The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku has commended the people of Pulima and the Gandawii Traditional Area in general for showing of maturity, understanding and allowing peace to prevail during the search of a substantive chief for the area.
He made the remark at the enskinment of Kuoru Osman Deiwia Nankpa at Pulima as the Paramount Chief Gandawii.
Mr. Chinnia Issahaku congratulated Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa for his elevation to the Presidency of the Gandawii Traditional Council and asked him work with all interest groups for peace to prevail.
He equally entreated the District Security Committee (DISEC), the Regional Peace Council and other Civil Society Organizations to facilitate dialogue, integration and resolving issues on time to prevent chaotic situations.
Mr. Issahaku assured that the government will continue to play its role by creating the enabling environment for community development to thrive and tasked the Sissala West District Assembly to ensure the participation of traditional authorities in the activities of the Assembly.”
The new Chief, Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa extended an olive branch to all parties, saying:, “Our brothers who fought a good fight in this case for over two decades let bygones be bygones and please join hands to develop this traditional area.”
He said: The development of this community [Pulima] and the traditional area [as a whole] has suffered a huge knock, mainly due to the absence of a substantive paramount chief for over twenty (20) years.
Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa noted: Since the passing of Kuoru Kpunia Nankpa II, my late father in July, 1998, we have struggled on all fronts to piece together development issues in the traditional area [with little success],”
The Chief drummed home the necessity for the people to roll up their sleeves and support him to attract development to the Gandawii Traditional Area.
Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa said consultation will be a key factor in his developmental agenda.
“I intend to consult far and wide on the way forward for our traditional area. I intend to take priorities of my good and noble people to those who have the mandate of the people and make a strong case for us to enable us get our fair share of the proverbial national cake.”
Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa observed that over 80 percent of his people are farmers and urged them to take advantage of governments agricultural interventions in order to enhance their yields and maximize returns.
He expressed appreciation to all those who worked to resolve “the protracted issue of who should occupy the noble skin.
A Member of the National House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Sakoti, Naba Sigri Bewong urged all those who contested for the skin to bury their hatchet to enable the Gandawii Traditional Area to catch up in terms of socio-economic development it has lost over last two decades due to the absence of a chief.
Naba Bewong, who deputized for the President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede also praised the security agencies for their invaluable contributions to maintaining peace to in the area.
The counsel for the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Clement Eledi thanked Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa for delivering a reconciliatory speech and hoped he would walk the talk in unifying the traditional area.
The Paramount Chief of Zini-Buwa, Kuoru Abu Diaka Sakube Ninia who presided at the function stated that the new role Kuoru Deiwia Nankpa has assumed will proverbially make him the rubbish dump, pointing out that anything good for the Gandawii traditional area will never get to your house but anything bad, you should be responsible to take the blame.
He encouraged the people to give new chief the necessary push for him to succeed.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
