Naba Belia-Maaletinga Afeghera III, the Paramount Chief of the Zuarungu Traditional Area, has urged residents to remain calm and united as unresolved boundary and land demarcation challenges continue to pose a threat to peaceful coexistence between Zuarungu and neighbouring communities.
He said, although the people of Zuarungu were peace-loving, the failure to properly demarcate the boundaries of the Bolgatanga East District had created tension and misunderstandings between them and the Talensi Traditional Area required urgent attention from the relevant state institutions.
Naba Afeghera III made the call in Zuarungu during the celebration of the 24th N’Daakoya Festival, which is an annual thanksgiving ceremony to God for a successful farming season and a period of reflection and planning for the year ahead.
While calling on the people to remain peaceful, he said the land dispute between the two districts had entered a legal phase and urged residents to support lawful processes to ensure that truth and justice prevailed.
He revealed that a Boundary Re-demarcation Committee had been established and a petition submitted to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, adding that protests from neighbouring traditional authorities followed the move and urged the government to act swiftly.
He underscored the urgent need for youth empowerment to advance development and curb deviant behaviour in the area.
Naba Afeghera III also announced plans to establish a Zuarungu Educational Fund to support tertiary education and complement government interventions, as well as a Youth Skills Centre to provide training in carpentry, tailoring, digital literacy, and modern agriculture.
Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, confirmed that the government had received the petition submitted by the Zuarungu Traditional Council and assured that it was being given the necessary attention.
He noted that as a temporary measure to ease tensions while longer-term solutions were pursued, his office had engaged the leadership of Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo (BONABOTO), a non-partisan association representing the four communities, to support mediation efforts aimed at resolving the dispute amicably.
Describing the parties involved as brothers bound by long-standing relations, the Regional Minister appealed for calm and restraint, urging them to avoid any actions that could disrupt the prevailing peace, while reaffirming government’s commitment to maintaining stability, promoting development, and creating decent employment opportunities for the youth.
Mr Jacob Abugri Aka-Eri, the District Chief Executive for Bolgatanga East, commended the Paramount Chief for sustaining the festival as a platform that brought indigenes together to renew their covenant with the land and reaffirm their commitment to progress.
Mr Aka-Eri said the district was witnessing visible improvements in education, health, water, and sports infrastructure in line with the Government’s reset agenda.
He cited the construction and completion of CHPS compounds, classroom blocks, nurses’ accommodation, boreholes, an ICT centre, a District Health Insurance Office, and an astro-turf football park at Zuarungu, as well as GETFund-approved school projects across the district.
He assured the chiefs and people of the Assembly’s commitment to working closely with traditional authorities to advance youth empowerment and sustain development gains.
