Bawku(UER), July 30, GNA - A 35-year-old farmer, Akuka Ayoumah, has been enskined the new chief of Pusiga, near Bawku in the Upper East region under the name Naba Tanbisbalik. He succeeds his late father, Naba Abila Abugri, who died in April 2002.

Naba Tanbisbalik swore the oath of allegiance to the Kusal Traditional Council at the palace of the overlord of Kusal, Naba Abugrago Asigri Azoka II.

Naba Azoka advised the new chief to endeavour to ensure unity among the people to develop the area.

He appealed to the people to support the new chief and desist from acts that would create conflicts in the area, adding the chief would only lead them to improve their standard of living. Naba Tanbisbalik pledged to serve the area faithfully for the people to realize their potentials in a peaceful environment to achieve better development to reduce poverty.

He called for true reconciliation among the various factions involved in the chieftaincy dispute to support him to develop the area. However, the ceremony was nearly marred when the leader of an opposing faction to the chieftaincy claim collapsed after protesting at the palace.

A young man, who took advantage of the ensuing confusion to steal from an elder, was caught red-handed beaten up mercilessly before some security personnel came to his rescue. 30 July 06