Regional News of Sunday, 21 November 2004

Source: GNA

Aliu advises communities seeking districts to present a common front

Mirigu (U/E), Nov. 21, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama has advised communities that are seeking new districts to unit and present a common front in their demand and not fight over where the district capital should be located.

He said the government would continue the creation of new districts and constituencies to facilitate the developmental process but added that the people who deserve a new district must demonstrate their readiness to co-exist peacefully and ability to work together to make the district progress.

Vice President Mahama gave the advice when he addressed separate durbars of the chiefs and people of Sirigu and Mirigu, two of seven communities in the Kassena Nankana East District, which have been requesting for a new district since 1988.

The two communities which had held that a new district would make the political administration and integration of their area better, are however, said to be divided over the citing of the capital and the name of the district.

They had turned down a suggestion to have a joint durbar at one location.

Vice President Mahama told them that the President viewed their request as a genuine one and had plans to consider it but stressed that they must put their house in order to make the work of the planners of districts easier.

"If you continue with your strife, the opportunity will pass you by because they won't wait for you indefinitely", he cautioned. He assured them that each community in the district would receive its fair share of the national cake, irrespective of where the district capital was located.

Vice President Mahama urged them to elect a competent representative to parliament to fight their cause, assuring them that the NPP's candidate, Mr Leo Kabah, was better positioned to serve their needs better.

"You have tried one person for 12 years and you are complaining that your needs are too many", he remarked. "It is prudent to try another person to assess his performance too. You need a modern dog to catch today's breed of rabbit."

Vice President Mahama also addressed the people of Kologo, who said they were grateful to the NPP Administration for the construction of a health centre, four primary school blocks, a day care centre and other projects.

They pledged their support for the administration in the December Polls to enable it to carry on with its positive agenda. Kologo is in the Navrongo District.

The Vice President also commissioned a 90 million-cedi health compound for the people of Navio. 21 Nov. 04