Chief to Mark 10th Anniversary in December 2025

Celebrating a Decade of Leadership and Unity in Sirigu

The Chiefs and people of the Sirigu Traditional Area are set to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the reign of Azukodaana Naba Roland Atogumdeya Akwara III, the Paramount Chief of the region. This significant milestone marks a decade of leadership, unity, and development under his guidance.

Naba Akwara III was officially enskinned as the Paramount Chief and President of the Sirigu Traditional Council on July 20, 2015. The anniversary celebrations are scheduled to take place from December 26 to December 30, 2025, with the theme “A decade of leadership, unity and development.” This event aims to bring together the sons and daughters of Sirigu, both within and outside the traditional area, to honor the leadership of the Azukodaana over the past ten years.

One of the key objectives of the celebration is to institutionalize the Azuko festival as an annual cultural event. This festival will serve as a tribute to Azuko, the founder of the Sirigu community, whose vision and courage laid the foundation for the area’s growth. The event will also foster community unity and participation in all local activities, promote cultural heritage and tourism, mobilize resources for development initiatives, and inspire the youth through education and talent recognition.

During the joint launch of the anniversary and the maiden celebration of the Azuko cultural festival, Naba Akwara III emphasized the importance of using this occasion to reflect, rejoice, and recommit to the values that bind the community together. He urged the sons and daughters of the area, dignitaries, neighbors, well-wishers, and the international community to join the traditional council in preparing for the festival.

“Let this 10th Anniversary and maiden celebration of the Azuko festival be a living tribute to leadership, legacy, and love for our homeland. As we prepare for the festival, I appeal to all of us to begin to save money and other resources to be used for the development projects to make Mother Sirigu great and strong,” he said.

The Azukodaana also expressed gratitude to God, his ancestors, the gods of Sirigu, Divisional Chiefs, Queen Mothers, Assembly members, government and non-governmental agencies, and women groups for their support over the decade. He commended the Azuko Festival Committee led by Mr. Ricky Kasisi Peprah for their contributions to the main occasion in December.

Mr. Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, who attended the launch, congratulated the Paramount Chief for his successes over the decade and praised his “distinguished service” to the people of Sirigu. He highlighted that Naba Akwara III’s reign has been marked by dignity, calm, wisdom, commitment to visionary traditional leadership, and a dedication to the development of Sirigu.

“You have over the years championed education, upheld cultural identity, supported women’s empowerment through the Sirigu Women’s Organization for Pottery and Art (SWOPA), and most importantly, promoted peace and cohesion in your jurisdiction, and as well, opened new doors for inclusive growth and development,” he said.

According to a brief profile of the Paramount Chief, he is the 15th male child among 30 siblings, born on December 26, 1985, to Naba Adumbire Akwara II and Madam Akumlekima Akanyange Adumbire. His educational journey began at Sirigu Primary School through to Sirigu Junior High School, where he completed his basic education in 2004. He then attended Bolgatanga Secondary School before working briefly with the Navrongo Health Research Centre.

Inspired by his passion for community development, he served as a pupil teacher at his alma mater, the Sirigu Primary School. Prior to his enskinnment, the Paramount Chief pursued further education at the Saint John Bosco College of Education in Navrongo from 2012 to 2015, after which he was enskinned as Paramount Chief on July 20, 2015.

Naba Akwara III continued his academic pursuits at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2019. He later obtained a Master of Arts degree in Development Studies, with a specialization in human rights, gender, and conflict, from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Over the past decade, the Azukodaana’s reign has been characterized by his quest for development and proactive leadership, combining traditional wisdom with modern approaches to propel the growth of Sirigu. His efforts have not only strengthened the community but also inspired future generations to contribute to the progress of their homeland.