Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development over the weekend noted that the key part of public sector development was driven by decentralisation.

He said decentralisation ensured the involvement of chiefs and traditional authorities, as key stakeholders for development at the grassroots level, at the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

Mr Oppong-Fosu was addressing Chiefs, Heads of Department, Assembly Members and Staff of the West Gonja District Assembly at Damongo, as part of his three-day working visit to the Northern Region.

He said the Ministry of Local Government was developing guidelines for the engagement of the chiefs and traditional authorities to ensure that development at the local level was championed together with public officials.

Mr Oppong-Fosu noted that traditional authorities were influential in issues of revenue mobilisation, representation, economic and social advancement and must be recognised for roles they play to promote development.

Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister said the creation of new districts had turned villages into sprawling towns with the state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as hospitals, tarred roads, school buildings and police stations.

Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa I, Overlord of the Gonjaland said the Gonja Traditional Area had benefited from the development of the creation of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Central Gonja and lately North Gonja District Assemblies and asked for resources to make the new districts independent for sustainable development.

Mr Ali Issifu Bakari, West Gonja District Chief Executive assured residents of government’s commitment to develop the area.