MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE PEACE IN YOUR TRADITIONAL AREAS; DEV’T WILL COME - DCE TUESDAY; 11TH JUNE, 2025

Hon. Akurugo Greets Sirigu Chiefs

The seven paramount chiefs in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, have been called upon to ensure absolute peace and tranquility in their respective traditional areas as such atmosphere would pave the way for development and businesses to thrive, leading to improved living conditions for citizens. The District Chief Executive [DCE], Hon. Stephen Aeke Akurugo made the call during separate courtesy calls on the chiefs at their respective palaces.

Speaking at the Paga Pio’s palace on day two of the visits, Hon. Akurugo stated, “I acknowledge that occupying the seat of DCE is not as easy task and so, my humble appeal to you my revered paramount chiefs, is to keep your various traditional areas peaceful at all times so that the development we all desire can thrive”. The DCE added, “I also require your positive cooperation and wise counsel to enable me steer the affairs of our beloved Kassena-Nankana West District effectively”. He assured the chiefs that, he will put his best efforts to the job so he can bequeath to the district, a legacy that will be worth telling generations yet to come.

Paga Pio’s representatives requested of the DCE to take urgent action in tackling sanitation issues, see to the tarring of critical roads, carry out desilting works  on dams to aid dry season farming and also, to ensure adequate staffing of health facilities in the Paga area.

The courtesy call visitations lasted for two days; from Tuesday 10^th to Wednesday 11^th, June, 2025 and were purposed for the DCE to pay homage to the paramount chiefs for their collective support for his overwhelming confirmation back on 29^th April, 2025 and also, to hear their concerns and suggestions for his administration, at first hand. The visits took the DCE and his team to the district’s west on day one with stops at the Chiana Pio’s palace, Katiu Pe’s palace as well as stops at the Kayoro and Nakong chiefs’ palaces. 

Hosting the DCE at Chiana Pio’s palace, Mr. Simple Aniba who spoke on behalf of the chief requested the setting up of police barriers on the road connecting Chiana and Sandema, complaining that armed robbers have been terrorizing market women and other commuters on that stretch. He also asked for the deployment of more police officers in the Chiana township saying just recently, some shops were attacked by armed robbers. Mr. Aniba also appealed for a possible creation of a new administrative district for the west enclave of the district as according to him, the area was too vast to be effectively administered by one district.

Meanwhile, he called for the urgent evacuation of a giant refuse dump within the Chiana town as it was posing a health risk for residents. In response, Hon. Akurugo promised to hold discussions with the police command and other security bosses to beef up police visibility and patrols in the areas of concern.  Head also assured that he will direct his officers to see to the excavation of the refuse heap complained of.

While the Paramount Chief of Kayoro, Pe Oscar Batabi Tiyiamo wished the DCE a successful tenure, he appealed for the opening a police station in his community owning to its proximity with Burkina Faso and also asked for the desilting of a major dam in the community which is says, was over 50 years old. The need for expanded electricity coverage, works on roads and additional classroom infrastructure for the Kayoro Junior High School, were all put before the DCE.

Kayoro Chief, Pe Tiyiamo

From the Katiu chief’s palace to that of Nakong, the issues were not too different. The Nakong chief, Pe Joseph Banape Afogachi III told the DCE that there have been rampant armed robbery cases on the Nakong-Tumu road especially, around the Sissili river and proposed a police post as a panacea to the problem.  He further appealed for the supply of agricultural inputs including subsidized fertilizers and high-yielding seeds for his people as majority were farmers. Hon. Akurugo said he had noted down the issues raised though, many were not new to him noting that, resource unavailability often caused the delay in action but that these will surely be handled, one after the other.

The Mirigu and Sirigu palaces in the east section of the district, climaxed Hon. Akurugo’s courtesy calls. Naba Anthony Abisa Anonsona Atasige III, Paramount of Mirigu who doubles as the Vice President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs spoke passionately about the bad road network in his traditional area stressing, that his people face tremendous challenges annually, during the rainy seasons commuting to neighbouring towns like Navrongo and Kandiga as a result of the precarious roads in the area. He said he has cried to previous governments but help never came and hoped the DCE could use his influence and networks in government to help them out.

Hon. Akurugo (L) & Naba Atasige III (R)

Naba Atasige III also complained of vast areas under his jurisdiction still not being connected to national electricity grid and pointed to the DCE, a number of galvanized high-tension metal poles that have been dumped at the forecourt of his palace for several years with the promise to mount and string them in the underserved communities and called on the DCE to reach out to the authorities on their behalf.

Meanwhile, the Reps. of Sirigu Naba also made requests bothering on roads and bridges to open up the larger Sirigu area while there were also calls for the supply of adequate furniture for schools in the area. Then the issue of the Kandiga-Doba ethnic conflict also came up as signals were picked that some actions by few people could likely reignite the conflict. Hon. Akurugo said in his response that. he trusts the security agencies to deal effectively with the matter and appealed to all from both sides to remain calm.  He assured the chiefs that the district’s DRIP machines will soon move into their communities to carry out works on the roads while discussions will be held with the roads’ authorities for more permanent solutions a bit later.

Hon. Akurugo also made some whistle stops at a number of BECE exam centres including the ones at the Paga Senior High School, Nabango Senior High, Sirigu Senior High and the Chiana Senior High School centres. At all these exam centres visited, no adverse reports were made to the DCE and his team during interactions with exams officers. A total of 266 candidates were taking the exams at the Nabango centre while the Sirigu Senior High Centre had a record of 305 candidates comprising, 142 boys and 163 girls sitting for the exam.