By Kingsley Mamore
Kpassa (O/R), Nov 10, GNA – The Paramount Chief of Kpassa Traditional Area, Ubor Konja VI, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the government to prioritise five critical development projects in the Nkwanta North District to accelerate economic growth and improve access to essential social services.
The appeals include the construction of a modern central yam market, establishment of a Nursing Training College, completion of the Agenda 111 District Hospital, completion of the Damanko Community Senior High School project and expansion and improvement of electricity supply across the district.
Ubor Konja made the appeal at the grand durbar of the 2026 Kpassa Linujil Yam Festival, held at the JHS B Park in Kpassa, under the theme: “Sow Unity, Reap Development.”
The festival brought together traditional rulers, government officials, political representatives, elders, residents and other stakeholders to celebrate the cultural heritage and agricultural contributions of the people.
The Paramount Chief described the yam festival as an important cultural institution that symbolised the people’s identity, reverence for their ancestors, agricultural heritage, and collective aspirations for development.
He said yam cultivation remained a significant economic activity in the area, with Kpassa and its surrounding communities contributing to food production and commercial activities in the Oti Region and beyond.
Ubor Konja said the establishment of a modern central yam market in Kpassa would provide a structured trading environment for farmers and traders, particularly during the major harvest seasons when buyers from across Ghana and neighbouring countries visited the district.
He said the proposed facility should include adequate storage infrastructure, trading sheds and security arrangements to improve agricultural marketing, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance local revenue generation.
On human resource development, he called for the establishment of a Nursing Training College in Kpassa to expand opportunities for young people interested in healthcare professions.
He said such an institution would strengthen healthcare delivery in the district and the wider Oti Region by developing locally trained health professionals who could serve rural communities.
The traditional ruler noted that the absence of accessible health training institutions had constrained opportunities for some young people, particularly those completing senior high school but unable to pursue further education in the health sector.
He also appealed to the government to prioritise the completion and operationalisation of the Agenda 111 District Hospital project in Kpassa.
He said the district’s lack of a public hospital had created significant challenges for residents, many of whom travelled long distances to access healthcare services available in other districts.
He observed that completing the facility would improve access to essential and specialised healthcare, particularly for pregnant women, children and other vulnerable groups.
Ubor Konja VI expressed concern about the prolonged delay in completing the Damanko Community Senior High School project, which began in 2013.
He said the project, initially intended to expand access to second-cycle education for young people from rural communities, remained unfinished after more than a decade.
He appealed to the government to take the necessary steps to complete the facility and make it operational to improve educational opportunities in the district.
The Paramount Chief further called for improvements in electricity supply and the extension of rural electrification to underserved communities.
He said frequent power fluctuations and outages affected the operations of local artisans, grain millers, welders and cold-store operators, limiting their productivity and economic potential.
He stressed that reliable electricity was essential to local industrialisation, entrepreneurship, employment creation and community security.
Ubor Konja commended President Mahama’s administration for the ongoing construction works on the Damanko road, describing it as a critical economic route with the potential to improve transportation, trade and livelihoods.
He said improved road infrastructure would enable farmers to transport yam and other agricultural produce to markets more efficiently while reducing losses associated with poor road conditions.
He expressed appreciation to the government for the attention being given to infrastructure development in the district and called for sustained commitment to addressing the area’s remaining development challenges.
Touching on peace and security, the Paramount Chief called on traditional rulers, families and communities within the wider Konkomba traditional community to work towards lasting peace, unity and reconciliation.
He expressed concern about chieftaincy disputes, misunderstandings over farmlands and other communal disagreements, warning that such conflicts could undermine social cohesion, destroy property and derail development.
He said persistent disputes had the potential to divert attention and resources from productive economic activities while discouraging investment and limiting opportunities for the youth.
He therefore urged all feuding factions, families and traditional authorities to embrace dialogue, reconciliation and established traditional mechanisms for resolving disputes.
Ubor Konja reaffirmed his commitment, together with other traditional leaders, to supporting the peaceful resolution of outstanding chieftaincy disputes through established traditional structures and the rule of law.
He also called on stakeholders to support reconciliation efforts and unite against common development challenges, including poverty, illiteracy and underdevelopment.
He said the theme of the festival should serve as a reminder that unity was fundamental to achieving sustainable development.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade