Regional News of Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Source: GNA

Gov’t to provide funds for Nadowli-Lawra-Nandom-Hamile road

President John Dramani Mahama has assured the people of Nandom that government will provide the requisite funds to the contractor working on the Nadowli-Lawra-Nandom-Hamile road for its early completion to facilitate movement of goods and services.

President Mahama said as one of the Trans-ECOWAS Highway Projects, the completion of the road would no doubt improve transportation between Ghana and Burkina Faso and other countries in the Sahelian region.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Amidu Sulemani, Upper West Regional Minister at the 26th edition of the celebration of the “Kakube Festival” of the Chiefs and people of Nandom in the Nandom Traditional Area.

He gave the assurance that the Kamba Irrigation Dam which had been on the drawing board for some time now was receiving attention from the government.

“Indeed, agriculture still remains the mainstay of the Ghana’s economy, however, in this part of the country this engagement is greatly hampered by inadequate and erratic rains”, President Mahama said.

He said the government would continue to explore the possibility of providing an irrigation facility at the Kamba Dam as a long term measure to boost food security and provide employment opportunities for people within its catchment area.

The President assured Naa Dr. Puoure Puobe Chiir VII, Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area that the matter would be referred to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to work out a comprehensive programme to improve agriculture in all communities along the SADA zone particularly in the Kamba belt.

Mr. Cuthbert Baba Kuupiel, the Nadom District Chief Executive, said the theme for this year’s celebration, “Peace and Unity in Diversity; a Pre-Requisite for Development” was a wakeup call on all to engage in their lawfully chosen professions and religious beliefs in a civil and peaceful manner.

“Kakube Festival” is an annual farming festival celebrated to thank the Almighty God for the guidance and protection of farmers during the farming season and also for a bumper harvest.

It is also used as a mechanism to foster peace and unity among the people and also a platform for sons and daughters of the area to reunite and reaffirm their loyalty and allegiance to the area with a renewed common interest in championing the course of developing the district.