Wa, August 4, GNA - The Chief Iman of Wa, Alhaji Issahaque Yakubu, has advised the new Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issaku Salia, to administer the people with truth, fairness, humbleness, and justice to ensure sustainable peace.

He also advised the people in the region to sacrifice their positions and bury all their differences and cooperate with Alhaji Salia to bring development to the area.

Alhaji Yakubu gave the advice when Mr. Moses Bukari Magbenba, Northern Regional Minister, who acted in the absence of a substantive regional minister, introduced Alhaji Salia to various community leaders in the Wa Municipality, on Tuesday.

Alhaji Yakubu reminded Alhaji Salia: "As you are aware, in Wa, somebody can wear slippers (bathroom sandals) and walk on thorns without a prick. However, there are others who would wear shoes and be pricked by thorns in Wa and so you must be careful in whatever you do."

He, therefore, urged Alhaji Salia to work harder and pray to God to "create rain" to fall and quench the fire and smoke that had engulfed the Wa Municipality, in particular, and the region as a whole.

Alhaji Yakubu prayed for God's blessings during the tenure of office of Alhaji Salia and also implored God to give him strength and wisdom to administer the region peacefully.

Alhaji Salia was also introduced to the Ahmadiyya Muslims sect who offered silent prayers for the wellbeing of the regional minister and people.

Maulvi Yussif Yawson appealed to Muslims groups in the region to support Alhaji Salia to administer the region, saying: "We have to bury all our petty squabbles for the sake of development."

He urged the government to be more committed to the construction of the Wa-Walewale road to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services between the region and the Northern Region.

He said at present, travellers from the region often get confused whether or not to use the Wa-Techiman road or Sawla-Damongo-Fulfulso road to Tamale and urged government to speed up work on that road.

Alhaji Salia appealed to the Muslims leaders to bring their experiences and wisdom to bear on him to enable him to provide the development needs of the region.

"I have been given a task and it is only through the will of Allah and the support of the people that I will be able to overcome the challenges in the region," he said.

"Everybody wants the good of his or her home," he said, and urged the people to take good care of him to deliver.

"I will always consult you for your advice to ensure peace and prosperity for the people," he assured.

Alhaji Salia also paid similar courtesies to the Yari-na, Alhaji Mogtari Salifu and the Tendamba, Bimbu Suri who prayed for God's blessings for Alhaji Salia.