Tamale, Jan. 26, GNA - A number of citizens from the Upper West Region, resident in Tamale have commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for nominating Mr Ambrose Dery as the Regional Minister.

The citizens mainly from the Nandom; Lawra; Jirapa; Lambussie, Nadowli and Wa have therefore petitioned the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament to ignore the assertion by some group of persons from the Region, that Mr Dery's appointment would spark of a chieftaincy dispute in the Nandom Traditional Area.

The petitioners said the Upper West Region was bigger than the Nandom Traditional Area, hence the need for the people to go beyond all personal interests that could retard the development and progress of the Region.

They said they would not allow the politics of fear, lies, greed and vilifications to stand in the way of their collective efforts to ensure peace and progress in the Region. The petition described Mr Dery as a "man of integrity, hardworking and honest", who would fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people for a united front for accelerated development.