The District Chief Executive of Talensi in the Upper East Region, Hon. John Nabwomya Millim, has expressed his commitment to enhancing the living standards of the district’s residents, describing this as his top priority since taking office.
Talensi District stands out as a focal point in the region, hosting major gold mining companies and experiencing steady population growth over the past 25 years due to significant gold discoveries.
In an interview with the Vaultz News, Mr. Nabwomya emphasized that while improving residents’ quality of life is paramount, this objective cannot be realized without unity. He therefore urged everyone to come together and work collectively toward this common goal.
“My vision for Talensi is to improve the living standards of the people of Talensi. When everywhere is getting this kind of improvement as a whole, we will have a healthy nation. You know, in every society, before you get progress and development in whatever kind, you need to be united, and so I have it as a policy or a vision in me that I will want to bring people on board.
“You know, there is no community without issues of misunderstanding. These are the issues that I am looking and you know we all owe it a duty to contribute our quota to the development of the district that we live in. So we cannot do that wholeheartedly if we are not together in unity”.
Hon. John Nabwomya Millim
He further explained that the abundance of gold in the district attracts people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, including both good and bad elements.
According to him, there have been a series of armed robbery attacks by unknown gunmen who block roads and steal valuables from travelers, undermining efforts to maintain strong security in the district.
He attributed the problem to the poor road network in the area, which these unknown gunmen exploit to carry out their robberies, targeting valuables such as money, gold, and mobile phones. “The security is seriously one of the things affecting us now, and we are working hand-in-hand to make sure that we nip this menace in the bud.”
Talensi District Eyes Economic Growth Through Mining Jobs
Furthermore, Hon. John Nabwomya Millim acknowledged that it is reasonable for the youth in the district to demand jobs from the mining companies, as the lands being mined were previously their farmlands, and thus they deserve compensation through employment opportunities within these companies.
However, he also emphasized that while the mines cannot hire everyone, employing a significant number of locals could help reduce the ongoing tensions that frequently arise.
“We are going into consensus with them. They are here to make profit, but not at the expense of the people too, and so it is only when we build a consensus and understanding that we can also get the best from the companies. But if we use violence, violence begets violence.
“For me, we are going to go on with consensus building so that they understand our point and they also come in to give their support so that it will help the youth. Because in every community, it is the youth who hold the community. So, their presence here is very important; when they are away, it is also not good for community building”.
Hon. John Nabwomya Millim
While also acknowledging the poor condition of the road network in the district, Mr. Nabwomya affirmed his commitment to addressing the issue.
He revealed that he has already begun discussions with the Ministry of Roads and other relevant authorities to find a solution for improving the deteriorated and often impassable roads.
“We really have a bad road network, I think it is something we are tabling to the ministry together with the effort and support of my Honorable Member of Parliament for us to see whether we can actually make a few roads motorable for people to ply smoothly.”
Hon. John Nabwomya Millim
Accordingly, he emphasized that improving the roads will help open up the district to potential investors and tourists who might have previously been deterred by the poor road conditions. Finding a lasting solution to this problem is therefore crucial.
He also urged businesses and investors to consider the district when planning to establish operations in Northern Ghana, particularly in the Upper East Region, highlighting the significant potential the Talensi district offers for their ventures.
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