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A Journey of Resilience, Rooted in a Mother’s Sacrifice – The story of Mary Ayariga

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Published :30 September 2025

Against the odds, Mary Ayariga, a young woman from Zebila proves that dreams can defy tradition.

When Mary Awinimi Ayariga walked across the stage to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations Management from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the applause was more than an academic milestone. It was the sound of a dream fulfilled, the echo of prayers answered, and a mother’s sacrifices finally rewarded.

Background

Mary’s journey began in Zebila, a farming community in Ghana’s Upper East Region where opportunities for girls are often defined by tradition. For many, the path is clear: stay home and help the family, marry early, or, if fortunate, enroll in a teacher training college. The idea of attending a university in the capital city seemed not just unlikely, but almost impossible.

But Mary wanted something different.
“They said I would fail, that I’d come back home with an unwanted pregnancy. Their words hurt, but I refused to let them define me.”

Her father had passed away, leaving her mother as the sole pillar of the family. As the first child, with no older sibling to look up to, Mary carried the weight of responsibility and expectation on her shoulders. Her mother, running a modest restaurant, became both provider and cheerleader, investing everything, time, resources, and prayers into her daughter’s education.

At UPSA, life tested Mary in ways she never imagined. There were nights when she studied through tears, days when money was scarce, and moments when loneliness and doubt threatened to overshadow her dream. Yet, she pressed on.
“Every late night, every tear, every prayer, and every moment of doubt has led to this testimony. This degree is not just mine, it belongs to my mother and everyone who believed in me.”

Graduation day was more than a personal triumph. It was a statement to her community, to every girl in Zebila who has been told that her place is only in the home. It was proof that resilience, faith, and determination can rewrite any story.

“I did this for my mum, for my late father who didn’t live to see this day, and for every girl who has been told her dreams are too big,” Mary said, holding back tears of joy. “This is not the end, this is only the beginning of greater things.”

Mary’s story is now an inspiration in Zebila and beyond, a reminder that the barriers of tradition can be broken, and that when faith meets determination, nothing is impossible.

A Reflection of a Bigger Challenge
Mary’s story is not unique. Across Ghana, and especially in the Upper East Region, thousands of girls face cultural, economic, and social barriers to education. UNICEF and other education stakeholders have consistently highlighted challenges such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, poverty, and entrenched gender norms that prevent girls from pursuing higher education.

In regions like the Upper East, where poverty rates are among the highest in Ghana, girls are often the first to be pulled out of school to support family businesses or care for siblings. Many are pressured into early marriages, ending their dreams of education before they begin. Those who manage to enter higher education often do so with little encouragement from their communities.

Mary’s triumph therefore carries a wider meaning: it challenges stereotypes, reshapes perceptions, and reinforces the urgent call to invest in girl child education. Her journey underscores that when girls are given opportunities and support, they do not only transform their own lives but also inspire entire communities.

As Ghana continues to push toward achieving gender equality in education, stories like Mary’s are a reminder that empowering girls through education is not just a personal victory, it is a societal breakthrough.

Story by: Prince Tamakloe
 

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GALOP Project: Tamale Mayor cuts sod for construction of 6-unit classroom block at Zakaliyili

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

25th February 2026

The Mayor of Tamale, Adam Abukari Takoro has cut sod for construction of 6-unit classroom block at Zakaliyili, a farming community under Tamale South Constituency, aimed at increasing access to education and providing educational infrastructure to communities where there are no public schools.

This reflects the wish of the community members as access to basic education has been a challenging one to their kids due to lack of community basic school, resulting to their children trekking several distant kilometers to seek education.

Following the ground breaking ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the 6-unit classroom block on Tuesday 24th February 2026, by the Tamale Mayor, the predicament of the children with school going-age will soon be over as the project is expected to be completed in 8 months’ time.

Hon. Abu Takoro cut the sod on behalf of the Education Minister and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu under whose influence the project came to fruition through Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes project known as GALOP.

It forms part of shared commitment and responsibility of the MP and the Tamale Mayor not to only increase access to education within the area but to also ensure inclusive education at all stages especially at the basic level.

The Chief and and elders of Zakaliyili joined the Mayor and his team at the project site in the community to break the ground for the work to start in earnest.Also, Accompanying the Mayor for the sod cutting ceremony were officers from the Planning and Engineering department of the Tamale Metro Assembly and other senior staff.

Addressing the Chief and the elders during his courtesy call to the community Palace prior to the ground breaking ceremony, the Mayor urged the community members to collaborate with the contractors for smooth work on site, admonishing them to serve as watchdogs of the project against any theft of construction materials among other forces that can work against the progress of the work.

He also urged the engineers in charge of the project to hire the unskilled labor within the community as laborers for the construction works.

On behalf of the community, the chief expressed his happiness over the project, noting that children who hitherto move to long distances in search of education in other communities will soon heave a sigh of relief now.

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Ramadan: Alhaj Farhan supports selected mosques in Tamale with food items

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

20th February 2026

Some Selected Mosques in Tamale have received food and assorted items from the Managing Director of Ghana Commercial Bank, Alhaji Farhan Alhassan, aimed at supporting Ramadan Festive season.

The gesture by Alhaj Farhan Alhassan forms part of his philanthropic drive of giving back to the society through GCB’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

The beneficiary Mosques include Anbariya Mosque, Bambawuyya Mosque, and Tamale Central Mosque.

Each mosque received 30 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar, 10 cartons of milk, 10 cartons of Milo, and 10 cartons of Lifton Tea. In addition, they were each gifted with 10,000 Ghana Cedis.

On behalf of the various Mosques, their representatives expressed profound gratitude to the MD for the gesture, praying to Allah for only not rewarding him back abundantly but shield him from evil in his field of work.

On his part, the MD of GCB, Alhaj Farhan Alhassan mentioned that the Bank is embarking on this gesture as part of its corporate social responsibility.

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Hon. Patrick Boamah donates 200 bags of cement to support construction of NPP N/R party Office

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

19th February 2026

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah has committed resources to supporting the construction of NPP Northern Regional Office by donating 200 bags of cement to the Party Regional Executives.

The MP’s gesture forms part of his broader efforts to assist Regional Executives enforce completion of the project.

The Northern Regional Executives led by Chairman Mohammed Batimba Samba, last week, cut sod for construction of multi-purpose regional party office at Zogbeli in Tamale, aimed at ending long- aged problem of renting offices to spearhead party activities in the region including party’s operations and administrative work.

When completed the party office will contain 12 offices, a conference room, and guests rooms. Work is currently ongoing since the sod was cut and is expected to be completed in 6 months period.

Receiving the items, Alhaj Abdul Rahaman Mahama, the Northern Regional Second Vice Chairman of NPP, expressed his profuse gratitude to Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah for his gesture, assuring that they will put it into good use to complement the construction of the project. He also lauded him for examplary leadership by extending his gesture beyond Greater Accra region to the Northern Region.

Alhaj Abdul Rahaman said “I will stand on behalf of the Regional Chairman and accept the items on behalf of the regional Chairman and say a very big thank you to Honourable Patrick Yaw Boamah and also say that we are so grateful to him for remembering us and also know that as a party man he is exhibiting leadership not only in Accra but all the way to Tamale, he is well appreciated. We will make sure that we put it into good use”.

Other Regional Executives present during the donation were Northern Regional Organizer, Rashid COP and the treasurer.

Patrick Yaw Boamah is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Okaikwei Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

Boamah entered parliament on 7 January 2013 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party representing the Okaikwei Central Constituency. He was re-elected in the 2016 ,2020 and 2024 Ghanaian General Election to represent the constituency for a second consecutive term.

In parliament, he has served on various committees, some of which include; the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

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