The Paramount Chief of Bongo Traditional Area, Bo-Naba Salifu Alemyarim, in collaboration with the Bongo Area Development Programme (ADP) of World Vision Ghana, has honoured six Swiss donors visiting the area in appreciation of their significant contribution to the development of the Bongo community.
Naba Alemyarim conferred chieftaincy titles on three of the visitors, while the other three were eulogized for their meritorious services to the people of the area, but without any specific titles, during a ceremony at the chief's palace in Bongo.
The title "Naba Amal-Bongo", or Chief Developer of Bongo, was conferred on Mr. Oliver Stoldt whom the Bo-Naba described as "a man of wisdom whose humanitarian spirit has brought relief to many of the under-privileged in our community."
Mr. Markus Friedli received the title "Naba Ayalig-Tenga", or "he who brings expansion to the town", while his wife Mrs. Fabienne Friedli was enskinned "Mangaziya", or leader of women, for demonstrating that they have the welfare of the people of the area at heart.
The other three members of the team, Mr. Roland Thoerisch, Mr. Karlheine Cless, and Ms Manuela Wilhelm, were cited for their efforts to bring about an improvement in the lives of the people.
Naba Alemyarim expressed gratitude to the Swiss visitors and the entire staff of WVI in Switzerland for supporting development initiatives in the community.
He said he and his people would continue to work in collaboration with WVI and other development partners to ensure that their investment in the area yields good results.
Mr. Markus Friedli said one of their reasons for coming to the Bongo area was to assess progress being made from the development aid over the years, adding that they were satisfied with what they had seen on the ground.
He said he and his colleagues, working under the auspices of WVI, intend to support health service delivery at the Bongo Hospital to improve upon the health status of people in the community.
Ms Benedicta Pealore, Manager of the Bongo ADP of World Vision Ghana, mentioned the construction of a conference hall in Bongo at a cost of 40,000 dollars, provision of educational material to schools, support for women's groups engaged in the weaving of straw products and the extension of assistance to the physically challenged as some of her organization's areas of intervention in the Bongo District.
She urged the people to choose peace, bearing in mind the development of their community and for that matter the future of their children as the December election approaches, saying that no donor would send assistance to an area where there is no peace.