Northern Chiefs pat Mahama’s back, but rally him to do more

Traditional rulers in the Northern Region have commended president John Mahama for taking bolder steps to develop the area hence he return to government.

They mentioned on going infrastructure projects covering education, health and agriculture among others in communities across the region.

Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-na Mahama Abukari II, whose commendation on behalf of his people were read by Zangbalinlana Dr. Yakubu Mahama, at a Townhall meeting at UDS Dungu, with President Mahama, noted in particular, the president’s 24-hour economy programme – the full roll out – which will address significant socio-ecomonical challenges confronting the areas of development.

These include lack of opportunities in agriculture and market access, agro-processing and sustainable livelihoods, which could lead to high youth unemployment, rapid and uncontrolled migration, conflict and insecurity among others.

The Townhall meeting, formed part of a two-day Resetting Ghana tour by President Mahama to the Northern Region to break grounds for new development projects, inspect on -going ones as well as have an interface with chiefs and people on the ground.

The chiefs on behalf of people of the region appealed to the president to accelerate plans for agriculture and food security and also expand adequate water coverage to Tamale and other districts in need in the region.

Adding to the appeals, paramount chief of Sangnarigu traditional area, Ambassador Abdulai Yakubu, appealed to president Mahama and his government not to abandoned stalled projects such as the previous governments agenda 111 hospital projects.

Thé Sangnari-Naa mentioned in particular the psychiatric hospital project which will have taken care of the mental health needs of the people of the area and northern ghana at large due to the absence of any of such facility up north.
“Our youth are confronted with the growing menace of drugs and substance abuse. Beyond advocacy to ending such menace, we will also require functional rehabilitation facilities to help with the recovery of those already affected,” he remarked.

Sagnari-Naa also advocated closer and sustained collaboration and support between the security services, particularly the police and the various task forces operating in the communities that are aiming to stem the tide of substance and illicit drug use, which his appointment has a correlation with crime.

In response, President Mahama, repeated his pledged to solve the Tamale and Yendi water challenges by tapping straight from the Yapei river. Funds for these projects he said, will be raised domestically.

He also said the Nacortics Control and sister security institutions will strengthened their operations by going after the drug lords and kingpins to nip the menace in the bud.
President Mahama touched on adequate supervision to ensure quality output especially in the health and education sector saying often the breakdowns in discipline among staff have largely been to interferences by both politicians, chiefs and other opinion leaders, urging that such practice must stop immediately to ensure total discipline in the system.

Story By: Nelson Adanuti Nyadror |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.