President Mahama urges chiefs not to resort to court action on issues regarding chieftaicy

Some dignitaries present  at the rally

President Mahama and his entourage

President John Mahama has challenged the leadership of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs to  use mediation rather than resulting to court action in resolving chieftaincy disputes.

He said court action is not the best way in seeking redress on cases involving chieftaincy, adding that litigation will continue to be the order of the day if cases are pursued at the law courts.

President Mahama was addressing members of the Regional House of Chiefs at Bolgatanga as part of his nationwide  transformational tour.

 President Mahama was accompanied the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama.

Also on the Presidents list were high profile dignitaries including NDC party stalwarts led by the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia among other distinguished personalities including members of state and party functionaries

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The President of the Regional House of Chiefs who doubles as the Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong, addressed the house by first welcoming the president and his entourage.

He first commended the president for the numerous developmental and ongoing projects taking place across the country and appealed for a fair share of such developments in the region.

 Naba Bewong, acknowledged the presidents effort in wooing investors into the country as a measure to create employment opportunities for many unemployed, particularly the youth.

 He also described as commendable, the numerous road projects being undertaken nationwide.

Key among the points raised was in connection with the current power crisis.

Naba Bewong urged President Mahama not allow himself to be disrupted by negative comments from section of the public but rather remain focus in his quest to find a permanent solution to the problem.

Naba Bewong assured the president of his office determination to resolve the unpleasant chieftaincy issues brought to the house for redress.

According to him, such cases were at various stages of deliberation, and with the establishment of a 3-member judicial council in place, they will receive the needed attention.

Sakote Naba lamented on the poor road networks in the region and asked the president to consider giving them a facelift.

He was particular about the roads in the municipality as well as the Bolga Bawku roads which, he bemoaned were in a deplorable state.

He made a passionate appeal to the president to attend to the roads to enable the municipality befit its status.

He also appealed for means of transport for the house to facilitate their daily operations. Speaker after speaker, reemphasize the need for the rehabilitation of the roads in the region.

In response President Mahama said the region was going to receive a fair share of development as government was working tirelessly to spread development to deprived and needy communities.

He said in the area of rural electrification and small water systems, much has been done.

On the road networks, president Mahama said he was not going to renege on the promise he made to the Bawku Naba during his visit to the Samanpiid festival last year, stressing that serious consideration was being given to the Bolga- Bawku stretch of road.

President Mahama also outlined plans by his government to give some roads in the north a facelift.

On education, President Mahama disclosed  that all new districts will be assisted with  a community senior high school each and said government have in place plans to expand educational facilities for existing secondary schools,while putting up new schools for needy communities.

This, he noted, will create additional 240,000 spaces for fresh students in the second cycle schools.

 

He also assured the region of a new regional hospital aside the ongoing expansion work at the main referral hospital. 

 

He moreover outlined various interventions meant to improve the health sector of the region and commended the Red Cross society for their invaluable role in achieving a success rate in the fight against  maternal and infant mortality. 

 

President Mahama and his team later made a brief trip to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, where he inspected on-going expansion work at the facility. 

A mammoth rally was organized at the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School to brief party executives and supporters on the President's visit and also update them on current issues pertaining in the party as far as the upcoming November,21 presidential and parliamentary primaries as well as the 2016 general elections are concerned.

GBC NEWS                                        END                                         ISAAC ASARE