The overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbon-Wura Tuntumba Boru-Essa II, interacting with President Akufo-Addo
The overlord of the Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana Jakpa I, has commended President Akufo-Addo and his government for initiating many pro-poor policies and the Savannah Region which is expected to be carved out of the Northern Region.
The Akufo-Addo-led government has been in office for a little above 18 months, but according to the Yagbonwura, the progress made by the government is exemplary and worth commending.
According to him, the President has lived up to his words of improving the living conditions of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He added that the proposed Savannah Region is not and can never be a mono-ethnic region as it has been fabricated by some individuals. He said the proposed Savannah Region has over 20 different ethnic groups that identify with the Gonjaland as their home and are determined to live in unity for the purpose of development, peace and prosperity.
It is expected that the advent of the proposed Savannah Region will promote unity among the different ethnic groups in the Gonjaland, facilitating the process of leaving any mistrust in the past behind.
The Yagbonwura said no ethnic group would be left behind in the developmental process of the proposed region. Therefore, in anticipation of the new order in the proposed Savannah Region, the Gonja Traditional Council has already taken steps to ensure that all ethnic groups in the area are fairly and equitably represented in the traditional governance system of the proposed region.
He stressed that, proactively, they are building a mechanism to ensure fairness, equity and peaceful co-existence for development.
However, in preparation and anticipation of the new region, the Yagbonwura has appealed to the President to see to the immediate construction of linking roads which will link the eastern part of Gonja to the proposed regional capital of the proposed Savannah Region, Damongo.
He indicated that the roads would open up what can probably be the richest agricultural areas in the country that is suitable for large-scale commercial farming under irrigation.
The Yagbonwura praised the commission of enquiry, especially Mr. Dan Botwe, the Minister of Regional Reorganization and Development for ably facilitating all the sittings of the commission to the admiration of everybody.
He further gave the assurance that the people of Gonjaland would deliver on their side of the task ahead of the creation of the proposed region by turning out massively at the polls to vote in favour of the new region during the referendum.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the overlord of Gonjaland for his support and assured him that his government was committed to improving the living conditions of Ghanaians in terms of development and economic growth.
He said it affords him much joy that the people of Gonjaland have expressed their interest in fulfilling their constitutional mandate to vote massively in favour of the new region during the referendum.
He said he would have the honor of appending his signature to a legislative instrument that would bring to operation and recognition the Savannah Region by the end of this year.
FROM Eric Kombat, Damongo