Creation of districts not meant to usurp traditional authority -

Adjei-Darko

Bunkpurugu (N/R), May 12, GNA- Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has asked traditional rulers not to see the creation of districts as an attempt to usurp their traditional authorities or a ploy to reduce their territorial boundaries.

He explained that the creation of the districts was for administrative purposes and to deepen good governance and democracy.

The Minister was speaking at separate durbars at Buipe, Karaga, and Bunkpurugu, all in the Northern Region, to officially announce the creation of the new districts to the chiefs and people and also inspect structures that needed to be rehabilitated.

Out of the 28 new districts created in the country, the Northern Region had five, Central Gonja District, which was part of the West Gonja District with its capital at Buipe and Sawla/Kalba, which was part of the Bole District with its capital at Sawla.

The rest are: Karaga District, carved out of the West Mamprusi District with its capital at Karaga, Bnkpurugu/Yunyoo District which was part of the East Mamprusi District, with its capital at Bunkpurugu and Wulensi District, which has been separated from the Bimbilla District with its capital at Wulensi.

Mr Adjei-Darko said to ensure the smooth take-off, the sector Ministry was recruiting 210 service personnel to undergo orientation courses to enable them to administer the districts effectively.

Mr Adjei-Darko appealed to the people of the new districts to contribute their quota to the development of their communities by honouring their tax obligations.

On political campaigns, the Minister advised political party leaders and their supporters to carry out their campaign messages devoid of insults and violence.

He told the youth not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians, saying that politics was a matter of making choices and not a matter of life and death.

He said: "If any politician asks you to take up arms to fight his opponents, ask him to first bring out his wife and children to lead the fight".

Naba Ambon Tapang, Chief of Bunkpurugu, commended the government for creating the new districts and gave the assurance that the chiefs would continue to maintain the prevailing peace in the area.

He appealed to the government to post more teachers and nurses to the district and also to strengthen the staff of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at the Bunpurugu-Temburi border.