Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, the Overlord of the Wala Traditional Council, has recognised Mr. Sulemana Mumuni, a former Director at the National Youth Authority (NYA), for his dedication to contributing to the development of the traditional area, the Upper West Region and beyond. Mr. Mumuni, the Executive Director of the Youth Placement for Employability Solutions (Y-PES) Ghana, was presented with a citation in honour of his passion for supporting people especially the youth develop into responsible citizens. He received the honour at the weekend during the climax of the 2024 Dumba festival celebration. 'The Overlord of the Wala State, on behalf of his chiefs and queen mothers present this as a symbol of your dedication, hard work and contribution to the development of the Wala State', the citation read. It eulogised Mr. Mumuni as an exemplary leader and quoted John C. Maxwell who said, 'A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.' Naa Pelpuo indicated that Mr. Mumuni played an i nstrumental role in organising the durbar to enskin the Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin as Dakagili Naa of the traditional council in August 2024. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Mumuni expressed gratitude to Wa Naa and the Chiefs and people of the traditional area for the recognition. He said it would serve as a motivation, not only to him, but young people to serve the nation diligently. 'The honour is a practical demonstration that when you are doing your work people are watching you', Mr Mumuni said. Mr Mumuni served as the Wa Municipal Director of the NYA from 2004 to 2008 and the Upper West Regional Director of the Authority from 2008 to 2018. He was, subsequently, promoted to the Director of Programmes and Operations at the NYA Head Quarters from 2018 to 2021. Mr. Mumuni relinquished that position for the Northern Regional Director of the NYA with oversight responsibility of the North East and Savannah Regions. As the Upper West Regional Director, he facilitated the establishment of the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament (YP) in 2010, initiated the Upper West Regional Youth and Mentors Achievers Awards (YMAA) in 2008 and influenced the construction of a Youth Resource Centre in Wa. At the national level, Mr Mumuni helped scale up the YP concept to some parts of the country to serve as a platform for meaningful youth engagement with duty bearers. In the Northern Region, he revamped the Northern Regional YP and formed the North East Regional YP. He also organised the first and second editions of the YMAA in the Northern Region and established the first Northern Youth and Mentors Achievers' Hall of Fame in Tamale, the first of its kind in the country. Mr Mumuni, also the Executive Director of the Senior Victory College, a private basic school in Wa, said he resigned from public service in 2024 to establish Y-PES Ghana to enhance his efforts in youth empowerment in northern Ghana. Source: Ghana News Agency