As part of his tour of the northern part of the country, His Excellency,
president Akufo-Addo paid a development – rich visit to the great
Kingdom of Nanung. This was the first time the president visited the
Kingdom after taking the sword of power.
The meeting was one of hope, joy and excitement as the entire Kingdom
came together to welcome the first Gentleman. As the president entered
the Kingdom with vibrant promises that will see the kingdom catching up
with its peers, the overlord and acting president of the Nanung
Traditional Council welcomed him with very positive development
proposals.
The revered regent started his speech by thanking the president for not
forgetting the Kingdom in his provision of several development projects
throughout the country. “Your government’s commitment to our fair share
of the national cake is not debatable.” The Overlord said! His Royal
highness singled out the president’s flagship program of Planting for
food and jobs as one of the great areas the kingdom cannot talk without a
mention.
“Your Excellency, as a traditional area noted for its massive reliance
on agriculture for livelihood for its people, your nicely thought out
planting for food and jobs program has brought relief to our farmers;
clearing the burden of huge investments in procurement of seeds and
fertilizers. This program has improved conditions of our people and is
ensuring food security in our part of the country.” The overlord said.
His Royal Highness called on the president to help the Kingdom attain
peace and security, and “come out” of the current curfew that forces the
Kingdom to sleep and impedes several development and socio – cultural
activities.
The Lion stated without ambiguity that Nanung should have been out of
the current situation if people were bold enough to help implement the
Supreme Court ruling that did not deviate from the rulings of all
traditional and lower level courts. He mentioned that conflict of
interest among some of the president’s representatives presiding over
the affairs of the peace process is impeding the progress to peace, and
called on his excellency to take steps to change this.
“Your Excellency, you are a true democrat and respect the rule of law;
once upon a time you saved lives and saved the whole nation by accepting
a Supreme Court verdict. You demonstrated that you are a true son of
the land and a seasoned lawyer. The irony is that, under your watch the
Supreme Court verdict on the Bimbilla Skin is disrespected; and there is
too much conflict of interest in bodies supposed to enforce the law.
The family of the late King (Naa Andani Dasana Abdullai II) awaits
justice whiles suspects move freely in town are all cause to worry. The
issue of chieftaincy awaits discipline from law enforcers to enforce the
Supreme Court verdict.” The Overlord stated!
The Overlord thanked his Excellency for providing several CHIPS
compounds throughout his kingdom. He however pleaded to the president to
upgrade the Bimbila hospital and Wulensi Health Center to Trauma Center
and district Hospital respectively.
The call of the Overlord was necessitated by the fact that accidents
have increased on the Eastern Corridor road; and the population
ballooned as people troupe to Bimbila to enjoy the development projects
executed by the president.
The overlord gave the president assurance of the Kingdom’s support for
the project to succeed. He mentioned that “100,000 acres of land are
ready and available to government for agricultural purposes to enhance
food security and increase jobs for the benefit of the Kingdom and the
country.”
Additionally, the Overlord thanked the president for providing the
various assemblies within the kingdom farm equipment to promote
agricultural mechanization. He however questioned why the Nanung Kingdom
was left out when the Vice President through the Regional Minister
distributed tractors to all the traditional overlords in Northern Ghana.
He questioned whether Nanung was forgotten or not considered a Kingdom
in that case.
His Majesty Naa Dasana also touched on the free senior high school
policy introduced by the president to provide education for all –
without regard for economic status of beneficiaries.
“Your Excellency, statistics from GES shows a massive increase in
enrolment in all the senior high schools. The FSHS policy has reduced
the burden on parents and guardians towards their wards’ access to
secondary education. The initiation of such pro poor policies will
continue to touch the lives of many of our people.” The Overlord said.
Finally, the Overlord thanked the president for elevating his Kingdom to
the status of a Municipality and called out the recognition given to
the Kingdom by giving strategic positions to sons and daughters of the
Kingdom. “I wish to also use this opportunity to thank His Excellency
for recognizing that we have developed as a local authority. Our
elevation from a District to a Municipality under your stewardship is
praiseworthy and whilst we are grateful to you for the elevation to a
municipality, I wish to request for the creation a new District from our
municipality in close consultation with the Traditional Council. “ He
said.
“Your Excellency, I have longed craved for the opportunity to express
our appreciation for the kind of representation you have offered our
people. The Nanung Traditional council can boast of having its sons in
strategic positions in government. We take great pride in what you have
done for us and so shall we keep you close to our hearts.” The Lion
continued!
The visit of the president was a true blessing to the Kingdom as he
helped cut sod for the construction the long awaited Bimbila – Salaga
road. This road, when completed, will see exponential growth in economic
activities in Bimbila. The president also delivered several farm
equipment to the people of the Kingdom through the district assemblies
to see to the success of the much-appreciated planting for food and jobs
program.
Finally, the president disclosed to the people of Nanung that plans are
far advanced to leverage on the success achieved in the Dagbon peace
process to get Nanung lasting peace. Pointing out that Awomefia of Anlo,
Togbe Sri, has agreed to mediate the Bimbila peace process – similar to
the role played by the Asantehene in the Dagbon peace process.
Undeniably, the day was a one of the best days for the kingdom in a very long time.
