President John Mahama has announced plans to expand piped water networks in Tamale, Yendi and Damongo as part of efforts to address infrastructure deficits and support economic development in northern Ghana.
The projects, financed by the European Union, are expected to improve access to water in the three communities, while new heavy-duty pumps for the Dalong waterworks are scheduled to become operational next month to ease pressure on Tamale’s municipal water supply.
President Mahama announced the interventions on Monday, October 19, when a delegation of chiefs from the Dagbon Traditional Area, led by the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Naa Yakubu II, paid a courtesy call on him at the seat of government.
He said peace and reliable public infrastructure were essential to attracting private investment, creating sustainable jobs for young people and accelerating development in the northern part of the country.
The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to working with traditional authorities to sustain peace and promote regional transformation.
“Our fundamental responsibility as a government is to foster a safe, peaceful, and enabling environment—encouraging dialogue at every turn and ensuring that every single community feels protected and valued,” he said.
The delegation’s visit was to express the gratitude of the chiefs and people of Dagbon to the President and the state for their support during the illness, funeral rites and burial of the late Overlord, Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, as well as the peaceful enskinment of the Regent.
President Mahama reiterated his administration’s respect for traditional institutions and assured the chiefs that the government would not interfere in chieftaincy affairs.
“The peace of Dagbon is priceless, and we must safeguard it deliberately through our words, policies, and shared respect for one another,” he said.
He added that the government held Dagbon’s customs, traditions and institutions in high esteem and would provide the support needed by traditional leaders to serve their communities.
President Mahama also paid tribute to the late Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, describing him as a trusted friend, a father figure and a visionary peacemaker who helped restore harmony across the kingdom.
He urged Kampakuya Naa Yakubu II to build on his father’s legacy through wisdom, broad consultation and inclusivity.
“Your noble father was a bridge-builder of remarkable vision. You have pledged not only to preserve the bridges he painstakingly built, but to construct new ones during your stewardship. Government stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you on this journey,” he said.
The President said the planned water projects and other infrastructure investments were intended to address longstanding utility challenges, reduce the cost of living and doing business, and create conditions for agro-industrial expansion.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Kampakuya Naa Yakubu II pledged to uphold his late father’s legacy of tolerance and progress.
He expressed the kingdom’s readiness to work with the central government to promote youth entrepreneurship, protect peace in communities and advance economic development in Dagbon.