Region relatively calm but for a few hitches

The Upper West Region has been relatively calm the whole of last year, except for a few incidents that sent shivers down the spines of residents and nearly undermined the relative peace in the region.

The region, particularly the residents of the regional capital, Wa, started the year with some trepidation following what the residents suspected to be serial killings in the city.

Coming into the year 2024, residents of Wa were, therefore, dealing with issues of security as the murders still remained unresolved and the perpetrators were still at large.

As such, security was one of the major challenges facing the people of Wa in the Upper West Region, and the poor road infrastructure which spread across the entire region did not help matters.

While grappling with the poor infrastructure, the residents have to contend with additional issues of security as they believed that these deaths were for ritual purposes.

Thus, the unresolved killings created an atmosphere of insecurity particularly in the regional capital of Wa and made the residents very apprehensive, which affected the nightlife of an already not-so-vibrant city.

While the security services were trying to resolve the suspected ritual murders that hit the region, and Wa specifically, they were hit with yet another incident: the murder of the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Cosy Hills, popularly known as Jirapa Dubai.

Eric Johnson, CEO and Founder of Royal Cosy Hills, was allegedly stabbed to death in his private villa on the premises of the hotel on February 10, 2024.

So far, three people are standing trial at the Wa High Court for their alleged involvement in the death of Mr Johnson.

Tragedy

Another tragedy occurred on June 16, 2024, when three people lost their lives when two communities: Kendew and Lassia-Tuolo in the Wa West District clashed over who had the right to perform a ritual.

As a result of the misunderstanding, a fight broke out between the two communities, leading to the death of three people, two on the spot and the third later at the hospital where he was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.

The late start of the rainy season also affected farming activity, which is the mainstay of most of the residents in the region.

Those who planted early in anticipation of the rains all lost their crops and had to replough and replant.

This led to the loss of investment and it was feared that it might even affect food security not only in the region but the entire country.

Good

Notwithstanding the bad news recorded by the region, the Upper West region also recorded some good news, particularly in the business sector.

The European Union launched a €10 million loan facility to assist smallholder farmers in the five regions in northern Ghana.

Known as Agriculture Financing Initiative (AgirFI) Country Window, the fund will run for the next 10 years and will focus mainly on farmers in mango, rice, groundnuts, sorghum and soya bean, cashew and vegetable value chains and will be accessible to farmers from the Upper West, Upper East, North, North East and Savannah regions.

In the year under review, Sonzele Rural Bank PLC, located in Jurapa, was adjudged the Best Rural Bank in the Upper West Region and also took home the Most Compliant Rural Bank in Ghana award at the Association of Rural Bank AGM.

In sports, the Sung Shining Ladies FC from Nadowli also qualified to join the Women's Premier League and have since been playing in the northern zone of the Women's Premier League.