By Kingsley Mamore, GNA
Dambai (O/R), Aug. 20, GNA – Mr Joseph Antwi Awal, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nkwanta South, has described the Municipality as the “umbilical cord” of the Oti Region, stressing that its peace and stability are critical to the socio-economic development of the region.
He said Nkwanta South occupied a strategic position within the region and considering its population, geographical size, economic activities and infrastructure, its development had significant implications for the overall progress of the Oti Region.
Mr Awal made the remarks in an exclusive engagement with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), where he called on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to promote lasting peace in the Municipality.
He said a look at the map of the Oti Region showed that Nkwanta South was one of the largest Municipalities in the region in terms of its geographical coverage and population.
He explained that the Municipality also had a relatively large concentration of infrastructure and economic activities, making it an important commercial and administrative hub for the region.
Mr Awal said the Municipality’s strategic importance meant that developments in Nkwanta South could have a direct bearing on the fortunes of other districts and municipalities within the Oti Region.
He cited the Municipality’s performance in the Public Financial Management Compliance League Table as an indication of its institutional capacity, saying Nkwanta South placed second nationally in the assessment and emerged as the overall best-performing Assembly in the Oti Region.
The MCE said such achievements demonstrated that the Municipality had the capacity to contribute significantly to the development agenda of the region when given the necessary peace and stability.
“Looking at all these things, if there is no peace in Nkwanta South, the Oti Region cannot move forward,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to traditional authorities, queenmothers, religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), youth groups, political actors, security agencies and other stakeholders to work collectively towards restoring and sustaining peace in the Municipality.
Mr Awal said peace should not be regarded solely as the responsibility of the security agencies, but as a collective responsibility that required the commitment and participation of all sections of society.
He urged traditional leaders and queenmothers to use their influences and authority to promote dialogue, tolerance, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence among the various communities and groups.
The MCE also called on the youth to reject acts of violence and refrain from allowing themselves to be used to foment disturbances, stressing that they stood to benefit the most from a peaceful environment.
He said sustained peace would create the necessary conditions for government, development partners and the private sector to invest in infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, commerce and other sectors of the local economy.
Mr Awal said Nkwanta South had enormous development potential and could become a major growth centre for the Oti Region if peace and stability were maintained.
He appealed to all parties to ongoing disputes to prioritise dialogue and the collective interest of the people over individual or group interests.
“We are calling on everybody to rise up and advocate for peace in Nkwanta so that Oti Region can gain the development it deserves,” he said.
He expressed optimism that with the collective commitment of traditional authorities, government institutions, civil society, religious bodies, the youth and residents, Nkwanta South could overcome its challenges and reclaim its position as a major driver of development in the Oti Region.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo