Wa, March 08, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday urged chiefs and people of Wala Traditional Area to endeavour to follow all traditional processes relating to the funeral, selection and enskinment of a successor to the late Wa-Na, Alhaji Yakubu Seidu Soale II.

He said the best legacy they could leave in memory of the illustrious chief was to forge unity and peace among them in the fight against poverty. Alhaji Mahama who is on a four-day working to the Upper West Region made the call at the Wa-Na's palace to console the bereaved family, chiefs and people.

In a tribute, Alhaji Mahama described the Wa-Na as a man who dedicated his reign to the promotion of peace and unity among Wala people and the region and urged them to strive to sustain this achievement.

He noted that people from the northern regions had more problems than they could cope with and asked them to refrain from any chieftaincy dispute and rather channel their energies and resources to improve their living standards.

Vice President Mahama said plans were underway to upgrade the Wa Regional Hospital to the status of a referral hospital and award of the Tinga-Bamboi stretch of the Wa-Bamboi road, linking the region to Southern Ghana on contract for tarring. He urged people in the region to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme to access affordable health care delivery. The Guli-Na, Seidu Braimah on behalf of the bereaved family expressed appreciation to Alhaji Mahama for mourning with them and commended the government for the security in the traditional area.