10 Years of Reign: Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak marks a decade as Paramount Queenmother of sing traditional area

The Sing Traditional Area in the Upper West Region has marked a historic milestone as Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak, the youngest Paramount Queenmother alive, celebrates 10 years of reign, a decade defined by resilience, cultural advocacy and a renewed call for a return to Ghana’s indigenous values.Ascending the throne at a remarkably young age, Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak’s journey, by her own reflection, has been “nothing but grace, blessings and hard times.”

Yet, it is within those difficult moments that perseverance and dedication, she says, rescued her from failure and strengthened her resolve to serve her people with purpose.Over the last ten years, the Queenmother has distinguished herself not only as a custodian of tradition but also as a passionate advocate for cultural revival, particularly in the areas of indigenous food systems, preventive health and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Speaking on the significance of the milestone, Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak expressed pride in her roots, culture and traditions, stressing that leadership must go beyond ceremonial duties to include safeguarding identity.

“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 noted.She cautioned against the gradual erosion of cultural practices, urging parents and guardians not to allow future generations to lose touch with their heritage simply because today’s generation failed to uphold it.

“All is not lost. It is not too late,” she emphasized, calling on families to intentionally introduce children to traditional meals that once sustained and strengthened forefathers, enabling them to live long, purposeful lives for the benefit of society.Among the indigenous delicacies she highlighted were Dawadawa jollof, Tumpaani, Sawu (TZ) with johjoh soup, Jangjahga, kongtong soup, Gabele, wasawasa, Kaaha, maasa and Kaara, encouraging Ghanaians to embrace local foods without shame.

“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 preservation, the Queenmother also used the occasion to advocate a shift in national health priorities, from curative to preventive care,championing the philosophy of food as medicine.“We must invest more in prevention. Eat your food as medicine and not your medicine as food.

You are indeed what you eat,” she stressed.As the Sing Traditional Area celebrates this decade of leadership, tributes have poured in acknowledging Pognnaa Salma Chaana Abdul-Razak’s impact as a symbol of youthful traditional authority, cultural pride and progressive indigenous leadership.The anniversary stands not just as a celebration of tenure, but as a renewed call to action.Long live the reign of the Paramount Queenmother of the Sing Traditional Area. Long live the Wala traditional culture. Long live Ghana. Long live Africa. Ye Barika Yagajaa.