Naab Bileehsong Lagwonht Namoog, Chief of the Kontibtaabig Traditional Area, has called for a strategic and coordinated approach to development in the Upper East Region, urging traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, and other stakeholders to unite for the common good of the region.
In an interview on A1 Radio, the chief emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of traditional authorities to enable them to contribute meaningfully to development conversations. He noted that a lack of relevant skills and coordinated structures within the chieftaincy institution has limited its impact on governance and progress in the region.
“One individual conducted research on one of the chieftaincy roles in the traditional area, and what became clear was that some chiefs are not adequately capacitated. In other areas, where traditional authorities have acquired diverse skills, committees are formed to bring in those skills to enhance discussions within the traditional sector.”
He highlighted the importance of forming development-focused committees within the traditional system, bringing together individuals with technical knowledge and planning expertise to support community growth. He emphasized that orientation and continuous education for traditional leaders can better position them to participate in discussions that shape the future of their communities.
“If we have development experts who can orient us, we can engage in discussions that are directly related to the development of our area. This would be very beneficial,” he stated.
A key concern he raised was the lack of collaboration between traditional authorities and Members of Parliament from the region. He proposed the creation of an Upper East MPs caucus in Parliament that could work closely with chiefs to identify and champion regional priorities. According to him, the absence of such coordination limits the effectiveness of both political and traditional leadership in advocating for regional development at the national level.
“Another area where our development is being hindered is the lack of coordinated efforts with our MPs. We must align our priorities, but when everyone pursues different interests, the result is fragmentation. The MPs should form a regional caucus to champion the needs of the region.”
He also expressed concern over the “fragmented” nature of the chieftaincy institution in the region, contrasting it with other areas such as the Northern Region, where traditional authority is more unified and decisions from the top are respected and implemented.
“The issue we face here is that our chieftaincy institutions are fragmented,” he said.
Naab Bileehsong further criticized the overconcentration of development projects in Bolgatanga, the regional capital, at the expense of surrounding communities that have the space and potential for growth. He cited the delayed regional airport project, blaming political interference and lack of commitment for its postponement. He lamented that the Upper West Region, which was once part of the Upper East, now appears to be progressing faster due to more strategic planning and unity.
“The airport would have been completed long ago, but people played politics with it,” he lamented.
He called on Paramount Chiefs to create more open platforms that allow citizens to contribute to development initiatives and urged all stakeholders to decentralize efforts and avoid politicizing major projects. For him, regional advancement requires shared responsibility, better planning, and a shift from centralized thinking to inclusive development across the Upper East.
“I think our Paramount Chiefs should open up the development process so that people can contribute to addressing the development needs of the area,” he said.
“Let me use this opportunity to plead with the stakeholders in the region to give development a chance. Duty bearers should not always focus on concentrating development in one place. There are other areas within the region that are also deserving of attention.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
