The Chiefs and people of Lambussie District have warned the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment against twining the district with that of Karni district. 

They said they were strongly petitioning the Minister to maintain the name Lambussie District for the newly created local government unit in the Upper West Region.

The petition said since 19961, “we have petitioned various governments for the creation of the Lambussie District and indeed our request was granted as per E.I.311 of 1962”.

“In our letter petitions for a separate district from Jirapa, nowhere did we ever ask for a twin district. We were therefore surprised to hear that the NDC Member of Parliament had incited some NDC Activists in Karni to write asking that the new district be christened Lambussie-Karni District for reasons best known to her”

It contained, “we are therefore vehemently opposed to this new development for the reasons that Alice Boon, the NDC Member of Parliament wants to and, in fact, is claiming that the creation of the district is as a result of the efforts of the NDC Members of Parliament”.

“Indeed, Alice Boon ought to have consulted her electorate, especially we the chiefs, youth and opinion leaders on any change of name and not to take a unilateral decision”.

“The chiefs, the youth, and landlords of Karni are not even interested in being part of the Lambussie District as testified by their petition to the Ministry of Local Government against the part of the district”.

“The Lambussie Traditional Area is paramountcy in twinning the district with Karni creates a deceptive impression that the sub-chiefs of Karni is the co-equal of Lambussie Paramount Chief”, noting that the population and landmass of Lambussie Paramountcy constitutes over 99% of the Lambussie District”.

“We would like the present generation and posterity to thank President Kufuor and the New Patriotic Party for creating the Lambussie District”, said the petitioners who alleged that a Lambussie-Karni District is a name by the NDC to steal the credit.

The petition was signed Kporo Iddrisu Bamie Yeseh III Paramount Chief of the Lambussie Traditional Council; Kuoro Naabeh Saagulo, Divisional Chief, Koro Division; Kuoro Wiyor Yimuro, Division Chief, Banwon Division; Kuoro Nobui Tokalira, Divisional Chief, Kangurol Division; Kuoro Babomira Basing, Divisional Chief, Billow Division and Kuoro Tengwomo Seiu, Divisional Chief Happa.

Others were Mr. Williams Z Nambie, and Elder of Lambussie and Mr. Ibrahim Nabubie, a Youth Leader.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs and people of the Karni divisional area have expressed their strong reservation about their placement under the newly created Lambussie Districts.

They have therefore also petitioned the government to place the area under the Jirapa District.

In the petition, the chiefs said the recent Legislative Instrument (LI) placed part of the Karni Divisional Area under the Lambussie District, thus contradicting the geographical contiguity.

 “This situation has not only distorted the geographical contiguity and split of the Karni Area Council, but also created palpable physical barriers between families,” the petition noted.

It warned that should the government failed to heed their request, the people will advise themselves appropriately in order to preserve the time tested tradition cohesion among them.

The petition was signed by the Chief of the Area, Naa BA Yaayiri; Mr. Gbaraa Kodjo, Tendana of Karni and Mr. Alexis Doozuch, Secretary of the Karni Area Youth and Development Association.

Daily Graphic