Minister warns against factionalism in district assemblies

Gushegu (Northern Region) 22nd April 

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Joshua Alabi has appealed to assembly members in the Gushegu/Karaga district to avoid factionalism, which he said is threatening the security of the area.

He said such divisive tendencies are also undermining the assembly's efforts at developing the district.

Addressing the district assembly at its second ordinary session at Gushegu on Thursday, Mr Alabi urged them to unite and ensure the sustained development of the district.

An uneasy calm reigns over the district as the assembly members are divided between two factions - Gushegu and Karaga.

The Karaga faction has accused the District Chief Executive of concentrating development projects in the Gushegu area to the detriment of Karaga.

They complain that Karaga does not have a decent junior secondary school, no senior secondary school nor official accommodation for workers.

Mr Alabi said no individual or group of persons should hold the district assembly to ransom on grounds of dissent and advised the members to use laid down procedures to seek redress to their grievances.

He asked them not to pursue individual, ethnic or political agenda against that of the assembly."

"Assembly members should be seen to be playing a more active role in the award, implementation and monitoring of contracts."

Mr Alabi urged the sub-committees of the assembly to be more vibrant and provide meaningful support and direction to the chief executives.

They should insist on the right procedures and strive to eliminate waste while ensuring the judicious use of resources, particularly the District Assembly's Common Fund.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Adam Alhassan said 150 million cedis of the poverty alleviation fund has been disbursed to 81 income generating groups in the district, most of whom are engaged in shea butter extraction, rice processing, rearing of small ruminants and weaving.

He said the Karaga electrification project has been awarded on contract and the assembly has bought wooden transmission poles at the cost of 96 million cedis for the project.