Mr Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, has appealed to Chiefs in the area, to support and guide him to deliver on his mandate for the Region’s development.
He acknowledged the critical roles of Chiefs in nation-building, saying their wise counsel and guidance was highly needed to redirect the Region towards development for the benefit of its residents. Mr Atanga said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bongo after he called on the Paramount Chief of the area, Bonaba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, to formally introduce himself as the Regional Minister.
Mr Atanga, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), expressed concern about the persistent conflicts in the Region, especially in Bawku, which militated against development. “The Chiefs are key stakeholders in resolving these situations, and so I believe that my courtesy calls on them, will be the beginning of establishing good relationships with them for their cooperation, to resolve conflicts in the Region for peace,” he said.
Mr Atanga was in the company of some members of the REGSEC and officials of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). Bonaba Lemyaarum thanked the Minister for the visit to his Palace and appealed for the construction of an ultra-modern hospital, to complement that of the Bongo District hospital for improved healthcare delivery to the growing population and needs of residents.
Touching on indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste in his traditional area and the entire country, the Bonaba called for behaviour change among citizens, and appealed to the government to implement sustainable solutions to manage plastic waste nationwide. Prior to his visit to the Bonaba’s Palace, the Minister and his entourage had called respectively on the Paramount Chiefs of the Talensi Traditional Area, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, and Naba Bilea Namaal-Tinga Caesar Afegera III, also of the Zuarungu Traditional Area.
At the Palace of the Tongraan, Nab Nanlebegtang urged the residents to allow the Minister to settle down and work for the Region’s progress, devoid of unnecessary interferences. He noted that some residents had the habit of petitioning the Presidency to have Regional Ministers changed and cautioned against such anonymous petitions, to allow Mr Atanga to concentrate and deliver on his mandate.
The Paramount Chief urged Mr Atanga as the REGSEC Chairman to ensure that illegal mining in the traditional area was checked, to prevent environmental degradation with its associated health problems. Naba Caesar Afegera, the Paramount Chief of the Zuarungu Traditional area, who was represented by his elders, among other requests, appealed to the Minister to ensure that work on a stalled Astro turf project was completed for recreational activities.
The elders further reiterated several appeals to the government to properly demarcate the traditional area which shared boundaries with some communities in the Talensi District to prevent conflicts. The Minister has so far visited the Bawku, Sakoti and Nangodi Traditional areas, and was scheduled to visit the rest of the Paramountcies in subsequent days.
Source: GNA
