Chiefs and people of Sirigu and Mirigu appeal for separate district

The Chiefs and People of Sirigu and Mirigu near Navrongo in Upper East Region have appealed to Government for a separate district in the area.

The Chiefs Naba Abombire Awaare for Sirigu and Naba Atasigi Azoya for Mirigu jointly made the appeal when Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, visited the area.

They explained that seven villages on the East of Navrongo had been given a separate political administration that could take care of their cultural differences, historical background, language barriers as well as geographical location.

"Unfortunately this has not been realised by past Governments even though efforts have been made but had fallen on deaf ears," they said.

The chiefs stressed that Kassena-Nankana East area had been marginalised and sidelined for far too long and denied its due share of Government's decentralisation initiative.

"The people of the east are now torn into two areas belonging to Navrongo and Paga. It is our hope that the NDC Government, which is a listening one, would make us realise this great hope by giving us a separate constituency or a district assembly”, they contended.

The chiefs said their problems include dams to enable their animals get drinking water, domestic use and dry season farming, because the only dam in the area constructed by the Catholic Mission could not serve the entire community.

Others are abandoning of electrification projects that should be reactivated to enable the people embark on economic ventures and efforts to improve sanitation in their communities.

The chiefs said the seven communities had only a senior high school which lacked accommodation and hostel facilities and appealed to Government to build more senior high schools and create an enabling environment to attract teachers to the area.

Mr Woyongo said Government was committed to the development and welfare of the people and would embark on vigorous agricultural mechanisation policy.

He said cost of fertilizers would be subsidised, more dams would be constructed and assured people in the area that more schools and better working conditions for teachers would be provided to attract teachers to rural areas.

Mr Woyongo said through the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) government would provide funds to alleviate poverty in the area by building more schools, roads and other infrastructural development.

However, he stressed that without peace no development could thrive, and appealed to the people to co-exist peacefully and in harmony for accelerated development of the area.

GNA