Tension Brews In Kassena-Nankana District
TENSION IS gradually mounting in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region as youth in communities located in the western and eastern parts of the district have teamed up against those in the northern part over the making of Paga the capital of the proposed Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly.
A petition jointly issued to the Kassena-Nankana District Assembly by the youth from the west and eastern parts of the district says the creation of another district out of the existing one was a welcome news, but the siting of the capital at Paga, which is in the northern part of the district, would not be in the interest of the new Kassena-Nankana West District.
According to the youth, it would be appropriate to let Paga remain with the existing Kassena- Nankana District, since it is just about 20 minutes from the district capital, Navronga.
The youth said they suspect that government's decision to make Paga the capital of the Kassena-Nankana West District is being influenced by some natives of the area who find themselves on the corridors of power.
The petition disclosed that all was not well in the district as being portrayed to government by some prominent people from the area, warning that the situation would remain as it was if nothing was done about the proposed capital of the new district.
The youth suggested that instead of creating a new district out of the existing one with Paga as the capital, which could fuel conflict in the area, government should rather consider elevating the existing Kassena-Nankana District to a municipal status.
Meanwhile, yet another misunderstanding is bubbling up between the youth in the west and eastern parts of the Kassena–Nankana District, as those from the east are refusing a call by the youth in the west to make Chiana the capital of the proposed Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly.
Chiana is in the western part of the existing Kassena-Nankana District and currently the headquarters of the Chiana-Paga constituency. By this standing, Chiana is therefore qualified to house the capital of the new district and not Paga or any other community.
The youth from the west, led by Robert Aloo Apechira, are claiming that Chiana is at the centre of the proposed district (Kassena-Nankana West) and has more economic prospects so could be developed in no time if it is made the capital.
If the proposed district is approved, the petition noted, it would contain four paramount areas, namely Chiana, Katin, Kayaro and Nangong, excluding Paga due to its location, hence Paga should not be the capital of a district or area it does not belong to.
They called on government to set up a committee to look into the matter before approving the new district to ensure that the right thing is done, adding that government's failure to consider the issues they have raised could brew hatred in the hearts of the majority of the people in the district against a minor group. From Ebo Bruce Quansah, Navrongo