished The Natives Of Dagbon Living In The UK To Contribute Their Quota To The Development Of Dagbon

One of the main speakers at the event, Alhaji Hardi Sulemana, who spoke on the significance of charity and advised Mabilgu to embrace the DUUK’s charitable and philanthropic causes and Ustarz Abdul Aziz led the opening prayers to commence the event and reiterated the need for Mabilgu to live in peace and harmony.

The Special Guest of Honour Pishigu Lana (Chief) Dr Alhassan Andani, in his keynote address recounted the cordial and special relationship existing between the Royal family of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ghana and urged the natives of Dagbon living in the UK to be good ambassadors of Dagbon in the UK.  Pishgu Lana also asked members of DUUK to pray to Almighty Allah to grant Janatul Firdaws(Paradise) to late Mion Lana Abdulai Mahamadu and all departed souls.

Pishigu Lana delivered a goodwill message from the overlord of Dagbon Kingdom, Ndan Ya Naa Abukari Mahama to DUUK. The revered King congratulated DUUK on its 10th Anniversary and urged members of DUUK to continue to be each other’s keeper, so that we can continue working together to promote comprehensive and ever-lasting peace for in Dagbon.

Pishigu Lana cited a Dagbon proverb – That a child who has travelled and lived away from home is older than his/her parents, and that parents need to learn from the child. The revered Chief said; given that the natives living outside Ghana have acquired professional experiences which the Dagbon Traditional could tap from and harness to bring about development in Dagbon and Ghana as a whole.

Dr Andani mentioned some developmental initiatives such as Dagbon Strategic Development Plan (2022-2032), Dagbon Development  Fund and The Gbewaa Palace project and admonished DUUK to do a joint up thinking on how DUUK can collectively contribute its quota to achieving the aims and objectives of these developmental projects. Chief Andani also advised natives to explore the opportunities of entering into partnership with foreign investors in order to attract foreign investment into the Dagbon and Ghana at large. He underscored the importance of accurate and reliable data in development planning and urged the leadership of DUUK to create a data base of natives of Dagbon living in the UK.

In his welcome address, the Chairman DUUK Alhaji Alhassan Mbalba gave a brief history of DUUK: Alhaji Mbalba said DUUK started 10 years as a welfare group to support its members, and although the Union is called Dagbon Union UK, its membership is open to all descendants of Naa Gbewaa The Great – Dagombas, Nanumbas, Mamprusis and Mossi, and everyone who  shares the aspirations and visions of the DUUK.

DUUK was granted a charity status by the Charity Commission on 31ST January 2018. Alhaji Mbalba enumerated some of the modest achievements of DUUK; one of which is rendering generic welfare support advice to its members in the area of social services, education, health, immigration, mental health and housing; online Dagbanili classes, promoting the rich culture of Dagbon, and Funeral Fund just to mention a few. Alhaji Mbalba said for him the greatest and most important achievement is the fact that the Dagbon Union UK has existed and survived for a decade, which is worthy of celebration. This is because some people opined that a group made of Dagombas will not survive for a year because we will fight and quarrel which will lead to the collapse of the Association and this assertion has always reminded and motivated members to continue to work hard and stay united. By the Grace of the Almighty Allah DUUK is marking its 10th anniversary and membership keeps increasing.

Alhaji Mbalba said, as a charity with operational areas including abroad precisely Dagbon, DUUK is looking to working together and collaborating with  Dagbon traditional chiefs , Dagbon Traditional Council and other stakeholders to bring about badly needed accelerated development in Dagbon.

Many Ghanaian groups joined DUUK to celebrate this important milestone in the life of DUUK and notable among these groups were Gonjaland Association (UK), Mamprugu Union (UK), Kusuag Union (UK), Asanteman Union(UK), Malsum, delegation from the United States and Germany. They all delivered solidarity and goodwill messages.

A representative from Ghana High Commission delivered a goodwill  message on behalf of Ghana High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland H E Papa Owusu Ankomah.

With a relentless efforts by the organisers: Mr Ibrahim Wanzam(IB) and Mr Abdulai Alhassan, Alhaji Hardi Adam(Progress), traditional drummers and dancers graced the occasion and entertained the guests with Dagbon traditional dance and drumming.  Pishigu Lana was ushered into and out of the venue with traditional appellations or praising and he majestically and elegantly danced to the admiration of the attendees.  Some Mabilgu joined Nyeb Pishigu Lana in the dance.

Alhaji Mbalba presented a citation to Pishigu Lana  in appreciation of his altruistic  efforts to the development of Dagbon.

The Master of Ceremonies (MCs) were Mr Yasser Iddrisu Kpabia and Madam Amira Iddi.