The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency, Hon. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana has set the records straight, as recent photos of some renovation works at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo surfaces on Social media.
There has been many speculations in Savannah region as names of possible New Patriotic Party (NPP) loyal personalities and MP’s are being associated with the renovation work at the Jakpa Palace after Dr. Bawumia made a promise to renovate it.
Speaking on the morning show of Bole based Nkilgi Fm on 29th November, 2023. Hon. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana disclosed that after the enskinment of the current King and Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Soale Jewu (I), the Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) proposed the renovation of the Jakpa Palace in Damongo which is the residence of all Yagbonwura’s.
Alhaji Yussif Sulemana said a house was therefore rented for Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Soale Jewu (I) to reside in so the renovation on the palace could take place.
The Bole MP said, former President John Dramani Mahama agreed and paid for a befitting residential house for the Paramount Chief in Damongo to reside, whiles he asked him Alhaji Yusif Sulemana to follow up to get the details needed to renovate the Jakpa Palace with additional extensions, as well as the architectural designs for a new Palace.
He further disclosed that there was a Committee that was constituted to find the cost of renovations at the Jakpa Palace as well as see to the building of a new Palace and that the Committee is led by Dr Abu Sakara Forster with other members being the MP for Damongo Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ghana Water Company Limited CEO Ing. Dr Clifford, the Savannah Regional Minister Saeed Muhazu and several prominent personalities from Gonjaland including himself.
Alhaji Yusif Sulemana further said, they formed a WhatsApp group to easily communicate and plan towards the projects.
According to Hon. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, an evaluation of cost and other necessary inputs were supposed to be first communicated to
the Overlord Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Soale Jewu (I) for further instructions and planning.
The Bole MP said;
“the Gonja Overlord Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Soale Jewu (I) has to assent to what the committee has done before further instructions which most of us the members were waiting for, after the necessary protocols were met we were told the has to be an inaugural ceremony before any further actions and that was what we were waiting for.”
According to the Bole MP, news reaching him indicates that a contractor has been seen at the Jakpa Palace doing some works and like many others in Gonjaland are asking ‘who gave the go ahead for the renovation works, who is the Contractor and the source of funding’ he as a committee member hasn’t been briefed.
He added; “the Committee Chairman Dr. Abu Sakara doesn’t even have an idea as to who is behind the contractor working on the Jakpa Palace because, he recently asked on the Committee WhatsApp platform details of who was responsible for the renovations of the palace and why the committee hasn’t been brief.
The Bole MP said, everything on the renovation works was suppose to be channel through the committee first.
He said he also heard rumours that the Savannah Regional Minister or the MP for Damongo might be behind these renovations and not necessarily Dr. Bawumia, so if one ask him for credible details of the renovation works at the palace he has no idea as every detail has been shrouded in secrecy.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
