The reason for establishing this website is to provide an inside understanding to people that visit the Walewale Computer Lab and to also create a room for people to share both their experience and what the Community can offer them.
The Management of the Walewale Computer Lab provides services to the satisfaction of its customers to let them feel at home.
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The Zayaa mosque as lots of people call it is located at Wulugu, 14km from Walewale in the West Mamprusi district. It is one of the 20thC buildings in the country built from mud. It is peculiar in that it is an uncommon storeyed traditional design of historical and military interest.
Sheik Abdul-Karim, the man behind this historic building ,had a vision of the building in a dream when he was residing at Bawku in the Upper East Region.
He migrated to Bolgatanga in search of a place to put up the building but could not find any land available. So he decided moving through Pwalugu and then to Wulugu which finally became his home. When he first got to this area, he lived in a small home.
He had the same vision again in a dream but this time, it showed him clearly where to put the building and how it should look like.
When he got up the next morning, he saw a hand-dug well in the area where his vision directed him to put up the building and that simply implied that God had provided him with water to use for the building, since it was hard to find water for building by then.
So the next day he started putting up the building but realized that any time he built to some level and broke of for the next day, the building automatically increased to another level, meaning some unknown person continued building. He tried several times at night to see if he could find that person but all to no avail.
One night again, he got another vision from a dream and it said to him “The land I have shown to you is a place to be kept holy”. And this is why any person visiting the place is told to take off his / her shoes before entering the building.
The building is a combination of two structures. A mosque and a house. The Sheik lived in the house whiles his wives and children lived at a separate building but closer to it.
The Zayaa building has 45rooms with two floors. The well in the house can be accessed from any floor, either from the first or second floor. The wife of the Sheik, Hajia Fatima. lives with her children in this village. She is115 years old.
It is allowed to take pictures with Hajia Fatima, as well as the building, if you wish to. For further information please call +233(0)207005091.
FEES
Foreigners GH¢ 2.00
Ghanaian s GH¢ 1.50p
J.H.S Students GH¢ 50p
S.H.S Students GH¢ 1.00
Primary Students GH¢ 20p
VISITORS WILL BE TAKEN ROUND IN ALL THE 45 ROOMS.
Shrines and groves
There are sacred groves that are traditional nature reserves created around shrines. Notable among them are the Jaagbo and Malshegu Sacred Graves. The Jaagbo Shrine, situated at 30 kilometres from Tamale, consists of about 25 acres of conserved and preserved vegetation of medicinal herbs and near extinct and mysterious plants around the Jaagbo fetish. Among the vegetation of the grove is the “mystery tree” with marks of the hooves of a horse. The Malshegu Sacred Grove is at Katalga, about 12 kilometres from Tamale.
Architecture, archaeology and culture
The region is well known for its peculiar architecture of round huts with conical thatched roofs, which provide a particular scenic view. Among the relics of the past, which throw considerable light on the history of the people of the region, are the archaeological sites at Yikpa Bonso, in the West Mamprusi District, with relics of the Komas dating back to the nineteenth century (19th C). Other relics of interest in the region are at Jentilkpe and Kpaesemkpe.
Ancient mosques
Ancient mosques are a particular aspect of the relic legacy of the region which under pin the long history of Islam in the region. The Larabaga Mosque, which is of Sundanese architectural origin, dates back to the 13thC but the Bole Mosque, also of a similar Sudanese architectural origin, was built later.
While the Banda Nkwahta and Malew Mosques were built in the 18thC, imitating older mosque designs,
The remains of an ancient defence wall are in Nalerigu, in the East Mamprusi District. What is interesting about this defence wall, which dates back to the 15thC, is not only that it was built by a powerful Mamprusi Chief but equally important, is that the wall was built with mortar of mud blood and honey.
Festivals
The most important traditional festival in the district is the Damba, a relic of Islam, which has lost its religious origin of the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. The Damba celebration is also a mix of music, dance, excitement, horsemanship and regal pageantry, at the climax of Naa Damba. The district is the home of the Fugu textile, the centres of production being Tamale, Gushiegu and Yendi.The fire festival is another intersting thing one might like to see. It came as a reslut of the search for the Son's of one of the grate kind of mamprugu.
INAUGURATION MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) MONITORING COMMITTEE FOR WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT
On Friday the 16th of July 2010 the MDG monitoring committee of west Mamprusi district was inaugurated at the Walewale lorry station under the auspices of the Northern Development Society (NORDESO), an NGO in Tamale and in partnership with Asiribisi Self Help Initiative also an NGO base in Walewale. Present at the occasion were representatives of various groups and organizations, local authority, the clergy and the general public. Also in attendance was a popular musician Abu Sadik who entertained the gathering from his new album. Adam “Maasa”, a popular comedian from Walewale could not be left out as he made everyone to almost laugh out their jaws with his news in Hawsa, English, Mampruli and French.
The project manager of Asiribisi Self help Initiative, Mr. Suleman Fatawu in his welcome address reminded political leaders about their promises and urge citizens to see themselves as stakeholders in the development of their districts. The Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Jonathan Banayiri encourage the clergy to preach about the millennium development goals at their congregations.
For years now, environmental damage has always been the topic in our every day discussions. The environment is one of the most important thing that man must prevent from distraction. The burning of bushes, cutting down of trees, improper disposal of waste are some of the things we do to cause damage to the environment. The West Mamprusi district has been hit by flood and storm several times and this year was not exception. In view of this, the Environment Protection Agency decided to educate students by forming environmental clubs in some selected schools in the district to help send out the information to the local people. Walewale Senior High, Wulugu Senior High and D/A Junior High School where chosen as schools in the district were this clubs are to be set up.
STUDENTS OF D/A J.H.S
Wungu, 8-9km village from Walewale was badly affected by storm and almost every home was affected, all as a result of deforestation. The local people thinks they will have to live by cutting down trees to sell for capital or burn charcoal from trees for sell.
This is the reason why the E.P.A decided to tackle schools and educate students on the dangers of destroying the environment and also to use them as agents for educating the local people and fight strongly against people destroying the environment.
THE INNOGRATION WAS DONE BY MR. WUMBEI ABUBAKARI AND MR. SALIFU WAHABU (E.P.A TAMALE)
the innogration took place at the D/A school premises, yesterday the 14th of July, 2010. 50 students were chosen as members of the club and Mr. Daniel A Bajaba as the patron. It was lovely to see members of the C.I.C I.C.T club being members of this club and all seven executives from the I.C.T Club. The elected executives were, Mohammed Dokurugu Mofin as the president a member of the I.C.T club, Dahamani Salimu the vice president (I.C.T Club), Mohammed Ma-aruf the secretary (I.C.T Club), Mohammed Ruhiya as organising secretary (I.C.T Club), Abu Rahinatu the treasure of the club as she is for the I.C.T Club, Issah Arimiyaw an eleced member (I.C.T Club) and Haruna Alimatu another elected member and also from the I.C.T Club. The Patron, Mr. Daniel A Bajaba thanks Mr. Wumbei and Mr. Wahabu for taking their time in coming to form an interesting and educative club in the school. He added again that, each member chosen will work effectively in campainging against any form of environmental distruction and he will work with the club and the elected executive to promote a safe environment for all. Mr. Wumbei was glad and encouraged each elected member and executive to take this opportunity seriously, and further said it could end them into getting emplyment in the E.P.A in the coming future. He said that as time goes on they will be coming several times to educate them on new issues and also linking the club with other clubs in other part of the country for debates and quize competions. The 50 member club togehter with the founders took a group picture to clamax it all.
Yesterday, I decided taking a trip to Zangum, a 6km village from the District capital Walewale. On arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the chief and his elders who had sat to discuss issues affecting the village.
The chief of the village Alhaji Musah Mumuni was so pleased for my coming and offered me cola nut as tradition demands.
He asked me to sit and join the discussion. Some of the issues raised were the lack of portable drinking water, no enough classrooms for students and lots of orphans who are not well care for.
When I questioned them about the situation, the chief explained that, the village has only two bore-holes, of which one produces water and the other not able to. He went further to add that, the two bore holes were constructed four years ago and is only one that operates effectively.
He however, said that he will be very grateful to any individual, organization or N.G.O that could come to the aid of his people.
The chief, an herbalist who treats all kinds of sickness, said it will be nice if a structure could be put up or a clinic where he could be taken treatment and also to serve as accommodation for people who travel from far and near to receive treatment, since most patients are always accommodated by him.
THE CHIEF ALHAJI MUSAH MUMUNI
AND HIS ELDERS
On my way from the chief’s palace, I met the women’s group, “Sunga-villa” meaning “good is best”. I had a word with the leader of the group. She explained that, they form this group in other to help one another in both financial and spiritual. She went on by adding that, each member of the group deals in Shea butter extraction as a business and so they meet every two weeks (Mondays) for their meetings. She again said that, every member of the group contributes 20p as dues for the group which is taken to the Bank for saving. When asked weather they have partners who work with them, she explained that one Mr. Salifu promise of linking them to an N.G.O and till now they have not heard anything good from him.
I encouraged the women to keep it up and promise to put their association up on a blog. She thanked me on behalf of her colleagues. The next place to visit was the D/A Primary and J.H.S, just at the extreme left entering to the village. On getting to the school, it was sad to see the class 1, 2 and 3, sitting under trees for lessons.
The headmaster of the school Mr. Sulley explained that two of their classrooms got ripped off by rain storm last two years and have not yet been roofed since then. My feet went cool when I heard this. He however said that, he has spoken to a lot of individuals and organizations about the situation, and therefore prays that they get help soon.
CLASS THREE STUDENTS TAKEN LESSONS
UNDER A TREE
When asked about the current introduction of I.C.T in the syllabus and how his school was dealing with it, he explained that at the moment the school has not gotten a master to handle the subject, but said he has raised the issue several times at G.E.S meetings and so very soon a master will be send to the school to handle the subject in question.
The Walewale Community Information Centre is organizing an I.C.T awareness forum tomorrow the 29th of June, 2010. The theme. SPEAR-HEADING I.C.T IN SCHOOLS WITHIN THE WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT.- THE WAY FORWARD.
The forum is expected to tackle the current situation of I.C.T in schools within the district and to find some possible solution to them. The Community Information Centre is the only I.C.T laboratory open to the general public and schools in the district.
Opened in 2006 and started effective operation in 2008, the centre has so far made a very impressive move on tackling I.C.T in the district. So far, it has trained 38 students from the L/A Junior High School to be I.C.T trainer in other to help in training their colleagues back at home and in school. It is also at the moment training the staff of the G.E.S in Walewale and hope to extend to teachers in the district.
This evening, the I.C.T club of L/A Junior High School embark on a clean up exercise as preparation towards tomorrows forum.
As the boys took active part in clearing the bushes, the girls played a role by collecting the bushes but Ruhiya, the president of Club 'A' made the girls proud by proving to the saying 'WHAT MEN CAN DO, WOMEN CAN EVEN DO IT BETTER', when she took a cutlass and joined the boys in action to clear the area.
The forum is coming off tomorrow the 29th of June at 9:am. The venue will be at the Community Information Centre.
After managing to clear the bush, it was then time to put up the canopies in other to ease up things tomorrow for the ceremony. The children reported on Ghana time and so we had to work till night to make sure everything was in other before tomorrow.
Guest speaker for the occasion is Alhaji Mohammed Haroon, the district director of education and also a supporting member of the Community Information Centre I.C.T team. The mother of the Club, Charlotte Cashman, will be doing the introduction as usual and later speaking on the progress the C.I.C have made so far in the training of I.C.T and the difficulties it has faced in the training, and she will be doing that with Mahama. I. Mashood, I.C.T trainer and website manager. Anna and Louisawill help getting all the discussion togehter. Mark Akansighe will be welcoming the guest with a powerful address. We also have Mr. Stephen C.I.C cordinator and Representative of IICD, who will be giving us briefing of what IICD does in promoting I.C.T. The event is sponsored by IICD / CTA.
The Master of Ceremony(MC) for the day will be Daniel Bajaba.
We wish to welcome any one who is interested to the forum.
I.C.T CLUB STUDENTS PUTTING UP THE CANOPIES.
I.C.T CLUB STUDENTS HELPING TO BRING DOWN CANOPY BARS FROM THE TRACK
The programme started 9:45am and Pastor Jonathan Banayire was called to lead the gathering into the hands of God for the commencement of the forum. Mr. Mark Akansighe manager of C.I.C welcomed the guests to the programme and Charlotte Cashman a T.S.O/V.S.O of the G.E.S in Walewale introduced Alhaji Mohammed Haroon the District Director of Education as chairman of the affair. Alhaji Mohammed Haroon was pleased and accepted to steer the affair to a successful end, and therefore called on every one to give him their maximun coorperation.
The Northern Region Coordinator for IICD, Mr. Agbenyo John Stephen briefed the gathering of the role IICD plays in the Community Information centres and stated that IICD will be donating some equipments to the Walewale C.I.C and mentioned the items as a photocopier machine, digital camera, projector etc. He stated again that he coordinating for 10 C.I.C's in the Northern Region and added that IICD works in partnership with C.T.A. Mr. Stephen also told the gathering that IICD extends its service into the agriculture sector and therefore challenged every one to take I.C.T seriously.
The Chairman and guest speaker Alhaji Mohammed Haroon in a speech gave an insight of the new educational reform which started in 2007 and stated that the philosophy that ' education should result in the formation of well-balanced individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills, values, attitudes to become functional and productive citizens'. And so for the products of the New Educational System to become functional and productive citizens, they need to be globally educated hence the need for I.C.T in their curriculum in order to make them global citizens of the global world.
ALHAJI MOHAMMED HAROON
DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION FOR WEST MAMPRUSI
He further went on to give a breakdown of the New Reform structure as; 2:6:3:4. That is two(2) years of kindergarten education, six (6) years of primary schooling, three (3) years of Junior High and four (4) years of Senior High School which is being debated at the moment making basic education eleven (11) years to complete. Again, pre-university students will now be;
S.H.S- 4 YEARS - Polytechnic 3 years
Post Secondary Tr. Training (Diploma) -3
Technical Schools - 4 years
Vocational schools- 4 years
Nursing Training College- 3 years and
Agricultural Institutions- 4 years
He also gave the curriculum content of the New structure - subject areas. He mentioned the J.H.S, S.H.S level as follows;
J.H.S
English
Mathematics
Social Studies
Integrated Science including Agricultural Science, a Ghanaian Language,
Technical, Vocational and Agric. Education and Training (Pre-technical· Vocational).
Information and Communication Technology. (lCT) and French.
S.H.S
English
Mathematics
Integrated Science
Social Studies and Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T)
He added that in addition to the core subjects every candidate is to offer one of the following course programmes;
Agriculture
Business
Technical
Vocational (Home Economics or Visula Arts) or General Arts or General Science.
For the Technical, Vocational or Agricultural Education, Alhaji Mohammed Haroon mentioned six (6) broad elective subjects as;
Building Trades
Business Studies
Electrical Engineering
Hospital Engineering
Mechanical Engineering and
Agricture
He went further to add that government has recognized that, in the present global world, every educated citizen should be computer literate in order to access information and communicate well. It is also clear that the subjects and courses at the J.H.S and S.H.S demand computer literacy as well if candidates are to function well after completion. This is the first time government policy is including I.C.T in the content of education as a matter of national priority. Moreover, he went on, due to the importance of I.C.T in education, the Ministry of Education has been facilitating teaching and learning at all level of education. He mentioned some successes we have made so far as a nation which are;
Children have been introduced to it. Hitherto, they were ignorant.
Children enthusiasm has been whipped up since they are now aware of its usefulness.
Parents are also now excited that their children are doing I.C.T in order to become global citizens and are engaging people privately to teach their children.
Teachers handing the subject also take prestige in doing so.
Students now access website for textbooks and other educational information.
An I.C.T policy has been developed by the Ministry of Education with the support of the Global e-schools and Communities (GeSCI). The National I.C.T in Education Co-ordinating Committee is in place.
He mentioned again that, there has also been I.C.T in Education Capacity Building for staff of the Ministry of Education. There have been established ICT e-schools Pilot Project. In the NEPAD e-Schools Initiatives, six schools are benefiting from this programme and these include St. Augustine's Senior High, Bogoso (W1R),Wa Senior Sec. School (UWR) and Walewale Sec. Technical School in Northern Region.
He mentioned syllabus children are expected to know in I.C.T as
a)Software
b)Hardware
He however mentioned some problems facing the learning of I.C.T as follows;
1. There are no ICt teachers trained yet by the Ministry of Education
- Employment of ICT teachers still in limbo. They are not yet on the employment or recruitment establishment.
2.Scarce textbooks in ICT
3.Computers not in schools
4.Most schools are not connected to electricity.
5.Expensive Broadband Internet charge which makes it unsustainable.
He also mentioned to the gathering the I.C.T policy of establishing I.C.T laboratory in all colleges of Education and added that the most important policy is the on one that includes ICT in the J.H.S curriculum, which makes it examinable. This means that all J.H.S candidates must learn ICT in order to pass and pursue Senior High School education.
He went on again by mentioning some of the chalenges as lack of electricity in the schools, lack of I.C.T teachers in the system, lack of computers in J.H.schools and lack of access to internet connectivity becuase of the cost involve.
He sumarised his speech by stating some possible solutions for a way forward as;
Teachers should be trained in ICT at College Level
2.Workshops or In Service Training to be organized for those handling it on
voluntary basis.
3.Computer Labs to be established in schools.
4.Computers to be supplied
5.Schools should be connected to electricity.
6.Solar panels should be supplied to rural schools
7.Increase budget allocation for ICT consumables and for repairs and servicing of computers and accessories.
8.ICT textbooks should be made abundant
9.Broadband internet connections in schools should be borne by the Ghana Education Service (Govt.)
10.Internet Services should block websites with pornographic scenes
In conclusion, the District Director advised every one to take I.C.T seriously, because it is a future skill which is in to stay and we can not do anything about it than to learn and said “Even though I.C.T is going to play a major role in this current educational system, a lot more things are yet to be put in place. The planning should have been done years ago before the policy pronouncement and implementation”
Mr. Mahama. I. Mashood I.C.T Trainer and Website Manager of the District took the microphone and with the support of Charlotte Cashman, the mother of the I.C.T Club. The two gave the Progress they have made so far in bringing I.C.T to light in the district. Mr. Mashood told the guest that the Community Information Centre which was opened in 2006 but started working effectively in 2008 is intented to serve as an information hub of the district and also to trained people in the district on I.C.T. He went further by saying that, in 2008 the management of the C.I.C gave free training to students in the district for two weeks and saw the interest in the students to learn I.C.T, and so the need to start clubs in the schools with the help of Charlotte Cashman and Mike Cashman.
Charlotte Cashman took the microphone from this point and continued by saying how they visited the C.I.C and met Mr. Mashood who explained to them how the C.I.C was set up with 10 computers and the need to trained people in I.C.T . The two couple with Mr.Mashood taught of forming I.C.T clubs in the schools, and so decided to start with L/A Junior High School since it was the closest school to the C.I.C.So two clubs were formed in L/A J.H.S, 20 members from each club making a total of 40 students. 10 girls/ 10 boys from each club. But some where a long the line we lost 7 members because they were not dedicated and that was one of the rules a club member should do. The students also wanted ownership of their clubs so they came out with the idea of electing a president and assistant from each club. She went on by adding that, the students also needed to have T-shirts for the club and so payed money to get the T-shirts printed, she also informed the gathering that, with the help of the District Director and the District Assembly, the club went on an excussion to Paga crocodile porn, the slave camp and the Navrongo irrigation dam by contributing. She continued by saying that the students did this to show how happy they feel to belong to an I.C.T club and also being the first members of an I.C.T club to be formed in the district.
Next on the agenda, was to have a discussion in groups. And the topics for discussions were;
Why is ICT important for you?
What are the main challenges in learning ICT in your school?
The Zayaa mosque as lots of people call it is located at Wulugu, 14km from Walewale in the West Mamprusi district. It is one of the 20thC buildings in the country built from mud. It is peculiar in that it is an uncommon storeyed traditional design of historical and military interest. 
