Garu (U/E) May 14, GNA - A grand durbar of the Chiefs and people of Garu-Tempane was on Wednesday held to formally herald the creation of the new district for the area.
The Bawku Naba and President of the Upper East House of Chiefs, Asigri Azoka the Second, also graced the ceremony, which was organized in honour of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD), Mr. Kwadjo Adjei-Darko and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr. Joseph Akudibillah.
Also in attendance were the two Municipal Chief Executives for the Bawku East and Bolgatanga, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah and Rockson Bukari, together with the District Chief Executives of Bongo and Bawku West Mr. Clement Apikiya and Moses Abaare Appiah respectively.
Addressing the durbar, Mr. Adjei Darko stressed government's determination to provide an effective decentralisation policy that would ensure greater democratic participation at the grass-roots level. That, he added, would speed up the development processes of communities without discrimination as the basis of its political affiliations in order to improve the welfare of all Ghanaians Mr. Adjei-Darko said for the grassroots to achieve a meaningful accelerated development, called for peaceful co-existence and tolerance to sustain the democratic principles of participatory governance.
Mr. Adjei-Darko pointed out that a cohesive and united people would prevent the diversion of resources into restoring law and order that could be used for developmental and productive purposes.
The Minister expressed concerns over the rampant smuggling of fuel in the area as such unpatriotic acts stifled national development.
The MP for the area, Mr. Akudibillah commended the NPP government for creating the district, adding that good governance at the doorsteps of the people would see the harnessing of resources to create wealth and reduce poverty.
He noted that over reliance of the district assemblies on the Common Fund was counter productive as it defeated the purpose of the decentralisation and urged all assemblies to be creative in their efforts in generating local revenue.
Mr. Akudibillah, who is also the Deputy Defence Minister, advised the people not to collude with revenue collectors to evade the paying of fees and rates that would deprive the assembly of the needed revenue for development.
He appealed to them to eschew divisive and excessive political gimmicks and urged the need for concerted efforts by all to bring about development in the area.
The Regional Minster, who was represented by the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Rockson Bukari, called for stringent measures that would ensure adequate revenue mobilization to sustain the newly created district.
The Bawku MCE, Mr. Gumah urged the people to retain the NPP government in power so as to continue to support the new district to bear fruits that all could benefit.
The Bawku Naba, on his part, assured them of the availability of land for development projects. 14 May 04
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