A clash between residents and the military in the Karaga District of the Northern Region, has resulted in the death of an individual, according to sources.
A young girl died from bullet injuries at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where two others with serious injuries are also receiving treatment.
The conflict began with disturbances on Monday morning in Karaga township, where men in military uniforms and vehicles attempted to arrest the Regent of Karaga, Adam Sumani, at the old Karaga Palace.
Residents resisted the arrest, leading to gunshots being fired for about 45 minutes and injuring 12 people. Three of the injured were referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where one later died.
The military also conducted a house-to-house search, lasting nearly two hours. Tensions in Karaga have been ongoing for two years, stemming from the installation of Abdulai Nantogma as Chief of Karaga by Ya Na Abukari II, which has been resisted by some who support Mahama Sumani as Kar-Naa.
Adam Sumani assumed the role of regent after Mahama Sumani’s death on March 12, 2024, escalating the recent disturbances.
Following a clash between locals of Karaga and military personnel, resulting in the tragic death of one individual and injuring three others, the Karaga Security Council in the Northern region has implemented a curfew.
The conflict stemmed from the appointment of a new regent after the demise of a self-proclaimed chief within the community.
On Monday, March 25, supporters gathered at the regent’s residence to demonstrate their allegiance, prompting military intervention to disperse the crowd and maintain order.
However, the situation rapidly deteriorated, with some individuals allegedly hurling projectiles at the military, leading to further escalation and ultimately gunfire, resulting in loss of life.
Member of Parliament for Karaga Constituency and Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has declared that he will not seek re-election for the Karaga constituency seat after completing his second term in 2028.
Dr. Adam, citing his impactful developmental projects in the region, emphasized that his contributions to the area extend beyond parliamentary duties.
Highlighting his accomplishments during his initial term, he emphasized the transformation of the Karaga constituency through diverse developmental initiatives.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam pointed out that his ability to effect change extends beyond parliamentary responsibilities, underlining the multifaceted approach to community development.
“It’s not only in parliament that I can contribute to the development of mother Ghana. I wish to hint that I will not contest for the Karaga seat when my second term elapses in 2028”, he announced
Addressing journalists at a press soirée at his home in Tamale, he commended journalists in the northern region for projecting the north to the world and urged them to continue to support the growth of the northern sector.
According to him, the projection of the north in a good manner will attract investors into the region, which will eventually create job opportunities for the youth in the region.
He also advised journalists to be circumspect in their reporting and always report on facts and truth for the growth of the north.
“I have also observed a lack of reportage about us, especially those of us in national politics, and national-level government and I believe that may be due to a lack of relationship between you(Journalists)and us. I think you must make conscious efforts to market us as individual politicians from here. Please make those efforts because whether we like it or not, resources in this country, and appointment in any government of this country depend on what our leaders read about us. Whether they promote us or sack us depends on what they read and hear about us”.
“And it is very sad you have a region as important as the Northern region and you don’t have people from the region occupying certain key positions in the government. What it means is that there will not be people to lobby for projects to come to the region. What it means is that in distributing the resources of the country, let’s not deceive ourselves, if you are not at the table, you will get bones, but you won’t get the meat,” he urged.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhassan Shani Shaibu , who graced the press soirée however, said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not grant the Karaga MP permission to opt out of Parliament in 2028 should he still stand by his words because they cannot afford to lose the knowledge and experience in politics and governance from the Karaga MP.
He said the Karaga MP has brought massive development to the Karaga constituency in the areas of health, education, roads, agriculture, electricity, water among others.
Minister of State at the Finance Ministry and incumbent Member of Parliament for Karaga Constituency in the Northern Region, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has submitted his nomination for re-election, emphasizing his candidacy on a robust track record.
As the sole candidate in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Primaries for Karaga Constituency, Dr. Amin Adam highlighted, “I successfully filed my nomination to seek re-election as NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Karaga Constituency. I had the privilege of being the sole Aspirant to have filed my nomination. My decision to seek re-election is based on a solid record of unprecedented development in the constituency’
In the 2020 general elections, Dr. Amin Adam made history by becoming the first NPP candidate to secure the Karaga parliamentary seat since its creation in 2004.
He achieved this victory by garnering 28,335 votes, surpassing the incumbent MP from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhassan Sualihu Dandawaa, who had held the seat since 2012 and received 19,690 votes.
His electoral success was unexpected, given the constituency’s historical loyalty to the NDC.
Since taking office, Dr. Amin Adam has played a pivotal role in launching numerous projects in health, education, and other sectors, establishing himself as the frontrunner for the 2024 elections.
Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who has filed his nomination to seek re-election in the Karaga Constituency of the Northern Region, is emphasizing his candidacy based on a solid record.
The Energy Expert, who secured the seat from the National Democratic Congress (NDC’s) Alhassan Sualihu Dandaawa, is highlighting his achievements in less than four years since taking office.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam is the sole candidate to have filed his nomination to contest the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Primaries in the Karaga Constituency.
He said, “I successfully filed my nomination to seek re-election as NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Karaga Constituency. I had the privilege of being the sole Aspirant to have filed my nomination. My decision to seek re-election is based on a solid record of unprecedented development in the constituency.”
In the 2020 general elections, Dr. Mohammed Amin made history as the first NPP candidate to win the Karaga parliamentary seat since it was carved out of Gushegu ahead of the 2004 elections.
Securing victory with 28,335 votes, he defeated the NDC’s Alhassan Sualihu Dandawaa, who had been the MP since 2012 and garnered 19,690 votes.
His victory was surprising to many, as the constituents in Karaga had traditionally supported the NDC until his emergence. Since taking office, he has played a key role in initiating various projects in health, education, and more, which he believes positions him as the obvious choice in 2024.
The Member of Parliament for Karaga Constituency in the Northern Region, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam is curious to know if there is a recommended number of ministers for a government in Ghana.
The Minister of State-designate for the Finance Ministry gave the retort when he asked on Tuesday if he thought the government needs a substantive Minister of Finance in this current economic crisis.
According to Dr Adam, no concrete number has been proposed as the ideal to guide the government in the appointment of ministers.
He explained that people have for years complained and asked government to reduce the number of its ministers but have never suggested the actual number government should appoint.
“Mr Chairman, I have heard over the last 20 years, people complain about the size of government and therefore, under every party in government, people have complained about the numbers.
“They complained about this under President Kufour, under President Mills, under President Mahama and today. What I haven’t heard is what the appropriate size of government should be”, he said.
Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting on Tuesday, the Karaga MP said downsizing of government is not that easy and explained that reducing the size of government is a subject that needs proper deliberation before actions can be taken.
“And so that is a subject we can debate. Even as they are calling for downsizing of government, we need to ask ourselves what is government. Government includes Parliament and I have heard other people say that the size of Parliament is huge.
“So we need to debate as to what the appropriate size should be. Should it be benched-marked to the size of our budget, or should it be benched-marked to the size of our population? So this is a subject we can continue to discuss to determine the appropriate size”, Dr Adam stressed.
Dr Adam said that ministers are appointed by the President in the best interest of the country.
He said until the nation comes to an agreement as to the ideal size of government “every President will take a decision that reflects what he thinks is best to be able to carry out the functions of the State.
Commenting on whether it was apt to have replication of ministers in the same sector, the Karaga MP said “I think we need to put this in proper perspective. Downsizing is relative. For example, the number of ministers President Akufo-Addo had in his First-term is not the same as today. So to that extent, there has been downsizing.
“……….. And so if we have to debate and agree as a country that let’s bench-mark the number of ministers we have in any government to the size of the budget or let’s bench-mark it to the size of the population of our country, that in my view will be more scientific and (an) appropriate means of determining what the size of government should be”.
The Northern Region has received measles vaccines to vaccinate children living within the area.
According to the directorate, 15 suspected cases have been recorded for 2023 by the Ghana Health Service in that region alone.
As such, the directorate is advising parents to get their children immunized against measles.
Despite the fact that there have been no deaths, the Regional Health Director, Dr. Braimah Baba Abubakari, believes there are enough vaccines to fight the disease and that parents should play a role in combating it.
Speaking to Citi News, Dr. Braimah urged all parents to avail their children for routine vaccination against measles.
“As part of the routine immunization, there are about 13 different vaccines we are giving to the children depending on the age.“
Earlier there were reports of a shortage of measles vaccines in the region after the cases were detected in four districts including, Karaga, Sagnerigu, Tamale and Gushegu.
There were severe cases where children had to be put on oxygen in some health facilities.
General vaccine supply to the Northern Region has been erratic since the middle of 2022.
Checks in the region prior to the latest arrival of vaccines showed that, out of the 13 vaccines for routine immunization, only two, that is Tetanus and Tuberculosis were the only ones in stock.
A release issued by the Regional Health Directorate and addressed to all District Health Directors and sighted by Citi News confirmed cases of measles.
“Given the current season, which presents one of the greatest risks for the transmission of measles, Districts Health Directorates and Facilities (both public and private) are urged to intensify surveillance on measles and other diseases of epidemic potential for prompt action should they occur.
In 2022, the central hospital in Tamale had its Paediatric unit closed down due to an outbreak of measles.
Over 70 confirmed cases of measles in children have been reported in the Northern Region since October of last year, and the situation is becoming worse.
The region currently has run out of measles vaccines.
So far, the cases have been detected in four districts including, Karaga, Sagnerigu, Tamale and Gushegu where it was first detected.
According to Citi News sources, even though there has not been any death as a result of the outbreak, there have been severe cases where children had to be put on oxygen in some health facilities.
Sometime last year, the central hospital in Tamale had its Paediatric unit closed down due to an outbreak of measles.
Meanwhile, Health officials in the region are tight-lipped on the outbreak. Nonetheless, a release issued by the Regional Health Directorate and addressed to all Districts Health Directors and sighted by Citi News confirmed cases of measles.
“Given the current season, which presents one of the greatest risks for the transmission of measles, Districts Health Directorates and Facilities (both public and private) are urged to intensify surveillance on measles and other diseases of epidemic potential for prompt action should they occur.
“Districts and facilities are kindly requested to conduct prompt investigations and collect blood samples for laboratory confirmation. You are also expected to continue to intensify public education on the prevention of measles and other epidemic-prone diseases.”
The memo continued “All MM/DDHS must ensure that their epidemic preparedness and response (EPR) plans for measles are updated accordingly and copies submitted to the Regional Health Directorate through the Disease Surveillance Unit on or before Friday, February 10, 2023.”
General vaccine supply to the northern region has been erratic since the middle of 2022, checks in the region reveal, out of the thirteen (13) vaccines for routine immunization, only two, that is Tetanus and Tuberculosis are currently in stock.
The situation exposes children to the risks of severe illness and disabilities from diseases like measles, Pneumonia among others.
According to research, Measles is a viral infection caused by the Rubella virus and transmitted through direct contact and air. It has the tendency to cause blindness, brain inflammation, flu and fatality mostly among children under 14.
As such, routine measles vaccination is recommended for children under 12 and 15 months of age.
