In his maiden media encounter since assuming office in January 2025, held over the weekend, the Upper East Regional Ministers, Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, outlined the progress made so far under his stewardship.

He said projects in critical sectors of national development—including security, health, education, electricity, water infrastructure and road construction—were at various stages of execution, while plans were underway to award contracts for similar projects across the length and breadth of the Upper East Region.

Mr Akamugri attributed the gains to resilient leadership and good governance anchored on inclusiveness, consultation and results-driven administration.

According to him, his administration had strengthened coordination, supervision and performance monitoring, while ensuring strict adherence to national policy 

Touching on security, the minister stated that the region had recorded marked improvements in peace and stability—an achievement he said deserved recognition by all stakeholders.

“While challenges persist, particularly in Bawku, overall security in that enclave has improved, and the region is generally safer for our communities and businesses. Through the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), we have intensified surveillance, intelligence gathering and early warning systems, and strengthened joint operations among the security agencies,” he explained.

He noted that these proactive measures had contributed significantly to enhanced safety, stability and public confidence across the region.

The minister also acknowledged a resurgence of robbery incidents in parts of the region, particularly in some communities in the Nabdam District and the Bolgatanga Municipality, which had recently experienced deadly attacks. He assured residents that security agencies were closing in on the perpetrators and that arrests would soon be made.

Mr Akamugri admitted that the non-functioning of traffic and streetlights in Bolgatanga had contributed to road accidents and robbery incidents in the regional capital.

On that score, the longest-serving Upper East Regional Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), indicated that he had taken steps to ensure that faulty traffic lights were repaired, while engaging the Ministry of Roads to decentralise maintenance contracts to enable quicker and more efficient responses to faults.

He further disclosed that the Regional Coordinating Council had received and distributed 3,413 boxes of 150-watt LED streetlights to Municipal and District Assemblies to improve lighting at strategic locations and targeted communities.

Additionally, the minister expressed concern over challenges associated with transporting remand prisoners from Navrongo to courts in Bolgatanga, a situation he said had worsened congestion at the Navrongo Prisons following the protracted conflict in Bawku.

He announced that plans were far advanced to convert an existing facility in Bolgatanga into a remand centre to accommodate inmates standing trial.

On health, Mr Akamugri told the media that the sector had recorded notable improvements, particularly in maternal and child health programmes aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the region.

However, he lamented the refusal of 23 out of the 26 doctors posted to the region last year to report for duty, expressing concern that the situation could undermine recent gains.

He appealed to the affected doctors to reconsider their decision in the interest of the region.