President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged the people of Navrongo to peacefully choose a successor to fill the vacancy created by the late Paramount chief of the Kessena-Nanakana traditional area, Navro Pio, Dr. Augustine Atudiku Balinia Adda (Pe Asagipare I).
“I take the opportunity to ask that, now that he has gone, the traditional ruler who fought for four decades for peace, tranquillity and stability to his area, the elders of Navrongo will peacefully choose a successor who will also be a peace-maker and a developer of the area,” President Akufo-Addo said at the funeral rites.
He praised the late chief for his contribution to the development of Navrongo.
Paying his tribute to late Navro Pio at his final funeral rites in Navrongo, President Nana Akufo-Addo described him as a “remarkable modern chief who brought a lot of reputation to the Kassena-Nankana area.”
“He was a Ghanaian patriot that gave a lot to the development of his area and Ghana, and such men when they pass must be remembered by those of us alive, so that they know that those whose work hard for the progress and development of our country will be honored when they go to meet the almighty God.”
Mr. Augustine Adda Jr., son of late Navro-Pio who read the family’s tribute described him as a hero of Kassena-Nankan traditional area for his enormous initiatives and developmental projects brought to the area to improve the livelihood of his subjects.
He added that, the family will forever remember him for his service to humanity and pledged to emulate his leadership style in the rest of their lives until they meet again in the next world.
About Dr Augustine Atudiku Balinia Adda
The late Navro Pio, Pe Asagipare I, was born on 14th December 1936 and enskined as Navro Pio on July 15, 1972, reigning on his throne for close to 43 years.
Formal Education
His formal education started with St. Paul’s Primary Navrongo from 1945-1950, St. Mary’s Middle School from 1951-1953, Wegbe Grammar School Wegbe Volta Region from 1954-1955, Mawuli Secondary School Ho Volta Region from 1955-1959, briefly taught at Navrongo Secondary School from 1960-1961, entered Kiev State University Kiev-Ukarainia USSR 1961-1962 for his sixth form studies, Moscow Agricultural Academy from 1962-1967 and obtained an MSc in Agricultural Science, continued with Moscow Agricultural Academy from 1967-1971 and obtained a PhD in Soil Science, undertook a research on Phosphorus deficiency in Tropical Soils in Ghana from 1971-1972.
Working Life
Dr. A.B Adda served on various Boards starting with Ghana State Farms Cooperation in 1973, and he entered into farming with a focus to improve agriculture to enhance nutritional sufficiency within his Traditional Area, Upper Region and Ghana as a whole.
He expanded the agricultural front, supported the cooperative system with bullock farming.
Through his instrumentality, the Tono Irrigation Project came to a realization as he ensured a very smooth resettlement of persons affected by the project.
Contribution to Education
Dr. Adda made significant contribution to education in this part of the country.
He took up the challenge of opening up schools and saw the commencement of many primary, middle, secondary schools and ensured the location of a campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Navrongo.
He took advantage of his education in Russia to establish the Ghana-Russian Friendship Society and was its first President. This saw most students from Navrongo and Northern Ghana in particular and Ghana at Large go to Russia for further studies.
Service to House of Chiefs
Pe Dr. A.B Adda was the first President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, and the longest serving President during his reign.
Under his Presidency, he worked for the elevation and creation of ten (10) Paramountcies for the Kassena Nankana Federation of Chiefs.
Through the ingenuity and generosity of the NavroPio Pe Dr. A.B Adda, the foundations of the Navrongo Health Research Centre were laid when he donated the piece of land for work to begin on the Vitamin A Supplementation Trials in the late 80s.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citinewsroom.com/Ghana