The Council of Sissala Paramount Chiefs (CSPC) has held its maiden conference, which marks a step towards uniting traditional leaders across the Sissala enclave to demand equitable development for the area.
The historic two-day meeting held at Tumu brought together paramount chiefs from all traditional areas within the Sissala enclave, spanning the Sissala East, Sissala West, Wa East, Lambussie and Daffiama-Bussie Issa Districts.
Kuoro Professor Baduawali II, the Paramount Chief of Welembelle, at the conference said the initiative was to enable them to form a unified and formidable force to engage with government and development partners on critical socio-economic challenges facing the area.
The two-day conference came out with a communiqué outlining key resolutions and recommendations in all sectors of the economy.
“The Council is united in its resolve to work together and engage government and stakeholders to secure an equal share of development for our communities,” the communiqué stated.
The Council affirmed its commitment to unity and pledged to ensure peace in the area through the use of mediation in resolving conflicts among them.
On education, the communique called on the government of Ghana to upgrade the ongoing E-block projects at Welembelle, Zini and Lambussie into fully-fledged technical schools to promote technical and vocational education among the youth.
The revered chiefs also appealed for the establishment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) schools across the Sissala area to improve access to modern education.
The Council expressed concern over the rising substance abuse among the youth, describing it as a growing menace that threatens social stability.
They called on security agencies to intensify crackdown measures on the sale and use of illegal substances in communities.
On health, the communique noted a surge in infectious diseases within the area and appealed to health authorities to increase disease surveillance and intensify public sensitisation to reduce the spread of diseases, particularly Hepatitis B and HIV.
The communiqué further urged Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Sissala area to increase financial and logistical support to traditional councils, recognising their role in local governance and development.
On agriculture, the traditional leaders raised concerns over the glut of maize in the Sissala area, which could derail the interest of farmers in the area in food production if they find it difficult to sell their produce.
While welcoming the government’s intervention to buy maize from farmers at GH₵450.00, the Council said it was yet to locate Buffer Stock buyers in the area who would offtake their produce.
The Council also called on authorities to clearly identify and establish grain buying centres under the Buffer Stock system, so farmers can know where and how the government is purchasing maize.
Other recommendations included increased efforts to register and tax all cattle in the area, public sensitisation on bush burning and increased efforts to end illegal mining in the Sissala area.
Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI, the Paramount chief of Tumu, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the meeting, disclosed that a constitution had been adopted by the Council and some members were elected to lead various committees.
Kuoro Professor Baduawali, was elected as the maiden President of the Sissala Council, with Kuoro Issaka Tenjie II, Paramount Chief of Lambussie, as the Vice President.
Kuoro Ninia Diyaka Sukabe, the Paramount Chief of Zini, was also nominated as the secretary, while the Queen mother of Banu, Kapio Ali Maria, was made the Treasurer.
Kuoro Kanton appealed to the Council members to eschew tendencies that could break their front.
The Council also thanked the government for the “Big Push” road project but appealed for the timely release of funds to meet completion timelines.
