The Chief of Kandiga Traditional Area, Naaba Henry Abawine Amenga-Etego II, has renewed his call for the creation of a district and a constituency for the Kassena-Nankana East Zone, emphasizing the area’s capacity and urgent need for equitable development.
Speaking at the 2024 Dunseema Festival in Kandiga, the Naaba highlighted the area’s significant population, thriving markets, schools, and healthcare facilities as evidence of its readiness for administrative elevation.
“The Nankana East Zone, made up of seven large communities, namely Mirigu, Sirigu, Kandiga, Nabango, Yua, Natugnia, and Manyoro, is large enough and duly qualified to be given a separate district and a constituency. We have viable markets in all seven communities, banks for commercial purposes, numerous schools, health facilities, two police stations, two fire stations, minor-scale industries, an influx of NGOs, and high agricultural potentialities that make us capable of becoming a district on our own. I therefore wish to, on behalf of Kandiga and the East Zone, make a humble appeal to the government to, as a matter of fairness and justice, consider the Nankana East Zone for the creation of a separate district and a constituency,” he said.
According to the chief, his appeal rekindles a request he made when former President John Dramani Mahama visited the community to canvass for votes ahead of the 2024 general election, which “he reciprocally pledged to give strong approval to our request when voted into office as next president of Ghana.”
He pledged his support for President-elect John Dramani Mahama, urging his administration to prioritize equitable development and combat corruption. Naba Amenga-Etego also raised other pressing issues affecting the Kandiga Traditional Area. Among them include the deplorable state of the Kandiga-Sirigu road which he says is a major hindrance to economic activities. He urged the incoming NDC government to revive and complete its upgrading.
The Kandiga Community Self-Initiated Senior High Technical School, operational since 2010, has not been absorbed into the public system due to a lack of infrastructure. The Chief called for government support to improve educational access and standards. He appealed for the upgrading of the Kassena-Nankana East Health Center to a district hospital and posting staff to self-initiated Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds.
The Chief urged the government and NGOs to desilt the Kandiga main dam to support dry-season farming and ensure water availability. He called for the establishment of police and fire stations in Kandiga to enhance community safety and emergency response.
The Dunseema Festival, in its second edition, celebrated the community’s rich cultural heritage through activities such as traditional wrestling (Gigine Kara), war dances (Diya), archery competitions, storytelling (Magsa), and horse-dancing competitions.
Hosted in Kandiga, Upper East Region, the 2024 edition of the Dunseema Festival was organized by Spotless Event Planners, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, and Beyond the Returns Secretariat.
The celebration showcased the Gurune culture while drawing visitors from the diaspora, neighboring regions, and locals alike.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Kandiga
