Sankana: Naa Pagra-Nnige Saakoe Mornah III, the Paramount Chief of the Sankana Traditional Area in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as a bold vision and commitment to revitalising Ghana's economy. He acknowledged the potential of government initiatives such as the 24-hour Economy programme, the Big Push programme, and the Women's Development Bank to bring hope to ordinary Ghanaians, particularly those in rural communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Naa Mornah gave the commendation at Sankana during a visit by the Upper West Regional Minister to the Sankana Traditional Council, as part of his tour of traditional councils in the region. He expressed hope for the positive impact of the proposed 24-hour market to be constructed at Sankana on the livelihood of the people and appealed to the government, through the Regional Minister, to ensure the project became a reality.
The chief stated, 'This project, when realised, will transform local commerce, create jobs for all youths and women, and position Sankana as a vibrant economic hub within the district.' He also appealed for the construction of major roads in the traditional area, including the Sankana-Nyimbali road, to improve access to healthcare and education.
Additionally, Naa Mornah urged the Minister to facilitate the upgrading of the Sankana Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound to a higher-level facility, enabling it to provide critical healthcare services currently unavailable at the centre.
At Nadowli, the Traditional Council raised concerns about a sharp increase in fees for the registration and renewal of firearms submitted to the police during the Gun Amnesty programme. Mr Briamah Yakubu, the Presiding Member of the Nadowli District Assembly, highlighted that residents had complained about the registration fee increasing from about GH?90.00 to over GH?600.00, which could discourage participation in future national programmes.
Mr Yakubu also appealed to the government to consider tarring the Nadowli-Macoy-Daffiama road to ease transportation challenges, particularly during the rainy season. He further called for the maintenance of the Nadowli Hospital mortuary to alleviate residents' difficulties in accessing mortuary services in nearby towns.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the 24-hour Economy programme. He noted that work on the Sankana market was expected to commence by the end of March 2026 and acknowledged the concerns and appeals by the Nadowli Traditional Council, stating that steps were being taken to address some of the challenges.
The Minister called on traditional leaders to support the government's efforts in implementing programmes and policies aimed at improving the livelihoods of the citizens. He also visited the Charikpong, Kaleo, and Takpo Traditional Councils in the Nadowli-Kaleo District.