Regional News of Saturday, 13 March 2010

Source: GNA

Communities unhappy with the Choice of Paga as district capital

Bolgatanga, March. 13, GNA - Seven communities in the newly created Kassena-Nankana West District in the Upper East Region, have expressed dissatisfaction for the choice of Paga as the District Capital. The communities are Kandiga, Mirigu, Sirigu, Nabango, Mayoro Yua-Soe and Natugnia. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday, Assembly members said the situation had created a major problem for people in the area since they had to go through Navrongo to be able to get to the District Capital at Paga. They also indicated that sitting the capital at Paga would also create serious business consequences in the area.

Mr Rudolf Amenga-Etego, Assemblyman for the Kandiga Kurugu electoral area said the protest from the communities came as far back as 2007 when government first announced the decision. He said but government at that time refused to listen to the people demands.

Corroborating the incident, Mr Amenga-Etego, a legal practitioner said before the government's intention to create the new district, the seven communities wrote to government suggesting where they deemed fit for the District Capital. He said the choice of the communities was near the Sirigu Market which generates a lot of revenue. He added that the place is also noted to be one of the largest tomato producing areas. Mr Amenga-Etego said the area has a Senior High School, Junior High Schools, a Health Post in Sirigu, and a pottery industry.