Let's enter the New Year with clean hearts - DCE

Bimbilla (N/R), Dec. 31, GNA - Mr. Mohammed Ibn Abass, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nanumba North, has appealed to chiefs and people of the area to forgive one another to ensure they entered the New Year with clean hearts for lasting peace in the traditional area. He said peace and security were prerequisite for development and that it was important for the traditional council to settle all chieftaincy disputes in the Bimbilla Traditional Area. Mr. Abass made the appeal on Tuesday in Bimbilla during the third ordinary meeting of the Assembly.

"It is necessary for us to use the celebration of the New Year to forgive one another, seek peace and forge ahead in unity so that our district would develop. Conflicts would continue to derail our development agenda", he said.

Mr. Abass commended the chiefs and people of the area for celebrating the "Fire Festival" in the area without any clashes saying, "The successful celebration of the Fire Festival without any confrontation is an indication that we area ready to accept peace." Mr. Abass said the Assembly had embarked on projects that would improve the living conditions of the people. He mentioned some of the projects as the EU micro project for the construction of teachers' quarters and a 3-unit classroom block for the Bimbilla Senior High School and Duuni community.

Mr. Abass also mentioned the construction of a 3-unit dormitory block, 8-unit bathroom, 36 double-decker beds for the Bimbilla Senior High School with funds from the District Wide Assisted Projects (DWAP), a butchers' shop for the Bincheratanga community. He said Bakpaba, Lapusi, Nakpa, Jilo and Deeni communities had benefited from various projects ranging from classroom blocks to toilet and market stalls.

Some communities also benefited from the European Union/UNICEF Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (I-WASH), which aims at providing quality drinking water to the people, had constructed mechanized boreholes for the communities.

The Assembly was, however, not happy about the way contracts were awarded to people in the past without contract license and without passing through the laid down procedure. The Assembly is also investigating how the Chamba Police Post was given on contract to three contractors and two had bolted with the money without completing the project.

The third contractor who completed the project had no contract license and no certificate of award. Some Assembly members were of the view that the former District Chief Executive and the District Coordinating Director should appear before the house to explain the anomalies and how three tractors bought with the assembly funds were given to some individuals who made no payments till date.