Mahama announces STEM schools, stadium for savannah region

Residents of the Savannah Region are expected to benefit from new education and sports infrastructure as part of the government’s renewed development drive, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.

The President made this known at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Gonjaland Youth Association in Buipe on Sunday, April 5, where he attended as Special Guest of Honour. The event, themed “Five Decades of Progress: Empowering Gonjaland Youth for the Future,” brought together traditional authorities, youth leaders, and government officials to reflect on progress and future priorities.

Outlining key interventions, President Mahama revealed plans to establish Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) schools in Tinga and Busunu to strengthen science-based education in the region. He also indicated that all Senior High Schools in the Savannah Region would be upgraded to Category A status to improve access to quality secondary education.

“Education is the bridge between where we are and where we aspire to be and so we are going to invest heavily in education in the Savannah Region,” he assured.

The President also addressed logistical challenges facing schools in the area. Following an appeal from the Paramount Chief of Buipe, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II, he directed the Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, to facilitate the provision of a bus for Buipe Senior High School.

Beyond education, President Mahama reiterated plans to enhance sports development in the region through the construction of a stadium in Damongo. The facility, to be known as the Savannah Sports Stadium, is expected to provide a platform for nurturing talent and promoting youth participation in sports.

The Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor II, used the occasion to raise concerns about illegal mining activities along the Black Volta. He called for intensified government action to address the issue and pledged the support of traditional leaders in protecting the environment and preserving the area’s heritage. He also appealed for the construction of the Mpaha Junction to Debre road, which is currently under procurement.

Adding the voice of the youth, the National President of the Gonjaland Youth Association, Alhassan Baba Darison, urged government to accelerate decentralisation by creating new districts and upgrading existing ones to municipal status to drive development.

The anniversary celebration served as a platform to highlight both progress and pressing development needs in the Savannah Region, with stakeholders calling for sustained investment to improve livelihoods and expand opportunities for residents.