A decade on the throne: Sing Traditional Area Queenmother blends tradition, health and modern governance
The ten-year reign of Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak as Paramount Queenmother of the Sing Traditional Area is being hailed as a defining example of youthful traditional leadership reshaping cultural governance in northern Ghana.
Ascending the throne at a remarkably young age, Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak has spent the past decade navigating the complex responsibilities of traditional authority, cultural preservation and social advocacy, a journey she describes as demanding yet purposeful.
Reflecting on her time on the throne, the Queenmother said her experience has been “nothing but grace, blessings and hard times,” noting that resilience and perseverance were instrumental in sustaining her leadership during difficult moments.
Her decade-long tenure has seen her emerge as a strong voice for indigenous governance systems, particularly the role of traditional authority in safeguarding culture, promoting community wellbeing and shaping values in a rapidly modernising society.
Speaking at activities marking the milestone, Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak stressed that traditional leadership must remain relevant by actively engaging issues that affect everyday life, including food security, health and intergenerational education.
“This reign is a reminder that we, as Ghanaians, must go back to our indigenous meals as staple foods, not only because of their great health benefits, but because food is culture,” she stated.
She warned that the erosion of cultural practices poses long-term risks to identity and social cohesion, urging families to take responsibility for passing on values and traditions to younger generations.
“All is not lost. It is not too late,” she emphasized, calling on parents and guardians to deliberately expose children to traditional foods and customs that once sustained earlier generations.
In underscoring her message, the Queenmother highlighted indigenous dishes such as Dawadawa jollof, Tumpaani, Sawu or TZ with johjoh soup, Jangjahga, kongtong soup, Gabele, wasawasa, Kaaha, maasa and Kaara, describing them as symbols of heritage rather than relics of the past.
“Go back, our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, feed us with the food of Ghana, the food of Africa, the food of our forefathers,” she urged.
Beyond cultural identity, Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak linked traditional food systems to public health, advocating a national shift from curative healthcare to preventive practices rooted in diet and lifestyle.
“We must invest more in prevention. Eat your food as medicine and not your medicine as food. You are indeed what you eat,” she said.
As tributes continue to pour in from within and beyond the Sing Traditional Area, observers describe her reign as a model of how youthful traditional leadership can blend cultural fidelity with contemporary relevance.
The tenth anniversary, community leaders say, is not only a celebration of longevity on the throne but a reflection of how traditional institutions can continue to influence national conversations on culture, health and identity.
