Nandom MCE Pays Courtesy Visit to Traditional Council, Seeks Support for Development Initiatives

Left: Hon. Anthony Ziniel- Nandom MCE

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nandom, Hon. Anthony Ziniel, paid a courtesy call on the Nandom Traditional Council on Wednesday, 21st May 2025, to introduce himself and seek the blessings and collaboration of the chiefs and queenmothers in advancing the development of the municipality.

Hon. Ziniel, accompanied by his team, was warmly received by Naa Demepeh Gyereh, the Ko Naa, representing the Regent of Nandom Traditional Area, Mr. David Aasonaa Chemogoh Delle. During the visit, the traditional leader provided an overview of the traditional area's structure, noting that Nandom comprises 32 divisional areas, with 26 currently held by chiefs and six vacant. Additionally, there are 16 divisional queenmothers, with 12 positions yet to be filled.

In his address, the MCE expressed appreciation for the warm reception and emphasized his commitment to working closely with the Traditional Council to foster development within the municipality. Hon. Ziniel assured the chiefs and queenmothers of his dedication to collaborative efforts, highlighting his openness to partnership and community engagement.

He raised concerns about traders, particularly market women, who often conduct business along the shoulders of roads, posing safety risks to both traders and motorists. The MCE appealed to the Traditional Council to assist in encouraging traders to utilize designated market facilities, thereby improving safety and order within the municipality.

Furthermore, Hon. Ziniel sought the support of the Traditional Council in revenue mobilization efforts, including the collection of property rates. He announced plans to allocate a percentage of all revenues collected to traditional leaders, supporting local development projects in their communities. A portion of these funds will also be shared among the four traditional zones—Nandom, Ko, Puffien, and Baseble—to finance initiatives that benefit the entire municipality.

To enhance communication and accessibility, the MCE declared Thursdays as official days for receiving visitors. He encouraged chiefs and queenmothers to call ahead if they wish to meet, assuring them that he would visit their palaces when necessary, thereby avoiding unnecessary waits at the Assembly premises during busy periods.

Hon. Ziniel also acknowledged the contributions of past Members of Parliament and previous MCEs, pledging to sustain and build upon ongoing development projects.

The Traditional Council responded by raising pressing issues affecting the area, including the indiscriminate cutting of trees, rising teenage pregnancies, increasing cases of alcoholism, and road safety concerns due to frequent accidents. They expressed particular worry over the growing prevalence of drug and substance abuse among youth, calling for a multi-stakeholder approach to address these social challenges.

Additionally, the chiefs urged the Assembly to regulate tractor services, especially those operated by outsiders, advocating for registration and permits to safeguard local interests and ensure safety.

In his closing remarks, the Regent, through the Ko Naa, reaffirmed the Traditional Council’s full support for the MCE and the Assembly, expressing confidence that their joint efforts would lead to meaningful progress for the people of Nandom.

Source: Mohammed Abdulai - Nandom