According to an announcement made by Madam Felicia Tetteh, the presumed Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, work would soon commence on the construction of an ultramodern Sagnarigu Community Centre as well as a multipurpose Astro Turf facility.
Mrs. Tetteh made these remarks while speaking to the Naa Ambassador Abdulai Yakubu, the Paramount Chief of Sagnarigu, and his elders on the 19th of July. She stated that the government will start the construction works as soon as possible.
"You will recall that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, when he came in 2020, stated that the Hilaaliya school park was going to be renovated into a new Astro turf park if I was voted to become the Member of Parliament. If you remember well, he made this promise to you. "Even though I did not win, he assured me that he will still fulfil that promise, and Insha Allah, he has given his approval for the construction of the facility," she said.
She mentioned that the facility, once it is finished, will provide a great deal of benefits to the people, and that they will be able to organise yearly Islamic celebrations at the facility, in addition to other religious activities and social events.
Despite the fact that the people did not give her their mandate in 2020 to represent them in Parliament, Madam Felicia stated that she has not abandoned the constituency and still works to improve the socioeconomic livelihood of the people there. One of the ways she does this is by providing machine tools to apprentices who are graduating from their training and need equipment for their first jobs.
"...I have not abandoned the constituency and the people of Sagnarigu after the 2020 elections; I have continued to offer my support to women groups and the youth; I have provided tailoring and hairdressing machines and tools to young women whenever they are passing out from their apprenticeship; and I have also constructed several mechanised boreholes for some of the communities," she emphasised. "I have also provided tailoring and hairdressing machines and tools to young women whenever they are passing out from their apprenticeship."
The businesswoman and politician stated that the improvement of the constituency is her top concern, and she urged the people to vote for her in 2024 so that they will have the opportunity to replace her if she does not fulfil the terms of her mandate.
When Madam Felicia Tetteh handed her candidature documents to the Sagnari Naa, she asked for his blessings and prayers to help her lead the NPP into the general elections in 2024. She made the request at that time.
In addition, she paid comparable courtesy calls on the Sagnarigu Zongo Chief in addition to sub-Chiefs within the Sagnarigu traditional territory while she was accompanied by the NPP Regional Organiser in addition to other powerful figures.
During this time, the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Lawyer Sule Sambian, who was also a part of the entourage along with the consultant for the Astro turf project, made an assurance that work on the project will commence by September 2023 at the latest.
"I came with the consultant [Godwin], and I am hopeful that by the end of this month they will be finished with the bills. After that, we will go through the procurement processes, and I can assure you that by September we should start working on the artificial turf."
Mr. Sambian revealed that the NDA is planning to begin work on eight additional infrastructure projects in the Sagnarigu constituency.
For his part, NAA Ambassador Abdulai Yakubu stated that he had no doubt that the projects will be implemented. He recollected a similar commitment made by the government to create a training centre in the region, which is far advanced at this point.
He made an appeal to Dr. Bawumia, saying, "They have mentioned me, and I want to say that we are grateful to him because it is through his initiative that the Zongo Development Fund is building a training [to train our people in vocational skills], and we call on him again to ensure that this is realised."
However, in his words, the Sagnari Naa chastised lawmakers to focus on the development ambitions of the north and also recommended them to shy away from engaging in chieftaincy politics.