BASSARE CHIEFS CALL ON REGIONAL MINISTER (Page 31)

Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale

THE Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has evolved strategies to expose and clamp down on the activities of some individuals who are masterminding the circulation of text messages intended to cause panic and security threats in the region.
As part of the measures, the REGSEC is liaising with the national security outfit to help nip in the bud such activities in the region and arrest perpetrators of the act.
The Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris, made this known in Tamale when chiefs from the Bassare Traditional Area in the Zabzugu-Tatale District called on him.
The delegation was led by the Paramount Chief of Bassare, Obore Yankosor Gariba II, and included Assembly members and other citizens of the area. The meeting was a follow-up to a letter dated December 5, 2007 asking permission through the offices of the regional minister to meet President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Osu Castle in Accra to discuss pertinent issues regarding the development of the area.
Among the issues to be discussed at the proposed meeting is a request by the Bassare chiefs for the creation of the Tatale District out of the Zabzugu-Tatale District.
Alhaji Iddris also entreated the chiefs and opinion leaders in the Abudu and Andani chieftaincy divide to always tell their subjects the truth after any discussions in Kumasi on the road map to peace in the Dagbon problem.
The minister showed to the media practitioners present a text message that he received from an anonymous person.
Alhaji Iddris cautioned “war-mongers and people who cause mischief in the region” to desist from such acts or face the full rigours of the law.
“If you create such panic situation and you succeed in sending non-natives packing out of this place, as well as scaring away potential investors, what do you think you are doing to your own region?” he asked.
The minister expressed regret that some “people in the region thrive on confusion to make money” and cautioned those individuals to put a stop to their negative acts.
“After the Ghana 2008, it is expected that we should be reaping the benefits in the few years ahead because some of the foreigners are so happy about Tamale that they are saying good things about us on various media networks like the South African Broadcasting Corporation,” Alhaji Iddris further pointed out.
He urged media practitioners to publish stories that would help market the potential of the region rather than publish negative and untrue stories about it.
The Spokesperson for the Bassare chiefs, Mr James Yanwube, thanked the President and his government for the development in their area, particularly improved road network and schools.