Tumu (U/W), Dec. 31, GNA - The Sissala Union has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Electoral Commission to consider creating a separate district out of the Wa East District for the Sissala people.

The Union said during First Republic there was the Funsi-Kundungu-Kojokpari District and it was only fair that such a district was restored to unite the Sissala people.

Madam Florence Zaato, Vice Chairperson of the Union, said this at the annual general meeting of the Union at Tumu on Tuesday. She said people in Sissala South had been disappointed when they were added to the Wa East District instead of restoring the old district to them to reflect their identity and enhance development. She said the people were unhappy that Kojokpari Traditional Area had been fragmented to form the Nadowli District and as a result, they continued to suffer marginalization and neglect.

Madam Zaato expressed worry about the huge environmental degradation caused by Fulani herdsmen and urged the district assemblies and traditional authorities to collaborate and get them out of the area. She they had been involved in raping women, armed robbery, destroying food crops and economic trees and polluting water sources, thereby creating a desert condition in the area.

On chieftaincy disputes Madam Zaato said the Sissala area was one time prized as an area without chieftaincy disputes but expressed regret that of late it had been bogged down in chieftaincy disputes. "I want to appeal to kingmakers to do all that it takes to secure the communities once again of chieftaincy disputes by following the due process and bringing on the right persons to occupy the skins".

Madam Zaato blamed the numerous chieftaincy disputes in the area on the youth and appealed to them to refrain from interfering in chieftaincy matters and allow kingmakers to use traditional principles to enskin chiefs. She said the youth desist from cultivating Indian hemp and its smoking because the practice was not only criminal but it was making them liabilities to themselves and their families.

"Let us form cooperatives and take advantage of government's agricultural interventions to produce more food and cash crops to increase our personal incomes", she said. 31 Dec 09