8 CHIEF EXECUTIVES TAKE OFFICE IN UW PAGE 17)

EIGHT out of the nine newly confirmed Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the Upper West Region have been sworn in at a short ceremony held at the forecourt of the Regional Coordinating Council.
They are, Mr Robert Wavei, DCE for Sissala West; Mr Abu Kasangbata, Nadowli; Mr Bernard Puozuing, Jirapa; Mr Seidu Tingbani, Wa West; Mr Ameen Salifu, Wa East; Mr Samson Abu, Lawra; Mr Clement Benin, Lambussie-Karni, and the only female DCE, Miss Alijata Sulemana, Sissala East.
The Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Yakubu Duogo, could not take part in the ceremony as he was said to be in Accra on official duty. He will, therefore, be sworn in at a later date.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mohammed Khalid, who administered the oath of secrecy and allegiance, advised the new M/DCEs to exhibit a high sense of integrity, remain selfless and sacrifice for the good of the people they would serve.
He said they must constantly bear in mind the state of the region as the youngest with a very high poverty level and urged them to work closely with their technocrats and other agencies to be able to build an effective team to propel the development of the district.
In this regard, the regional minister advised the M/DCEs against meddling in land and chieftaincy disputes, saying, "Be very alert and proactive in order to avert any forms of conflicts in your areas, since conflicts retard progress".
For his part, a Member of the Council of State for the Upper West Region, Naa Seidu Braimah, also urged the chief executives to show much maturity in their deliberations, adding that the position was a very difficult one.
He charged them to mobilise all material and human resources in their areas of jurisdiction and work together to propel the development of the districts and the region.
Naa Braimah further urged the M/DCEs to do away with their political colours and serve the interest of the people.
The Sissala West DCE, Mr Robert Wavei, on behalf of his counterparts expressed appreciation to President J.E.A. Mills for the opportunity and pledged to work diligently for the good of the region and the nation as a whole.