Tamale — President John Evans Atta Mills has charged all the traditional leaders in the Northern Region, to embrace and sustain the prevailing peace in the area, to enable his government achieve its vision of bridging the development imbalance between the north and the south, through the implementation of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).

According to the President, peace was an essential commodity, and a prerequisite for accelerated national development, hence the need for the chiefs to control their subjects, and stop the use of violence as a last resort in searching for better lives.

President Mills was addressing a large durbar organised in his honour by the chiefs and people of the Northern Region, as part of activities marking his first official visit to the area, since his victory in 2008.

He reaffirmed that his government would leave no stone unturned in searching for lasting solutions to the conflicts in Gushegu and Yendi, and the criminals involved.

According to the President, his government would not condone a culture of impunity in the country, and thus promised to work beyond all odds to bring justice to the family of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani, Alhaji Issah Mobila, and those who died in Gushegu during the 2008 elections."I know when to compromise with situations to achieve peace, and I know when to show muscles to achieve peace.

My government is making frantic efforts to come out with measures that will address the problem in Dagbon once and for all. We know what we are about, and we know what we are doing about the matter," he said.President Mills cautioned that there would be no room for those who had encouraged, nourished, and cultivated the culture of impunity, and perpetrated crimes. "Those days are over," he noted.

On the other hand, he unveiled plans of the government in ensuring massive job creation for the youth throughout the country, and northern Ghana in particular.He mentioned the Youth in Agriculture Module of the National Youth Employment Programme, as one of the areas the government had identified to promote jobs and improve on national food security.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South and Minister for Communication, Haruna Iddrisu, also highlighted on some of the achievements of the ruling government, in the midst of continued criticisms from the opposition, and other members of the ruling National Democratic Congress party.

He accused the past government of tearing the economy into pieces, which he noted, had contributed to the slow pace of the ruling government in managing the nation. "The NDC cannot celebrate riches in poverty; we cannot keep mute over the high deficit we inherited from NPP, and now NDC is slow, because we are managing the economy with a huge deficit," he said.

The Chief of Kumbungu, Nayiri, on behalf of all the chiefs, called for justice and stiffer punishment for those who murdered the Ya-Na, in order to bring back joy to his family and friends.

He also called on the government to assist northern farmers with agricultural inputs to produce food in commercial quantities, provide irrigation systems for bumper harvests, tractors, combine harvesters and financial support.

The Kumbungu Naa also appealed to the President to improve upon the healthcare delivery, through the provision of adequate health facilities, especially at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The Chief passionately appealed to the Mills' administration to create more districts out of the existing 20 districts, to ensure accelerated development.

The President was accompanied by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister for Communication, Haruna Iddrisu, Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina, his Deputy, Moses Mabengba Bukari, the NDC General Secretary, Johnson Aseidu Nketia, National Vice Chairman, Huudu Yahaya, Tamale Mayor, Haruna Friday, and other District Chief Executives.

He also commissioned the Savanna Cement Factory at Buipe, inspected the Nasia Rice Factory, Ghana Cotton Company Limited, commissioned an electrification project at Nanton, and also paid courtesy calls on the Yagbonwura and the Kampakuyana.In all, he spent four official days in the Northern Region.