Give Sagnarigu A Municipal Status-DCE

Akwasi Oppong Fosu, Min. Local Govt

THE DISTRICT Chief Executive (DCE) for Sagnarigu, Alhassan Mohammed Soru-Gudoo has joined the host of traditional leaders, political and social analysts in the Northern Region to call for the elevation of the status of the Sagnarigu District Assembly to a Municipal Assembly. 

According to the DCE, the area automatically qualified to become a Municipal Assembly due to its large landmark, human population of over 95,978 and the economic viability. 

Most of the huge investments in the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants and bars, financial institutions, the magnificent Tamale Sports Stadium, Tamale campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale Polytechnic, Tamale Teachers Training College, Bagabaga Teachers Training College, Tamale Senior High (TAMASCO) and the Northern School of Business (NOBISCO) among several other schools are all located in the Sagnarigu District. 

The Sagnarigu District with its capital Sagnarigu was carved out of the Tamale Metropolis and forms part of the new 46 districts and municipalities created in the year 2012 by the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

Speaking at the Ordinary Meeting of the Assembly, the DCE observed that the Sagnarigu District was almost of the same size with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and had already been rendering Municipal services to the people, hence the need to elevate its status. He was of the view that the elevation of the status of the assembly would promote infrastructural and economic development in the area. 

He therefore encouraged the members of the Assembly including the two members of parliament to further push for the elevation of the status of the assembly into a municipality. 

On the other hand, the DCE outlined some of the major development projects earmarked by the assembly in the next few years. Prominent among the projects include the construction of a new Senior High School on a 22 acre land at Malshagu, tarring of roads in some selected communities and extension of electricity to deprived communities in the district.

According to Mr. Soru-Gudoo, the assembly was putting up a twenty seater aqua private toilet facility and fence wall at Katariga, No.1 ten seater aqua private toilet at Kalpohin, construction of No.1 ten unit market stores at Sagnarigu under the District Development Fund and rehabilitation of a six unit classroom block at Gumani. 

The DCE noted that, in spite of the achievements that the assembly had made since its inception in 2012, the volume of quality of social, economic infrastructure particularly roads, drainage system, electricity, health facilities, education, water and sanitation still leave much to be desired. 

In line with government’s industrial policy and objective to reduce poverty through creation of jobs and provision of potable water, the assembly he said, had embarked on major pipe water extension works to over 10 communities with an amount of 1.5 million Ghana cedis from EDAIF. 

The Sagnarigu District Assembly again is in collaboration with the Ghana Water Company Limited to extend pipe borne water to another 10 communities including Kulai, Balaye, Grumaa, Wovo and Gumani.  

Mr. Soru-Gudoo hinted that his administration in promoting quality teaching and learning in the district constituted a monitoring led by himself to embark on unannounced visit to some schools which resulted in the identification of some lapses and transfer of some non-performing teachers. 

“Under the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Prograamme, five KVIPs are being constructed in some schools including the Islamic Senior High School, Tamale Senior High School, St. Augustine Basic School, Our Lady of Fatima at Nyanshegu and the Methodist Middle School at Ward K’”.

The DCE noted that the assembly had also considering the construction of a 1.5kilometer storm drain and retention pond at Gumani and the Construction of a new Abattoir at Sheshagu under the Ghana Urban Management Project.   

Mr. Soru-Gudoo assured the members of his resolve to widen the revenue mobilization net of the assembly to ensure accelerated development.

However, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mohammed Awal raised serious concerns about threats on the lives of most assembly members including himself being carried out by some youth groups. 

The PM who suspected some prominent persons in the district for being the brains behind the behavior of the youth therefore called on the DCE to investigate the matter or else, he would be compelled to resign as Presiding Member.