The Chief of Kandiga, Naaba Henry Abawine Amega-etego II, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to facilitate the full absorption of the self-initiated Kandiga Community Senior High Technical School into Ghana’s public education system.
The appeal was made during the 2025 edition of the Kandiga Dunseema Festival, held on December 31, which drew a large gathering of traditional rulers, government officials, opinion leaders, and residents of the Kandiga traditional area.
Addressing the durbar, Naaba Henry Abawine Amega-etego II expressed concern that the current status of the school is undermining educational progression in the area, as many Junior High School (JHS) graduates are unable to transition to senior high education.
According to the chief, the Kandiga Community Senior High Technical School commenced operations in 2010 but has remained outside the public system due to unmet infrastructure requirements. He disclosed that the Ghana Education Inspectorate Division has recommended the construction of an additional six-unit classroom block as a key condition for the school’s absorption.
He further underscored the urgency of the matter, noting that Kandiga currently has 18 primary schools and 14 junior high schools, making the presence of a fully public senior high school indispensable to addressing the growing educational needs of the area.
“The absence of a public senior high school is contributing to a high dropout rate among our JHS graduates,” the chief said, urging President Mahama to personally intervene to ensure the school’s absorption and secure the educational future of the youth.
Beyond education, the Kandiga Naaba also renewed calls for the elevation of the Kandiga traditional area to a paramountcy. He argued that Kandiga meets all the historical and administrative criteria for such recognition, citing the area’s long-standing traditional heritage and his 53-year reign as chief.
“Prudent measures should be taken to ensure the elevation of the Kandiga Naaba to a Paramount Chief,” he stated, adding that all required inspections by the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs were conducted many years ago, yet the process has not yielded a favourable outcome.
The 2025 Dunseema Festival was organised by Spotless Events Planners in collaboration with the Kandiga community. The event was attended by traditional authorities, the Kasena-Nankana West District Chief Executive, the Member of Parliament for the Chiana-Paga Constituency, and other invited guests.
The festival showcased Kandiga’s rich cultural heritage, featuring colourful war dances, traditional wrestling, and vibrant performances by local women’s groups, among other activities, reinforcing the community’s call for development, recognition, and inclusion.
Source: Bluewaves Radio| 93.7mhz| Maurice Duncan|Kandiga
