By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, July 08, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, July 8, hosted a delegation of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs led by its President Kuoro Issaka Zengeh Kazie Tenjie II at the Presidency in Accra.
The delegation was at the Presidency to congratulate the President on his victory in the December 7, 2024 general election and to thank him for the numerous developmental projects the Region had begun to witness within the past one and half year.
President Mahama in his remarks noted that the presence of the chiefs, reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the institution of the leadership and the Government of Ghana in a collective pursuit of national development and prosperity.
He said the institution of Chieftaincy remained one of the oldest and most respected pillars of their national life, and across the Upper West Region, their traditional authorities continue to serve as custodians of tradition and peace, mediators of disputes, and the champions of community development.
He said the Chiefs had been helping to maintain one of Ghana’s most peaceful Regions, despite the security challenges confronting parts of the wider Sahel area.
President Mahama reiterated that no Government could successfully transform Ghana without a wisdom, legitimacy, and partnership of their traditional rulers.
“As so permit me to express my deepest appreciation to the chiefs and people of the Upper West Region for the confidence and overwhelming support you extended to myself and the National Democratic Congress during the 2004 general elections,” he said.
“That trust imposes on us a solemn responsibility to govern with humility, integrity, and transparency, and to reset Ghana’s economy, restore public confidence, and build an economy that works for every Ghanaian, regardless of where they live.”
He said with that mandate Ghanaians had given them, they set to work; saying “and I’m happy to report that we have made significant progress in reviving the Ghanaian economy and turning our fortunes around”.
He said although geographically, Upper West was one of Ghana’s smallest Regions, it possessed immense strategic importance as a gateway to Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region, positioning it as a critical half for cross-border commerce under the African continental Free Trade Area.
The President said the 2026 budget and economic policy placed significant emphasis on agricultural and lead industrialization, infrastructure development, export capacity building, and job creation through the 24-Hour Economy initiative, and the Accelerated Export Development Programme.
Adding that the Upper West Region held tremendous opportunities in agricultural livestock, shea nuts processing, groundnuts, sogum, millet, maize, rice for the culture, renewable energy, and ecotourism.
He said their recently launched Shea Park Resource Center in the Upper West Region represented a major step towards positioning Ghana as a leading producer of high-quality shea products, while creating sustainable livelihoods, particularly for the women who formed the backbone of the share value chain.
He said they had identified a total of 50 locations for the Farmer’s Service Centres, and that this year, they were budgeting to start 11 of them, and one of the 11 was located in the Upper West Region.
He said beyond raw shea nuts, their objective was local processing, value addition, and exports of finished products, anchored by the Shea Park Resource Centre.
The President said under the Big Push Infrastructure Program, governments’ priority projects in the Upper West Region included rehabilitation and upgrading of major trunk roads.
He said the Upper West Region had got a special Big Push Programme, and that they were scoping Phase II of the programme to start next year.
“And I want to assure you, some of the roads that have not yet been captured are being captured in the Phase II of the Big Push.”
He said peace remained a foundation of prosperity, and that he commended the House of Chiefs for its role in keeping Upper West as one of Ghana’s most peaceful regions amidst the instability in the wider Sahel area.
He said reports on Chieftaincy conflicts, Upper West had among the lowest incidences of Chieftaincy conflict.
The President said the nation’s traditional authorities must continue as custodians of the peace, unity and moral leadership.
He said the Upper West Region was at the threshold of a new era in which its potential, its strategic location and industrious people could drive prosperity and regional trade.
This future, he said demanded unity of purpose, sacrifice, discipline and visionary leadership.
President Mahama said, as President of the Republic, he assured the Chiefs that the Government would remain a dependable partner in the development of the upper west region.
“We shall continue investing in infrastructure and I promise you, Upper West will always get its fair share of the national cake,” the President said.
Kuoro Issaka Zengeh Kazie Tenjie II, the President of the Upper West Region House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Lambussie Traditional Area, appealed to the Government to continue and go ahead to codify the succession of the Chieftaincy institution in the country.
He also appealed for buses for the Upper West Region House of Chiefs and the renovation of their administration block.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
