The Paramount Chief of Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District, Pe Awiah Awumpaga II, has lauded the government for the construction of the transit truck park at the Paga border in the Upper East Region.
He said the completion of the facility has brought ease to cargo truck drivers travelling to the West African sub-region through Paga.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) this month commissioned the 30, 165 square-metre facility valued at GHC18 million, to ensure smooth operations for truck drivers and improve trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation.
Speaking to the media as part of engagements geared towards the 50th-anniversary celebration of his enskinment in June, Pe Awumpaga, said the commissioning of the park has elevated the image of Paga in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
“The lorry park is the best in the country so far, not in Paga alone. The government has done very well to bring that to our end. Now, when you’re going to Po’ (a town in Burkina Faso), there’s easy movement and those in Po’ have been praising the park.”
The Paga-Pio, who was thankful for the project, called on the government to address other pertinent challenges at the Paga border, such as the reconstruction of the Welcome Arch which was pulled down years ago.
He noted that the arch played a crucial role in welcoming visitors into the country and was inappropriate for it to be removed.
Pe Awumpaga also noted that accommodation remained a challenge for workers of the border agencies. He, therefore, appealed to the government to provide accommodation facilities to the agencies to enable them to work effectively in the area.
“After the CEPS office, you’ll see the arch but they have pulled it down almost seven yeses now. We don’t know who pulled it down and whether they are coming to make it again.”
“So, I’m pleading with the government to come and put up the arch. Because if you’re coming from Burkina Faso, it is better to read that before you enter. You’ll know that you’re in Ghana. In other borders across, the archs are there but I don’t know why the Paga one has been pulled down,” he said.
He added, ” accommodation is also a big challenge for the workers at the border. The CEPS, immigration doesn’t have enough accommodation. The chalets are not enough for workers but some of them are abandoned and now being destroyed. If you go to Nania-Changono you’ll see the chalets there destroying. The district assembly and government should please renovate them.”
50th anniversary
The Paga-Pio celebrates his golden anniversary in June 2022. The celebration, will among many things, mark his reign and the tremendous development the Paga Traditional Area has witnessed under his leadership.
Under his rule, Paga and its people have enjoyed maximum improvement in the areas of education, health and peace and security.
The Paga-Pio said in spite of the efforts by governments over the years to develop the area, there were still some challenges with development Paga was faced with.
Senyalah Castro
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