The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, has appealed to the people of Bunkpurugu to stop the recurrent communal clashes and embrace peace to accelerate the development of the area.

He said: “Let us put aside all our differences and forge ahead as one people and concentrate our energy at fighting our common enemies, which are poverty, disease and illiteracy instead of ourselves.”

Alhaji Muniru made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Bimoba Traditional Area, Naa Abuba Nasimong, in his palace at Bunkpurugu on Wednesday.

The Minister also paid similar courtesy calls on other paramount chiefs including the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Gambarana Tia Yahaya, Chief of Gambaga, Alhaji Mesuna Mohammed Yahaya, Chief Imam of Gambaga, Durana Alhaji Muntari Mahami, Chief of Walewale and Naa-Zori Alhaji Sulemana Saaka, Chief of Wungu.

Alhaji Muniru called on the people to join hands for a common purpose regardless of their ethnic or political differences to ensure development.

He called for love, truthfulness and respect for all to ensure a harmonious society and said the government would continue to work to bring development to the area.

Naa Abuba Nasimong said his people had recognized the importance of peace in development and would work towards ensuring peace in the area and appealed to the government to improve access roads to the area to open the place for business.

He assured the Minister of the support of the traditional area to enable him to succeed.

Earlier in the week, the Minister paid courtesy calls on the Regent of Dagbon, Kampaku Yaa Naa Abdulai Andani, Regent of Saboba, Uchobob-bor John Bowuan Mateer, Regent of Zabzugu, Salifu Mohammed Laafo and Wulensi Naa, (Chief of Wulensi) Alhaji Salifu Wumbei.