Chiefs and people of Chiana celebrate Fao Kuri, with a call for increased awareness on climate change.

The Chiefs and people of Chiana in the Upper East Region on Saturday (6^th January) climaxed the celebration of the Fao Kuri, with a called for concerted efforts toward increasing awareness on climate change and environmental protection in the Savanna zone.

The climax of the week-long celebration of the 13^th edition of the popular festival saw the display of the rich culture and traditions of the Kassena people who are one of the largest ethnic groups in Northern Ghana.

The Paramount Chief of the Kusaug Traditional Area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II chaired the festival which was dedicated to the protection of communities against the devastating impact of climate change and human activities leading to the degradation of the environment.

In a welcome speech, the Chiana Pio Pe Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, noted that climate change and environmental degradation continued to devastate the livelihoods of many communities in diverse ways. He said, for instance, that rainfall patterns which in the past supported food crop production, have now become unpredictable and unsupportive to farmers.

Pe Ayagitam further bemoaned the devastating impact activities that are injurious to the environment such as bush fires, droughts and floods, were having on soil fertility, leading to decreasing food crop yields and depleting forests.

“Lands that were hitherto productive have become less relevant in promoting farming, which we depended heavily on as our sources of income as a farming community. Bush fires, frequent storms, droughts and floods have become more rampant and destroying our sources of income and forests” The revered Chief bemoaned.

The Chiana Pio continued that the impact of climate change was being felt in the pockets and dining tables of his people who relied heavily on farming as a major income source. He, therefore, called for immediate action against further destruction to the environment.

He said, “the time to act is now to prevent further destruction. Women continue to experience the most devastating impact of the climate crisis, as a result of their lack of access to and control of forests, land, and agricultural resources in many of our communities. This should not be allowed to continue”

“I wish to use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders including the Environmental Protection Agency, The Forestry Commission, the Ghana National Fire Service, traditional authorities, and all community leaders to work together to fight the menace of the climate crisis and environmental degradation to save humanity from further destruction.”

Roads

Grateful Pe Ayagitam, who was happy many people from far and near gathered in his town in support of the celebration of the festival, renewed his fervent calls to the government to commit to the completion of the inter-regional Chuchuliga- Chiana-Tumu Road. He said the important road which was already in bad shape, continues to deteriorate affecting movement of people and the economic activities of many towns including Chiana which has one of the briskiest markets in region.

“I have used the Fao festival to draw the attention of the government to the dilapidated nature of the road from Chuchuliga to Chiana and beyond. Regrettably, the road continues to deteriorate, affecting movement of people and economic activity, while no practical interventions are taken to fix it.

“Economic activity in the Chiana market which is one of the well-patronised markets in the region is being threatened by the dilapidated road linking to the town. Many transport operators have complained about the frequent breakdown of their vehicles, while business owners have suffered many economic loses as a result of the bad nature of the road.”

Pe Ayagitam said the failure of the government to reconstruct the major road after making a solemn promise, showed its lack of commitment to the development of his area. He stated that he and his subjects will continue to knock on the government to attend to the dire situation of the road.

He said,” this continuous neglect by the government to fix the road after the government itself had announced two consecutive years of roads is unacceptable and demonstrates lack of commitment to the plight of my people. I therefore wish to renew my appeal to the government to take steps to at least rehabilitate the road to make it usable.”

2024 Election

Commenting on the upcoming 2024 general election, the Chiana Pio gave a strong indication that the votes of his people will be earned by people who are development oriented and are willing to partner in championing development in the peaceful town.

Top most on their table that will determine the trajectory of their votes in the December general election are the call for a separate district and a constituency. Pe Ayagitam said those who would be able to fulfill this request will secure their thumbprints in the general election.

“As we begin yet another election year, the choices of my people on the voting day would be determined by who is willing to partner us to transform our lives. Our choices would be influenced by who is willing to give us a separate district and a constituency. This request has been on our lips for decades. We shall continue to knock the door until it’s open.

“Though the vision delays, we shall wait for it. Again, we will vote based on who will hear our cry to fix our roads, thereby improving our economic activity, increase incomes and better the standard of living of my people. Our choices will also be determined by who will improve my peoples’ access to potable water in all communities, delivery of functional health and educational infrastructure and provision of employable opportunities to the teeming youth.”

Source: Mikefmonline.com/Castro Senyalah/Chiana