The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Akamugri Donatus Atanga, has assured a delegation from the Palace of the Bawku Naaba, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) will engage the Presidency on the implementation of the proposed GH¢1 billion Bawku Revitalization Fund and the petition for the creation of a new region.
The assurance was given on Friday when a delegation sent by the Bawku Naaba, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister in Bolgatanga.
The delegation comprised Naba Mahamadu A. Azonko, Gumbo Naba; Naba Alhaji Osman, Chief of Environment; and John Abugri, an elder of the Bawku Naaba’s Palace, who led the discussions.
The delegation conveyed the Bawku Naaba’s concerns over the status of the proposed GH¢1 billion Bawku Revitalization Fund and the petition for the creation of a new region, noting that the Palace had not received any official update since the petition was submitted to the Presidency through the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.
Responding, Hon. Akamugri Atanga commended the Bawku Naaba for the leadership he has demonstrated in supporting government efforts to restore peace and stability in Bawku.
He reaffirmed the RCC’s commitment to maintaining neutrality in the Bawku conflict while playing its constitutional role as the coordinating body to facilitate lasting peace.
The Minister described Bawku as the economic hub of the Upper East Region, saying the prolonged conflict had come at a huge cost to the region through the loss of lives and disruption of economic activities.
“No one in the region will take the relative peace in Bawku for granted because it is something we cannot place a price on,” he said.
Touching on the proposed GH¢1 billion Bawku Revitalization Fund, Hon. Atanga said the restoration of relative peace in Bawku had made it necessary for government to move forward with President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to accelerate development in the area.
He explained that the fund is a government initiative and would therefore be administered under clearly defined procedural guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability.
According to the Minister, the President is expected to inaugurate a committee that will oversee the management and utilization of the fund.
He disclosed that the proposed committee comprises the Upper East Regional Minister, the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, and the Minister for Finance, who will serve as Chairman.
Hon. Atanga said significant progress had been made towards the inauguration of the committee, adding that members were awaiting communication from the Presidency on the date for the swearing-in.
“I know they are putting in place the governing structure for the utilization of the fund, and so it will not be proper for them to inaugurate a committee if the guidelines are not ready,” the Minister stated.
On the petition for the creation of a new region, Hon. Atanga recalled that the RCC had transmitted the petition to the Presidency but explained that the worsening security situation in Bawku at the time had affected efforts to follow up on the process.
“We have forwarded that letter to the Presidency. It got there at the time we had these unfortunate issues of destabilization. Because of these issues, we have not followed up to see how far the process has gone,” he said.
The Minister assured the delegation that the RCC would engage the Presidency to ascertain the status of both the revitalization fund and the region creation petition and communicate the outcome to the Bawku Naaba and his Palace.
He concluded by assuring the delegation that the concerns presented during the courtesy call would receive the necessary attention and that feedback would be provided after consultations with the Presidency.
