The paramount chiefs of the Sherigu and Sumbrumgu traditional areas in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region have unanimously agreed for the Bolgatanga airport to be sited at Sumbrumgu-Anateem or Sherigu.
The construction of the Bolgatanga airstrip started around 1991 at Sumbrumgu-Anteem but stalled until 2017 when the government announced plans to continue the project.
But in 2018, the then Aviation Minister, Cecelia Dapaah hinted that the project will be relocated to Sherigu which led to a misunderstanding between the two communities.
At a joint press briefing of journalists in Bolgatanga, the paramount chiefs of Sherigu and Sumbrumgu, Naba Aluman Apasinaba and Naba Aberese Atogumboyinga dispelled claims that the communities were divided over the siting of the project.
They called on the government to expedite action on the construction of the airport at either Sumbrumgu or Sherigu.
They are optimistic that a well-established airport in the region will create jobs for the youth and boost the local economy of the area.
Terabuuriyele, a non-profit organization which facilitated the resolution of the two communities commended the communities for burying their differences to pave way for the development of the region.
A member of the group, Naba Paul Agoo said, “They all agreed that they don’t have a problem wherever the airport is sited they are for it.
They have also reiterated that they are one family and the project should come on.”
Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
