Tamale, July 29, GNA - Group Captain Joseph B. Tetteh Nartey, outgoing Garrison Commander in Tamale said it was sad that the Northern Region had been cited as among the poorest regions in the country. He however, attributed this situation to conflicts in the area, which he noted had divided the people and destabilised the region, especially Tamale.

Group Captain Nartey said this when he handed over the Air Force Station and the Garrison Command to Group Captain Ismail Abdul Raheem Abbas at a farewell parade organised in his honour in Tamale on Friday. The outgoing Garrison Commander is taking a new appointment as Military Attache in India. Group Captain Nartey said: "Tamale is a blessing, a small heaven if only the people will realize they are sitting on gold. The region is endowed with vast fertile land, minerals and good climate, which make the cultivation of almost all types of crops possible and profitable".

"All types of animals flourish here and the people have a vibrant culture and tradition. These coupled with the numerous tourist attractions and the bubbling hospitality of the people should make Tamale and the Northern Region the preferred place for tourists both domestic and foreign." Group Captain Nartey noted, however, that "the sudden change of course is the death of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani, II, King of Dagbon, which has greatly affected the lives of the people."

"The Ya-Na is yet to be given a final resting place and until then we cannot talk of lasting peace," he said. Group Captain Nartey said the security agencies had ably played their professional role in maintaining peace and the integrity of the region and its structures, adding that the worse that would have happened had been averted. He said the participation of the military in "Operation Gongong" was to help bring back peace to people and expressed the hope that "the message of peace and unity" would go down into the hearts and minds of the people.

Group Captain Nartey urged personnel of the station to adopt a positive attitude to their stay in Tamale and get the very best out of a seemingly harsh location. He said animal rearing, educational pursuits and farming were some of the positive projects that they could embark on to improve their living conditions. Group Captain Nartey reminded the personnel to let solemn oath they had sworn to guide them in the discharge of their duties, saying, " It will do us a lot of good".