Kpassa, Oti Region —The Chief of Kpassa, Ubor (Dr.) Tassan Nanja Konja VI, has called on the Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong and the government to prioritize critical infrastructure and development needs in the Nkwanta North District. He made the appeal during a courtesy call on the minister, accompanied by other traditional leaders from the district.
The chief commended the minister for his commitment to touring the region and for choosing Nkwanta North as the first district to visit. He also expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his diverse developmental efforts, which have impacted the area positively.
During the visit, Ubor Tassan Nanja Konja VI outlined several pressing issues affecting residents, including deteriorating road conditions, poor healthcare infrastructure, inadequate educational facilities, lack of potable water, and persistent electricity problems.
“The Nkwanta–Damanko road has become a swimming pool during rains and a dust bowl in the dry season, causing severe health issues like respiratory problems,” he said, appealing to the government to prioritize its rehabilitation.
He reiterated the community’s concern about the delay in completing the AGENDA 111 hospital project, which he said is crucial for providing accessible healthcare, especially for pregnant women and the sick. Additionally, he urged the establishment of a Nursing Training College in the district to improve access to tertiary education for young people.
Water scarcity was another key issue highlighted. According to the chief, communities such as Sibi and Kpassa Township continue to face difficulties in accessing clean drinking water.
“Water is life, yet our people are still struggling to find potable water,” he stressed.
On electricity, the chief raised alarms over low voltage issues affecting businesses and households in Nkwanta North, Krachi West, and Krachi Nchumuru districts. He reminded the minister of the government’s earlier promise to establish a power sub-station in the area.
“We are paying electricity bills without enjoying stable power. Our appliances are breaking down, and businesses are suffering,” he added.
Education infrastructure also featured prominently in the chief’s appeal. He called on the government to complete the Community Senior High School (E-Block) at Damanko, which has remained unfinished since its inception.
“This school will ease pressure on Kpassa Senior High Technical School, the only senior high school in the district, and improve access to quality education.”
He also gave a demographic overview of the district, noting its rich cultural diversity, with the Konkomba tribe making up about 98% of the population, alongside other tribes such as the Basare, Kotokoli, Ewe, Mossi, and Kabre.
The chief used the platform to raise concerns about individuals falsely claiming chieftaincy titles, warning that such actions could destabilize the peace and development of the area. In particular, he pointed to a police officer allegedly impersonating the Kpassa Chief and causing fear and panic in the community.
In closing, he appealed to the regional minister to support the local police command with a new vehicle, noting that their current fleet is old and frequently breaks down, impeding law enforcement efforts.
“Logistics and mobility are critical for our police officers to carry out investigations and maintain law and order,” he emphasized.
Ubor (Dr.) Tassan Nanja Konja VI expressed hope for a continued and fruitful relationship with the regional administration and emphasized the importance of collaboration for sustainable development.
READ FULL SPEECH BELOW
Honourable Minister, Honourable District Chief Executives, The Regional Co-ordinating Council, The Press and all protocols duly observed.
Honorable Minister,
It is an honor for us to pay a courtesy call to your good office today. On behalf of myself and the chiefs of Nkwanta North District, we are here to appreciate your dedication as a minister since you resumed this respectful office and your tireless efforts to tour around the Oti Region which Nkwanta North was first to be toured.
The purpose of our visit today, is to introduce ourselves, express our respect, and explore potential areas of collaboration.
We also want to use this opportunity to express our dearest gratitude to His Excellency the president John Dramani Mahama for his transformational and diversity of developmental projects.
Hon. Minister, we want to take this advantage to remind His Excellency the president through your good office to look at our bad road networks especially the Nkwanta – Damanko stretch which has turned to a swimming pool whenever it rains and becomes a very dusty road during dry season which causes health hazards such as respiratory problems among others.
Adding to that, we are also appealing to the government through your good office not to forget the people of Nkwanta North as we have appealed to you during your tour to our District. AGENDA 111 Hospital is so dear to our heart. So, we want to use this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency the president to complete this project for us so that our pregnant women and people that are not of good health can access a better health care. Also we want to appealed to government through your good office to establish one Nursing Training College which will enable our young ones have access to tertiary education. We hope our request will be granted.
Hon. Minister, we want to also highlight on good Drinkable water which we say “water is life’. Indeed water is life. Our people are passing through a lot of setbacks searching for portable water. Sibi and it environs, Kpassa Township and many other communities within the District.
Notwithstanding, Honourable Minister, Electricity is a major challenge to some District in the Oti Region, such as Nkwanta North District, Kranchi West Municipal and Krachi Nchumuru District in terms of low voltage. Our people are losing a lot in their businesses because of unstable poor power generation from NEDCO. These challenges are occurring often and often in the Region.
Because of low voltage, electrical gadgets such as fans, air conditions, electric irons and fridges cannot function well. Hon. Minister, our people are paying light bill without enjoying stable power, The government has promised that he will establish a sub-station in any of the above districts to avert these challenges we want remind him.
Nevertheless, Honourable Minister, Let us also remind you of the Community Senior High School (E-BLOCK) situated at Damanko which has not been completed since it was establishment by His Excellency the president.
We will wish that, the government should re-look at it for it completion
We believe very well that, this school will eliminate the level of not getting a better education in the District and reduce the pressure on the only senior high school we have in the District (KPASSA SENIOR HIGH TECH. SCHOOL).
Hon. Minister, the chiefs in Nkwanta North District comprises with different languages which Konkombas are dominant and forms about 98% according to statistics of 2020 population and housing census.
We also have other tribes such as
– The Basares
– The Kotokolis
– The Ewes
– The Mossi
The Kabres to mention but few.
Hon. Minister, we the people of Nkwanta North District are living in peace and harmony which you can attest to that fact because no peace, no development. But our attention has been drawn to a claimer who has been claiming to be Kpassawura but not . They are those who hate developmental projects
We want to drawn your attention to such people.
To our surprise, Hon. Minister, this claimer who is even a police officer and suppose to promote peace is rather causing fear and panic in the District.
Hon. Minister, my District Commands and His officers, have challenges on their vehicles which is aging and often experiences breakdowns, hindering their ability to respond promptly to emergencies and maintain law and order. Additionally, logistics support is crucial for their daily operations, including investigations, and community engagement We want to appealed to you as a regional minister to support our police officers a vehicle to discharge their duties.
We thank you for your time, and we look forward to a fruitful relationship.
Best regards.”
