Nalerigu, Gambaga fight over capital of North East Region

Even before the President issues a constitutional instrument to give effect to the six newly created regions, the issue of where the capital of the North East Region should be sited has triggered disagreement among the people in the enclave.

Moments after Thursday’s referendum that endorsed the creation of North East and five others -Ahafo, Bono East, Oti, Savannah and Western North, the overlord of Mamprugu, Nayiri Mahama Bohagu Sheriga, asked the government to site the capital in Nalerigu.

But the youth of Gambaga have opposed the request by the Nayiri, and proposed Gambaga to the government as the regional capital for North East, our Upper East correspondent Tanko Mohammed Rabiu reported.

The youth, chiefs, MCE, assembly members and opinion leaders in Gambaga met Saturday during a homecoming event, to discuss the way forward for the new region and to demand the capital to of North East to be sited in Gambaga.

They argued that Gambaga which used to be the regional capital of the northern territories during the colonial era has the necessary infrastructure to hit the ground running with the administration of North East Region, hence the need to give them the capital.

Government in the 2019 budget announced 20 million cedis seed capital for each of the six regions. The amount is to be used for the provision of critical infrastructure to enable the new regions to take off smoothly.

“We want to appeal to them that North East have the infrastructure; Gambaga has been the regional capital in the colonial era,” Chairman of the Gambaga Youth Association, Abdul- Rahman Osman said.

He argued that Gambaga already has established state institutions and agencies like the Ghana Prisons Service, a Regional Police Command Unit, National Service, Social Security and National Insurance Trust, senior high schools and polytechnic among others.

“We have even nurses institutions that are yet to be built in this community and proposed universities are also to be built. So I want to assure people who have that perception that the North East has no infrastructure, I want to tell you that if the government chooses Gambaga today to kickstart the administration of North East Region, we are going to propel it,” he assured.

Leaders from other groups in Gambaga who spoke to 3news.com expressed high hopes of a better future for the new region.

Meanwhile, Mr. Osman said he is proud that the North East Region, which the people have been clamouring for in the last three decades, has been created and commended the people for leading such a massive campaign to get the region endorsed in the referendum.