Gonjaland Youth Association Commends President and Education Minister for Prompt Resolution of Savannah College of Education Dispute

Gonjaland Youth Association Applauds President Mahama and Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu for Quick Action in Resolving Savannah College of Education Crisis

The Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) has extended its heartfelt appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, for their timely intervention that led to the swift resolution of issues surrounding the Savannah College of Education. The association recognized their efforts in ensuring that the College was quickly integrated into the public educational system, addressing the concerns of both the students and the wider community in the Savannah Region.

In a statement issued on March 7, 2025, signed by Lawyer Mohammed Amin Osman, the president of GLYA, and released through the association’s Public Relations Officer, Mifti Habib Borejinkpar, the group expressed gratitude to the President and Minister for their prompt and decisive actions. These actions, the association said, have been instrumental in responding to the educational needs of the region, as well as in alleviating the concerns of the College’s staff and students.

The GLYA statement read, “We offer our sincere gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, for their swift and decisive intervention, which resulted in the immediate absorption of Savannah College of Education into the public education system. The efforts of the Association, in partnership with the Education Committee and the College’s interim Board, have been geared towards achieving this significant milestone, and we are excited to see those efforts culminate in such a positive outcome.”

The association further emphasized the importance of the College’s integration into the public system, noting that the development would significantly improve access to quality education for students in the region. “As the first College of Education in the Savannah Region, we believe this milestone will greatly enhance the accessibility of quality educational opportunities. The Chiefs and the people of the region are deeply committed to ensuring the success of the College and are eager to support its growth, enabling it to compete favorably with other Colleges of Education in Ghana,” the statement continued.

The association also expressed its gratitude to key stakeholders, including Prof. Ahmed Jinapor, the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and the Commission’s staff, for their consistent support throughout the process. GLYA highlighted that their involvement was crucial to the smooth transition of the College into the public sector.

“We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to Yagbonwura Biikunuto Jewu Soale I, the King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, as well as to the Wasipeura, the acting Principal of the College, and all other stakeholders whose collective efforts have contributed to this important achievement. Their commitment and collaboration have played an instrumental role in bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion,” the statement added.

Background of the Crisis

The events leading up to this intervention began on March 1, 2025, when students at Savannah College of Education staged a protest by locking their lecture halls and boycotting academic activities. The students, particularly those in their first year, voiced their frustration over what they described as misleading information regarding the status of the institution. They claimed that they had been informed that the College would be absorbed into the public education system. However, upon arrival, they discovered that this was not the case, despite seeing the College listed on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) website.

The students, feeling deceived by the College’s management, decided to lock the classrooms and refuse to attend classes as a means of protesting the situation. The protest escalated on March 3, when members of the Daboya community, a locality near the College, arrived at the institution demanding that the students open the classrooms. This led to a confrontation between the students and the community members, creating tension on campus.

The situation reached a boiling point, requiring intervention from both police and military personnel to restore order. During the confrontations, some classroom furniture was destroyed, highlighting the intensity of the situation. The College’s management, however, has yet to issue a formal response to the incident.

The Gonjaland Youth Association’s praise for the swift intervention by President Mahama and Minister Haruna Iddrisu underscores the importance of leadership in resolving such conflicts quickly and effectively, ensuring that the educational needs of the region are met and that the stability of the institution is restored.