LIVE IN PEACE — ALHASSAN SUMANI (PAGE 34)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Kpikpira

THE chiefs and people of Kpikpira in the Garu-Tempane District of the Upper East Region have celebrated their annual "Danjour" Festival with a call on the people to live in peace to facilitate the development of the area.
The Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, made the call at the fifth annual "Danjour" Festival of Bimobas at Kpikpira near Garu. The festival is organised to honour the ancestors of Bimobas for their hard work and sacrifices.
Mr Samari stated that “in a war of brother against brother and sister against sister, there can neither be a conqueror nor a vanquished. Only one thing can be certain and that is, we all lose together”.
The regional minister advised the people to be guided by their utterances at all times, stressing that all parties must work together to improve the fragile security situation in the region, especially in the Bawku Municipality.
He called on the traditional leaders to support the peace efforts by the government and the Regional Security Council towards the attainment of lasting peace in the area.
Mr Samari said the government was embarking on many development interventions this year aimed at improving the living conditions of the people of the area.
He stated that plans were far advanced for the maintenance of all boreholes in the area, adding that the road between Garu and Bawku would also be tarred.
Mr Samari, who is also vying for the parliamentary seat of the Garu-Tempane Constituency on the ticket the New Patriotic Party, advised the people to take advantage of government policies such as the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Capitation Grant to raise the quality of life of the people.
The District Chief Executive of Garu-Tempane, Mr Emmanuel S. Asigri, emphasised the need for the people to pool their resources both human and material to improve their living conditions.
The Presiding Member of the Garu-Tempane District Assembly, Mr Joseph Kpenka Dindiok, urged the government to provide security before, during and after the 2008 general election.
While commending the government for providing a number of development projects in the area, he appealed to the management of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to incorporate Moar, the language of the Bimobas, in their programmes.
The MP for the area, Mr Dominic Azumah, called on the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble.
The Chairman of the Bimoba Union, Staff Sergeant Osmanu Yinbom (retd), said the union had decided to sponsor more students, especially girls.