Upper East Regional Minister-designate Akamugri Donatus Atanga has shared his vision for the region, emphasizing the importance of resolving the longstanding Bawku chieftaincy crisis and fostering development.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, Atanga underlined the critical link between peace, security, and economic progress in one of Ghana’s poorest regions.
“We are bedevilled with the chieftaincy crisis in Bawku, so we want to see to it that we negotiate with our colleagues,” Atanga stated, signaling his commitment to dialogue and collaboration.
He expressed optimism about working alongside his counterpart in the North East Region, highlighting the unique opportunity their shared experiences as regional secretaries present.
“I am happy the regional minister-designate for the North East Region is a colleague who is also a regional secretary just as I am. We can put our heads together to see how we can reach a compromised position to have peace existing in these two regions,” he explained.
For Atanga, peace is more than a moral imperative; it is a foundation for economic development.
“Peace is a prerequisite for development. If we want to deal with poverty levels, it is better to also handle the security issues and ensure that there is peace,” he noted.
Acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead, Atanga stressed the urgent need to address poverty and unemployment in the Upper East Region.
“Upper East is among the poorest regions in the country, and what we need to do is to be able to mobilize our people and solicit support that will bring projects and create employment for the youth. That will go a long way to solve the problems of the Upper East,” he said.
