The Paramount Chief of Kong Traditional Area in the Savannah Region, Kongwura Adamu Seidu Jinkurige I, has pledged to modernize his traditional area to attract investors and tourists.
As part of steps to achieve his vision, he has invited fthe Catholic Church to build a church in his traditional area.
Kongwura made the request at a durbar where the Jaksally Development Organization and College for Community and Organizational Development (CCOD) outlined their support program for the development of Kong.
At the durbar, the Kongwura also laid out his strategic development plan dubbed “Modern Kong”.
He said, as part of a strategic plan to develop Kong, he wants to start on the foundation of the word of God so he wants the Catholic Bishop of Damongo Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Peter Paul Y. Ankyier to establish a catholic church in Kong.
“Kong is calling on you Bishop to establish the Catholic Church in Kong. The people of Kong are ready to receive the word of God because we are men of God. Bishop, give Kong a trial and you will not regret it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Kongwura, Amidu Mutalim noted that Kong has not had its fair share of the national cake, but he believes if the Catholic church is established there, it will attract development and also help to harness the skills of the people to achieve the Modern Kong vision.
He observed that the Catholic Church is known for providing infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and other development projects so they believe if the church is established in Kong it will do them a whole lot of good.
Amidu Mutalim decried the challenges in the areas of education, health, road network, and electricity, adding that “it is worrying that in this 21st century people are still been denied the basic needs of life.”
Bishop Ankyier, in his response, said he will work hard with the Parish Priest of Tuna towards the establishment of the church in Kong.
He said “…your plea that the church is not reaching your kingdom we are aware and happy that you invited us to be part of your strategic development plan agenda to build a modern town, and I can assure you I will begin the process with Good Shepherd Parish Priest in Tuna to accomplish this project,” he said.
The Bishop thanked Jaksally and CCOD for taking the idea of community development and social innovations to the doorstep of people to identify their own problems and find solutions to them.
He also congratulated Kongwura for creating the path that will challenge the other traditional areas in Gonjaland to also begin to plan for their own development.
“This great vision of Kongwura will go down in the history of Gonjaland as a living testimony for the next generation to follow and how to harness peace and development,” he said.
The Durbar was also attended by the Registrar of Gonja Traditional Council, 56 sub-chiefs and Queens of Kong Traditional Area, Assembly members, and representations from Sawla District Assembly and of the Fulani group, as well as academia.