The Azukodaana and Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area, Naba Atogumdeya Roland Akwara III, has expressed deep appreciation for the prevailing unity and peace in Sirigu, describing them as the bedrock of the area’s sustainable development.
Addressing a grand durbar as part of activities marking a decade of his reign and the celebration of the Azuko Festival, the Paramount Chief said the occasion was both symbolic and reflective of the remarkable transformation the community has experienced over the past ten years.
“This durbar is not merely a ceremony; it is a testimony,” Naba Akwara stated. “It is proof that a people who once spoke past one another can now speak with one voice, and that a community once pulled apart by suspicion can now be held together by trust.”
Reflecting on the early years of his reign, the Paramount Chief recalled a period characterised by tension, mistrust, and division. He noted that the deliberate decision to pursue dialogue, reconciliation, and patience, rather than conflict, had fundamentally reshaped Sirigu’s destiny.
“Ten years ago, we stood at a crossroads. Old wounds were open, tempers were high, and the easy path was to retreat into our corners. But we chose the harder path — the path of dialogue, patience, and sacrifice,” he said.
Naba Akwara explained that the Azuko Festival itself was born out of the restoration of peace and unity in the community. Instituted to honour Azuko, the founder of Sirigu, the festival has since become a symbol of reconciliation and shared identity. He reaffirmed the people’s unwavering allegiance to the Atalimiro family and paid glowing tribute to the descendants of Adare, Akarigiya, and Akure — brothers of the founder — for their enduring role in preserving the heritage and traditions of the Sirigu people.
Despite the progress made, the Paramount Chief cautioned against complacency, stressing that peace and unity require constant nurturing and vigilance.
“Let us walk into the future together, aware of the dangers, confident in the possibilities, and determined to leave our children and our land more united, more just, and more prosperous than we inherited,” he urged.
The durbar attracted a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from both the political and traditional spheres. Among them were the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga; the Majority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga; the Member of Parliament for the Chiana-Paga Constituency, Nikyema Billa Alamzy; the District Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana West District, Stephen Aeke Akurugo; and the Municipal Chief Executive for the Kasena Nankana Municipal Assembly, Faustina Akeyom Abulu.
Also present were the Chiana Pio and President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, Pe Thomas More Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, other paramount and divisional chiefs, invited traditional rulers, opinion leaders, well-wishers, and the chiefs and people of Sirigu, who turned out in large numbers to celebrate a decade of leadership anchored on peace, unity, and development.
Source: Bluewaves Radio| 93.7mhz| Maurice Duncan| Shirigu
