Naab Bileehsing Lanwont Namoog, Chief of the Kotintabig Traditional Area in the Nabdam District, has called for stronger scrutiny of government projects in the Upper East Region, while urging communities and traditional leaders to take greater responsibility for supporting and monitoring development in their areas.
He said journalists should independently verify claims about infrastructure projects and hold political appointees accountable for commitments made to residents rather than relying solely on statements from politicians.
“Media, hold them. Don’t give them the partisan stuff. They are taking us for granted because they play on our psyche,” he said.
Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tooma La Dengo Sanga, Naab Bileehsing said political appointments are public responsibilities and officeholders must be prepared to account for their decisions and performance.
He cited the Bolgatanga-Bawku road as an example and questioned whether preliminary activities at project sites should be presented as significant progress when the actual construction remains incomplete.
Naab Bileehsing claimed that machinery had been moved to some project sites ahead of President John Mahama’s visit to the Upper East Region but was subsequently removed.
He urged journalists to visit such sites and independently establish the progress of work, arguing that the presence of machinery should not be mistaken for the completion of development projects.
The traditional leader said accountability should, however, extend beyond government officials and contractors, with traditional leaders and residents also taking an active interest in projects implemented in their communities.
“Supervision is key,” he said, urging chiefs to ensure they are informed about contracts awarded for projects within their traditional areas and to monitor their implementation.
Naab Bileehsing recalled his involvement in supervising a community dam project, which he said contributed to the successful implementation and continued functionality of the facility.
He also cautioned against allowing partisan considerations to undermine project quality, arguing that communities could find it difficult to demand accountability when contractors are protected because of political connections.
Naab Bileehsing further urged communities to support projects that could expand Bolgatanga and surrounding areas, including development towards the BONABOTO enclave.
He appealed to landowners not to focus solely on immediate compensation when land is required for public infrastructure, arguing that communities should also consider the longer-term benefits of such projects.
“Let us move away from the attitude that I must get something before I move. What you will benefit from the government project is more than the compensation you take and go and spend today,” he said.
Naab Bileehsing maintained that achieving meaningful development in the Upper East Region would require government accountability alongside active participation by the media, traditional leaders and communities in monitoring public projects.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga
