President Mahama Calls For Unity in Bunkprugu


Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has called on feuding factions in Bunkprugu Traditional area in the Northern Region, to use dialogue in settling disputes. 

President Mahama also charged the inhabitants observe peace as a priceless possession which should be used to transform and not to destroy. 

According to him, the incessant revival of the age-long chieftaincy conflict between the Jamong and Jafog clans in the Bunkprugu traditional area, is affecting the agenda to transform the Northern Region. 

President  Mahama was speaking when he joined the chiefs and people of Mamprugu to celebrate their annual Damba festival in the East Mamprusi District.

The festival was on the theme: building Mamprugu together with peace and unity. And
this is the first time a sitting President has honored such an invitation from the chiefs and people in the area. 

President Mahama said government was committed to bridge the developmental disparities between Northern and Southern Ghana only in an atmosphere of peace. 

He stressed the need for peaceful co-existence in some identified conflict zones in the Northern Region. He commended the Mamprugu kingdom for its unique succession to the chiefdom and urged them to zealously safeguard it. 

President Mahama promised to complete the Walewale-Gambaga road ahead of the 2016 general elections. He also pledged government’s determination to expand the water system and educational infrastructure in Mamprugu land.

He condemned cultural adulteration and advised the youth to deepen their morality. 

For his part, the Overlord of Mamprugu Traditional Area Naa Bohagu Mahama Abdulai Sheriga who is also the President of the Northern Regional House of chiefs thanked government for the numerous projects executed in the area. 

He also, appealed to government to provide safe water to the people of Mamprugu land. 

Naa Bohagu Mahama Abdulai Sheriga tasked the chiefs and opinion leaders to strictly enforce traditional laws governing bushfires. 

The overlord bemoaned the falling standard of education in Mamprugu and announced the traditional Council’s resolve to organize an educational forum to address the problem. 

Naa Sheriga called on the President to adequately resource the electoral commission to effectively organise next year’s elections in the atmosphere of peace before, during and after the elections. 

“The year 2016 is just around the corner and soon 2015 will become history. 2016 is an election year and as such the stakes are high. We all desire that the elections will come and go with our dear nation Ghana remaining intact and peaceful. To this end, I urge you, your Excellency and your government to ensure that the Electoral Commission is adequately resourced to enable it conduct a credible free and fair election.” 

The Nayiri Naa Bahigu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga impressed upon the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to deepen their tolerance before, during and after the 2016 general elections. 

“To the political parties particularly the NDC and the NPP, I urge you to conduct your campaigns with the greatest respect for each other and play according to the rules.” 

“They (NPP and NDC) must make it their collective responsibility to ensure that the peace in Ghana is maintained before, during and after the election in 2016,” he said. 

GBC