Tumu: The Council of Sissala Paramount Chiefs (CSPC) has held its maiden conference, marking a significant step towards uniting traditional leaders across the Sissala enclave to demand equitable development for the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, 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, stated that the initiative aimed to form a unified and formidable force to engage with government and development partners on critical socio-economic challenges facing the area.
The conference concluded with a communiqu© outlining key resolutions and recommendations across 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 communiqu© stated. The Council also pledged to ensure peace in the area through mediation in resolving conflicts.
The communiqu© called on the government of Ghana to upgrade ongoing E-block projects at Welembelle, Zini, and Lambussie into fully-fledged technical schools to promote technical and vocational education among the youth. The chiefs 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, urging security agencies to intensify measures against the sale and use of illegal substances. On health, the communiqu© noted a surge in infectious diseases and appealed to health authorities to increase disease surveillance and public sensitisation, particularly for Hepatitis B and HIV.
Further, the communiqu© 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 leaders raised concerns over the maize glut and welcomed the government's intervention to buy maize from farmers but noted the absence of Buffer Stock buyers in the area.
Additionally, the Council recommended increased efforts to register and tax cattle, public sensitisation on bush burning, and efforts to end illegal mining in the Sissala area. Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI, the Paramount Chief of Tumu, disclosed that a Constitution had been adopted, and 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 as Vice President. Kuoro Ninia Diyaka Sukabe was nominated as secretary, while the Queen Mother of Banu, Kapio Ali Maria, was made the Treasurer. Kuoro Kanton appealed to the Council members to maintain unity.
The Council also thanked the government for the 'Big Push' road projects and appealed for the timely release of funds to meet completion timelines.