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14.01.2019 Opinion

Avoiding Crisis In The New North East Region

By Alice Azumi Iddi
Dan Botwe, Minister For Regional ReorganizationDan Botwe, Minister For Regional Reorganization
14.01.2019 LISTEN

My name is Alice Azumi Iddi, a citizen with deep cultural roots in the new North East Region, where I was born. I have a deep appreciation and pride in Ghana. I am proud of our democracy, commitment to peace and our socio-cultural heritage, including that of the Mamprugu Traditional area.

I am an educationist, and I am deeply passionate about and committed to the development and wellbeing not only of Ghana, but also to the people in our new North East region.

It is in this context that I express my deep concern of a brewing crisis emerging in our new region that could undermine our deep aspirations for progress.

First, let me give credit where credit is due. President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Bawumia and their administration as well as the King of Mamprugu and his Council of Elders deserve special commendation for their leadership and good governance in the processes leading to the peaceful creation of the North East Region. The massive turn-out of the people in the various districts and their vote in favour of the new North East Region, is testimony to the quality of leadership at different levels.

Our next step is now to decide on the location of the Capital for our New Region!

Here is where I see a deep crisis brewing. Two major communities are vying to become the Capital of our New Region. The first is Nalerigu - where the King and Overlord of all Mamprugu Traditional Area resides. The second is Gambaga, the current capital of the East Mamprugu Municipality. Unfortunately, there is a long-standing rivalry between these two communities, even though they are only 5 miles apart. The people in each town have a strong sense of identity and pride in their respective communities. This has fuelled the underlying tension between them, prevented constructive discussion over the years on important issues affecting the well being of all of us living in the municipality.

The danger we are facing is that this problem could spread like an inflamed sore and affect the more than half a million people in our new region. If the Ghana government selects Nalerigu, which likely has a stronger political influence and lobbying power, this risks strongly alienating the residents of Gambaga. If it is rather Gambaga that is selected, based on its current status and history, this will likely anger the population of Nalerigu. In either scenario, the selection of one community over the other will only deepen the rivalry and worsen the existing tensions. It would be like picking at an old sore with a stick and making it bleed again. This would further prolong the gradual healing of the wound. The sore could easily last for generations.

Needless to say, this is not a good way to start our new North East Region!

The challenge for the Ghana government is to transform the rising “win-lose” situation into a “win-win” scenario, that would be acceptable to both Nalerigu and Gambaga and, and to all the people of the North East Region.

This win-win scenario is to create a “twin capital city”!

Twin-capital-city examples abound in many countries around the world. However, we have a concrete example here in Ghana, Secondi-Takoradi, the capital of Western Region.

With deft diplomacy and consultation, a similar “win-win” arrangement of Nalerigu-Gambaga is the common sense solution, one likely to be embraced by the vast majority of the people living in our new Region.

Clearly with just five short miles between them, and sharing the same culture and traditions, the concept of a twin city capital is very practical. Already, the pattern of growth over the past 10 years is moving the two communities together. Nalerigu has been expanding westward toward Gambaga, and Gambaga has been expanding eastward toward Nalerigu. One could easily envisage the two towns joining together in less than a decade, whether one or the other becomes the capital of the North East Region.

There are many advantages to this arrangement. Making Nalerigu-Gambaga the twin capital of the North East Region will promote judicious use of existing infrastructure and other resources of both towns. It would facilitate the construction of new buildings as we begin our transition from a municipality into a Region. Most importantly, it would contribute greatly to the peaceful development for all the people in our newly created North East Region.

I am therefore calling on the Government of Ghana and our traditional leadership to use their good judgment in considering the concept of a twin-city capital for the North East Region. Thank you.

Alice Azumi Iddi (resident of Bongbini village, near Gambaga)

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