DCE expresses worry over Nanumba chieftaincy dispute… Calls on Judicial Committee to expedite action on case

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nanumba North, Mohammed Ibin Abass, has called on the Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, to expedite action on the protracted Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute that has led to insecurity in the district, to pave way for smooth developmental activities for the people.

According to the DCE, the ruling government had put in place several measures geared towards the development of the people and the Nanumba district, but high insecurity was having adverse effects on the efforts.

Addressing a large section of the youth and some traditional leaders in the district, at the National Delegates Congress of the Nanumba Youth Association (NAYA) here in Bimbilla, Abass said the assembly spent more than half of its annual budget on maintaining security.

Apart from housing, feeding and fueling the security (military and police) personnel who patrol the area morning, afternoon, evening and every night, the assembly was also responsible for the transportation, feeding and accommodation needs of all the leaders of the two feuding gates (Banyili and the Gbunmayili), as well as their subjects, anytime they appeared before the Judicial Committee of the House of Chiefs, which is mediating the matter in Tamale.

The chieftaincy turmoil in Bimbilla started somewhere in 2001 after the death of the late chief, Naa Abarika Atah II.

The Nanum Skin has since been without an occupant or Paramount Chief, and continues to witness raging violence between the Banyili and the Gbunmayili royal families, who are contesting the skin.

The Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs has failed to come out with its final judgment after seven years of sitting on the matter.

As a result, the Committee was recently criticised by the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina, for its perceived ineffectiveness in acting on the case.

The DCE passionately appealed to the Judicial Committee to consider the effect their slow action was posing to the image, dignity and development of the people, and charged them to expedite action on the matter. He was confident that the final verdict would be respected by the two gates for a peaceful co-existence.

Ibin Abass disclosed that in spite of the security problems, the Nanumba North District Assembly had been able to carry out some developmental projects, including the construction of classroom blocks at Duuni, Belmaya, Lepusi, and E. P. Junior High School in Bimbilla, teachers quarters and girls dormitory for the Bimbilla Senior High School, a slaughter house at Bincharatanga, market stalls, mechanised boreholes, and a CHIPS compound at Nakpa, as well as the reshaping of some feeder roads.

He said the Assembly, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), was also establishing a library complex for educational purposes, and appealed to the people to allow peace to reign in the area for more of such projects.

The DCE also mentioned that the Assembly, with support from UNESCO, was to establish a community radio station in the district, of which funding had already been released for the acquisition of the transmitter.

The assembly has also started some small town water projects to provide pipe borne water to five communities in the district, including Bincheratanga, Makayili, Pusuga, Domonaayili and Chamba.

Ibin Abass noted that the government, led by President John Evans Atta Mills, would leave no stone unturned in tarring the Yendi-Bimbilla road, and the stretch from Bimbilla to the Volta Region, within the first four years.

Other areas of priority for the assembly, according to him, were the development of education, healthcare delivery, human resource empowerment and agriculture facilities.

The DCE disclosed that measures had been taken to improve on education, through the enrolment of school-going children, especially girls, the provision of decent accommodation for teachers, educational infrastructure, study desks, text books and motivational packages for teachers.

He said the assembly was also supporting most farmers in the district in order that they could improve and ensure all year farming to enhance national food security.

Ibin Abass said the assembly had also began to encourage more people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and was trying to increase the number of health centres in the district, to ensure easy accessibility and quality healthcare delivery.

He also gave the assurance that more youth would be enrolled in all the modules under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), with emphasis on youth in agriculture, entrepreneurial and skills training.

The DCE therefore appealed to all the people, especially the youth and other influential natives living in other parts of the country, to join hands in restoring peace to the area, to facilitate the developmental agenda of the government.