A SECTION OF KASSENA-NANKENA PEOPLE APPEAL ...Against creation of new distric (Page 32)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Navrongo

TRADITIONAL rulers and opinion leaders from the Eastern and Western parts of the present Kassena-Nankana District in the Upper East Region have expressed misgivings about the creation of the Kassena-Nankana West District with Paga as its capital.
In a press statement signed by the chiefs and opinion leaders representing eight towns, namely Chiana, Katiu, Kayoro, Nakong, Sirigu, Mirigu, Kandiga and Nabango, they said they were disappointed that in spite of the several proposals and suggestions sent to the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment against the creation of the district, the proposal had been sent wholesale to Parliament.
“As much as we dislike engaging the government in a tussle over its development programme, we are mindful of the pain we the majority will suffer when the interest of a selfish minority is upheld,” the statement said.
Signatories to the statement included Pe Oscar Butabi Tayiamu II, Pe J.B. Afagachire II, Pe Felix A. Zangwio, Pe I. K. Ayagitam (regent) and Naba Adumbire, the paramount chiefs of the Kayoro, Nakong, Katiu, Chiana and Sirigu Traditional Areas respectively.
The rest were Naba John Abisa Atasige, Naba Henry Amenga-Etego, Naba Atuguba, the paramount chiefs of Mirigu Kandiga and Nabango Traditional Areas respectively, as well as Ms Aniba Simple John, member of the West Zone Development, and Mr Azuponga, an elected Assembly Member and Chairman of the Chiana Town Council.
The statement contended that the creation of the new district would inflict untold hardships on the people of the eight towns. It said if the situation persisted, majority of the people would be denied active participation in political activities.
The people also argued that development would also be highly concentrated in the smallest and least populated areas to the detriment of the greater majority.
They are, therefore, calling on the government to suspend the creation of the new district and instead elevate the current Kassena-Nankana District Assembly to a municipal status.
“We are determined to be part of an elevated municipal assembly of the present Kassena-Nankana District Assembly,” they stressed.