He said, “As we look up to the government to provide us with development projects, may I suggest that we use annual festivals to embark on self–initiative and community-driven projects”.  

The regional Minister gave the advice in a keynote address read on his behalf at the 14th edition of the annual Gandawii Naabahilme festival held in Sorbie.   

The event was on the theme: “Harnessing our cultural Heritage for unity and sustainable development.”  

Mr. Puozuing said the theme was in line with the government’s vision to articulate the needs of rural communities and inculcate them into the broader National Development agenda of the country.  

He congratulated the people of Sissala West District on the recent peaceful election and on electing their MP on the ticket of the governing NDC.  

He stated that in fulfilment?of the NDC government manifesto, the government has taken the bold decision to not only make education relevant to the Ghanaian indigenous situation but also restore the best standards and quality in the Ghanaian educational system.  

He assured the people that, “During the week, the National Education Review Conference is being organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Education to review and implement educational policies that would ensure that education is indeed accessible and affordable to every Ghanaian at all levels” and emphasized that lack of money to pay school fees should not be a hindrance in pursuing higher education.  

The Minister said, recently, there have been reported cases of CSM and Cholera in Ghana, specifically, the region has been recording increasing numbers of meningitis cases over the past weeks.  

He said there were preventive measures currently in place to curb the situation and that the region had so far cumulatively recorded 135 suspected cases, 22 confirmed and 16 deaths.   

Mr. Puozuing appealed to the regional and District health directorates to ensure continuous surveillance through daily monitoring visits as well as outreach programmes with the use of community radio to sensitize the people.  

The Regional Minister also stated he was aware of the poor nature of roads in the area, which remained a hindrance to development, to the extent that investors were usually unwilling to relocate there for business.  

Kuoro Osman Deiwia Nankpa III, the Paramount Chief of Pulima, commended the current government, though young, for keeping to its campaign promise of appointing sixty ministers to run the country.  

“So far, President Mahama is walking the talk, and we must commend him for keeping his word with the Ghanaian people.  

I also use this opportunity to thank the President for appointing a few of our sons into his government but we still need more appointments to help develop our area”, he said.  

Kuoro Nankpa said the traditional area was still to be fully connected to telephony services and, therefore, appealed to the Member of Parliament to consider reaching out to the sector minister to help connect Sorbelle, Buoti, Kandia and Kupulima as well as  Kupulima, Limeira, Jitong and Gorima to telephone services.  

Mr Mohammed Adams Sukparu, the Member of Parliament for Sissala West, assured the constituents that under his watch, he would continue to collaborate with the chiefs, Sissala Union and the Youth to ensure the deplorable state of roads is addressed.  

He also made available GH¢10,000 for anyone who will assist the Police in finding the killers of a student who was shot dead by unknown shooters between Pipilme and Zini in the Sissala West constituency some days back.    

The paramount Chief of Gwollu, Kuoro Daniel Liman Bajor, who chaired the function, extended gratitude to the people of the Pulima traditional area for organizing the festival.   

He said the festival was not just a celebration but a reflection of the rich cultural heritage, a time of unity to strategize for a better future.