Nana Mprah Besemuna III, the Krachiwura, has called on government to address the status of the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe (SALL) areas, torn between the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region, and the Jasikan District of the Oti Region.

He said the delay in creating a political and administrative district for the SALL areas following the creation of the Oti Region has left its people in a “limbo”, and has been a “source of great worry” to many in the Region.

Nana Besemuna, who is also the Chairman of the Joint Consultative Council on the creation of the Oti Region, said this when he chaired a durbar at Nkonya Wurupong in the Biakoye District of the Oti Region to climax the 2019 Senkyiba Festival.

“The delay in the creation of the SALL District has left our compatriots in political limbo and is causing them great deal of inconvenience and even embarrassment”, he said.

Nana Besemuna, who was full of praise for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for birthing the new region and providing its share of critical roads in the 2020 budget, expressed disappointment with the omission of the bridge over River Oti in the budget.

“We are disappointed that one of our most critical needs in the Oti Region, namely the construction of the bridge over River Oti was not captured in the critical roads programme”, he said.

The Krachiwura commended chiefs in the region for supporting efforts at attaining "regional independence" and asked them to unite and consider
themselves development partners in building a model region.

“The creation of the region is not an end in itself. It is only the beginning of the opportunity to build for ourselves the model region we would like to bequeath to our future generation.

“To achieve this objective, I appeal to all Nananom to refrain from petty squabbles and chieftaincy disputes and regard themselves as partners in development so as to get a unified front to support government to prosecute its developmental agenda in the Oti Region.

The Sankyiba Festival is held by the people of Wurupong to commemorate the dramatic crossing of the Volta River while migrating to their present location.

The event drew chiefs and traditional leaders from other Guan speaking areas in the country, including Senchi in the Asuagyaman Disrict, and Larteh in the Okere District of the Eastern Region.

The festival was held under the theme: “Our Health, Our Culture: Bridging the Gap to Sustain the Youth."

Nana Kwadwo Asiakwa, Omanhene of Wurupong Traditional Area, said customary and traditional practices have “significant” values for accelerating community growth and called on the youth not to discard them as outmoded but blend them with modern culture in developing society.

A fundraiser was held at the durbar to raise funds for the rehabilitation of a health centre in the community built in 1958.

A free health screening exercise was also organised by the District Health Directorate.