President John Evans Atta Mills has appealed to traditional leaders from Chiana in the Upper East Region to maintain the atmosphere of peace in the area by employing time tested traditional norms and practices in choosing a successor to the late paramount chief of the area.President Mills said this on when he joined the people of Chiana in the Kassena-Nankana West District to observe the funeral of the Chiana Pio, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam II, who died in April, 2006. He has since been buried.President Mills paid glowing tribute to the late Paramount Chief, who was the speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution, and a member of the Council of State in 1997 for his dedicated leadership role in the traditional area, the Upper East region and the nation as a whole.“If indeed Ghana is being touted as a democratic nation, as a beacon in Africa, and as a country to be emulated, part of the credit should obviously go to the late Chiana Pio,” President Mills said.President Mills recounted the late chief’s commitment to peace and said a lasting legacy the people could pay him was to maintain the peace in the area. He emphasised that there can be no development where there was no peace.The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, in a tribute said the late Chiana Pio was very selfless and dedicated in whatever position he was called upon to serve and this he did willingly, expertly and satisfactorily.Mr Woyongo noted that during his 58 years reign as Chiana-Pio, Pe Ayagitam was indeed a lover of peace and ensured that peace prevailed in his traditional area and even beyond. The regent, Innocent Kwaratugu Ayagitam, in his welcome address recounted the traditional leadership achievements of the late chief and called for the continuation of the dreams and ambitions of Pe Ayagitam for the development of the traditional area.These included the enhancement of facilities at the Chiana Senior High School, the rebuilding of the Chiana Health Centre into a fully-fledged hospital and the provision of a large dam for the area for irrigation purposes to support all year farming.The funeral was also attended by a government delegation, including, Rev. Jacob Ayeebo, member of the Council of State, the Chief of Staff, Mr John M. Newman, deputy regional minister, Mrs Lucy Awuni, Mr Mahama Ayariga, deputy Minister of Trade.Mr Cletus Apul Avokah led a parliamentary delegation which included the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Ambrose Dery, Mr Timothy Ataboadey and Mr Leo Kaba. The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia was also at the funeral. In line with custom, the government presented cash of GH ¢10,000, a ram, assorted drinks and bags of rice to support the bereaved families. There were similar presentations from the Council of State and the NPP to the bereaved families.The late Chiana Pio, Pe Ayagitam, was born in 1932 and enskinned in 1950. He was appointed a member of the then Northern Territory Land Planning and Irrigation Committee in 1951-1952. He was also a farmer and was twice adjudged the best Upper Regional farmer in 1974 and 1976. Subsequently, he was selected as a member of a Ghanaian delegation to the Republic of China to study corporate farming systems of the Chinese people in 1974.He served in various capacities as board member for Navrongo Secondary School, the erstwhile Farmers Service Corporation, Black Star Line and the Ghana Supply Commission, among others.He was appointed by the former President, Jerry John Rawlings as the Speaker of the Consultative Assembly that drafted the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. He contested and was elected to represent the Upper East Region as a member of the Council of State in 1997.Pe Ayagitam served two-terms as President of the Kassena-Nankana Traditional Council (1972-1976, and 1986-1989). He was the first president of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs when the region was split into two in 1983.For his sterling leadership, government awarded him two national awards, the first being the Grand Medal, Civil Division and the Order of the Volta, Civil Division(2000) for the promotion of peace in the Upper East Region.
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