Wa, Feb. 10, GNA - The chief, elders and people of Karni in the Jirapa/Lambussie District, have urged the government to rescind its decision to place part of the Karni division of the Jirapa Traditional Area under the newly created Lambussie District.

Addressing a news conference at Wa on Saturday, the chief of the area, Naa Bekyebe Yaayiri said if the new demarcation was allowed, Karni, which is the seat of the division would be under the Lambussie District, while the majority of its communities and sub-chiefs would fall under the Jirapa District.

This situation, he pointed out would disrupt the socio-cultural harmony of the area because the divisional chief would not enjoy the company and full authority of his sub-chiefs during district cultural activities since they would belong to different districts. He said the Karni Divisional Area had three electoral areas and going by the demarcation, one of them was in the Lambussie District, while the other two fell under Jirapa District and it would therefore make sense if they were all brought under the Jirapa District to make the divisional area complete.

Quoting sections of the Local Government Act 462 of 1993 to back their demands, he said its provisions stated that geographical contiguity; town or area councils and unit committees were to be within the area of authority of a district assembly. Naa Yaayiri said placing Karni under Lambussie contracted the geographical contiguity condition enshrined in the Act and the Area Council would also be under the authority of two districts. This situation has not only distorted geographical contiguity and split the Karni Area Council but also created physical barriers between families.

"If the government fails to pay heed to the request of the chiefs and people of the divisional area, we will advise ourselves appropriately in order to preserve the time-tested traditional cohesion among the people of the area", the chief stated.