Upgrade 78-year-old Paga airstrip - Chiefs appeal to Akufo-Addo

Chiefs of the ten Paramountcies in the Kassena-Nankana area have made a humble appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo to upgrade the airstrip at Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District into a fully functional airport.

The appeal was made on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, when the Chiefs and leadership of BONABOTO visited the presidency.

The chiefs said upgrading the aviation facility which has been lying waste for years would be the best decision as it would enormously improve the lives of the people in the region and further promote the good works of the government.

BONABOTO is a union of citizens who hail from the environs of the Bolgatanga, Bongo and Talensi-Nabdam Districts of the Upper-East Region

The Chiefs further stated that the upgrade would cut down cost and save the State money as compared to relocating it to an entirely new site as is being championed by the BONABOTO.

The Chiefs in a statement read by Paramount Chief of Kologo, Naba Clifford Tandegrewogne Kugre Asobayire V, during the meeting said, “upgrading the airstrip would be faster and cheaper without constraints of land as there has not been any encroachment since 1942 when it was constructed.”

The Chiefs said they do recognize also, the legitimate right of the Tongraana and the people of the BONABOTO areas to demand and request for any assistance from the government or any party in support of the development of their respective areas which would improve the lives of the people of the region, but did not support the relocation of the regional airport project from Paga.

The Traditional rulers acknowledged the good policies, hard work and the development the President has added to the country and region, clearly stating that, “in making our request, we do not seek to stop any work in any other part of the region that may bring about the development of a greenfield, bigger, commercial or more expensive airport if the government so desires.”

The Chiefs urged the leadership of BONABOTO to use genuine channels to make requests for development projects for their areas and desist from attempts to denigrate, impugn and bring into disrepute the reputation of senior public officer holders such as Member of Parliament (MP) for Navrongo, Joseph Kofi Adda. The Traditional rulers also cautioned BONABOTO against standing in the way of development projects meant for the Kassena-Nankana Areas.

They said; “in as much as they may make such a request, they have no right to disrespect and denigrate or attempt to bring into disrepute the good name of anyone and attempt to impugn the character of a person or a senior public servant so duly and legitimately elected by the people of Ghana and appointed by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana and in this case the Member of Parliament of the Navrongo Central Constituency and the Minister for Aviation, Honourable Joseph Kofi Adda”.

“In their attempt to ask for development of their areas, they have no right whatsoever to stop the progress of work and the development of any part of the region in the advancement of their own parochial interests, particularly the Kassena-Nankana Traditional Areas as that is retrogressive and counterproductive to the advancement of the agenda of the government and the nation”.

The Kassena-Nankana Chiefs reminded Tongraana as an elected representative of the Upper East Region on the Council of State with the responsibility to promote peace and development, urging him to desist from breeding animosity among the peoples of the region.

They further appealed to the Chairman of the Council of State to call Tongraana to order and make him render an unqualified apology to Joseph Kofi Adda.