The Chief of the Kandiga, Naba Henry Abawine Amenga-Etego II, has appealed to the government to urgently and fully absorb the Kandiga Senior High/Technical School into the public education system, describing it as a critical step toward improving access to secondary education and human capital development in the area.
He made the call while delivering a speech at the 2025 Dunseema Festival celebration held in Kandiga, a colourful cultural event that brought together traditional rulers, political leaders, development partners, and residents from across the Upper East Region and neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Addressing the gathering, which included political appointees and other traditional leaders, the Kandiga Naaba said the full absorption of the school would ease the burden on parents and strengthen educational progression in the district.
According to him, Kandiga has 18 primary schools and 14 junior high schools whose graduates need a well-resourced and fully public senior high school to continue their education. “Absorbing the Kandiga Senior High/Technical School into the public stream will ensure sustainability and give hope to our young people,” he stressed.
Beyond education, the traditional ruler used the platform to highlight several pressing developmental challenges confronting Kandiga and its surrounding communities. Top among them was the poor state of road infrastructure, including the stalled Kandiga–Sirigu road and deteriorating internal roads, which he said continue to hinder transportation, trade, and access to essential services.
He further appealed for the completion of bridges over the Kaasi and Zorko rivers to connect Kandiga to Sumbrungu, Bolgatanga, Zorko and Bongo, noting that the lack of reliable river crossings isolates communities, especially during the rainy season.
In the health sector, the Kandiga Naaba called for the upgrading of the Kassena-Nankana East Health Centre to a district hospital to improve healthcare delivery and reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for medical care.
He also emphasized the need for the desilting of the main Kandiga Dam, which he said once supported vibrant small-scale agricultural activities but has lost much of its capacity over the years. Restoring the dam, he noted, would boost food production and livelihoods.
The chief further appealed for the extension of electricity to remaining communities under the Rural Electrification Programme, the construction and rehabilitation of several basic schools, and the provision of furniture to improve the learning environment.
Security and safety were also highlighted, with a call for the establishment of a police station and a fire station in Kandiga to help maintain peace and prevent fire disasters.
In a broader governance appeal, the Kandiga Naaba called for the creation of a separate constituency for communities in the Nankana East area, including Mirigu, Sirigu, Kandiga, Nabango, Natugnia and Yua, to address representation and language barrier challenges.
The Dunseema Festival, an ancient traditional wrestling practice among Nankana-speaking communities, served as the cultural backdrop for the event. The chief described it as a symbol of heritage, unity and strength passed down from ancestors, and commended stakeholders for their role in sustaining peace between Kandiga and Doba.
He particularly expressed gratitude to the Paramount Chief of Sirigu, Azuko-Daana Naaba Roland Atogumdeeya Akwara II, and other mediators whose peace initiative has helped restore harmony and improve livelihoods in the once-feuding communities.
The festival drew wide participation and renewed calls for government and development partners to translate cultural celebration into tangible development for Kandiga and the wider Kassena-Nankana area.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Samuel Adagom | Kandiga
