The traditional rulers from Jirapa, Sissala West, Sissala East, Lambussie, Nandom and Lawra Municipal and Districts extolled the President for introducing “game-changing” policies and programmes to better the lot of the people.

The chiefs, however, urged the President to quickly address crucial development challenges confronting the Region as well as complete projects started by previous administrations for the sake of continuity of the nation’s growth agenda.

“I commend the President and his government for the commitment, speed and zeal with which they are rolling out their campaign promises to better the lives of the citizenry,” Naa Puowele Karbo III, the Paramount Chief of Lawra Traditional Area, said on Wednesday.

The chief was speaking on behalf of other traditional rulers in Jirapa when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo visited the area as part of his two-day tour of the nations’s youngest region.

He praised President Akufo-Addo’s administration for introducing leading poverty intervention initiatives like “one district, one factory”, “One village One Dam, “Free Senior High School,” “Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs) and Nations Builders Corps (NABCO)”.

“I am most delighted with the support for cashew plantations which will facilitate afforestation- given that the desert is fast closing in on the region and as well empowering the population economically,” Naa Karbo III said.

He lauded other interventions being implemented to stimulate the economy including tax reliefs, electricity tariff reduction and abolishing nuisance taxes to ease pressure on businesses and the ordinary man.

“This is visionary leadership to say the least. Keep it up,” he said.

The local leaders urged the youth to take advantage of the initiatives to contribute their quota towards the development of the nation.

The chiefs also pledged to assist government to implement its policies and initiatives to bring about the needed development adding: “We urge government to engage communities in which dams would be sited to buy into the concept of irrigation farming”.

Naa Karbo III urged the government to support efforts at establishing Shea plantations in the Region saying: “We believe it is the game changer. We look forward as well to seeing the commencement of the one district, one factory concept in the region.”

“We traditional authorities as stakeholders of corporate Ghana shall endeavours to cooperate with government as peace brokers in our respective communities,” he added: “We are also prepared to give our land in support of government initiatives. Our partnership with government is for real”.

President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the local rulers and assured them that government would continue to roll out policy and programme interventions that would catapult Ghana into a higher income country.