Buipe (N/R), Aug. 20, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday appealed to traditional councils that had applied for the creation of new districts to be patient until their request was considered. He said the creation of new districts was an on-going process and gave the assurance that they would be considered when the time came. President Kufuor made the appeal in a speech read on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of the newly created Central Gonja District Assembly at Buipe.

He said the Government was determined to empower local governments and communities by equipping them with resources and authority to shape their future and improve their living standards.

The Central Gonja District was created out of the West Gonja District alongside four others in the Northern Region. The rest are Karaga District, separated from the Gushiegu/Karaga District, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District, separated the East Mamprusi District, Sawla/Kalba District, carved from the Bole District and the Nanumba South District created from the Nanumba District. This brings to 18 the number of districts in the Northern region.

President Kufuor urged district assemblies to device new strategies of mobilizing revenue to complement the Government's development efforts.

Mr Yakubu Zakaria, the West Gonja District Chief Executive, called on the people of the new District to unite, sacrifice and work hard towards the speedy development of the area. He said with the collective support and cooperation of chiefs and other traditional rulers in the area, the District would have a smooth take off.

He appealed to the chiefs and people of the area to avoid chieftaincy disputes and live as brothers with a common destiny. They should also pay their rates regularly, he said.

The chief of Buipe, Buipewura Saaka Totti II, commended the government for creating the Central Gonja District and said the people would always support the government in its development programmes.