Sunyani deserves better. A clarion call of the Chiefs and people of Sunyani who insist successive governments have done little to push the development of the Bono Regional capital to match its peers. 

Citizens and residents have been grieving over the years for the poor treatment of Sunyani and matters concerning Sunyani, institutions, and residents.

According to Nana Kwaku Sarbeng, Akwamuhene of the Sunyani Traditional Area, their efforts over the years to get their fair share of developments and improvement in the lives of the citizens yielded fewer results hence the need for the adoption of a new strategy and a new group. 

The Sunyani Stakeholders for Development Association, a non-political group, made up of distinguished personalities, comes in handy to front and champion issues for the good of Sunyani.

The chairman of the Association, Ambassador George Kumi, at a press briefing in Sunyani said their mission includes; "to ensure the Sunyani development pattern follows the original planning scheme which earned her the accolade of a perfectly planned city, that citizens and residents are gainfully employed and could go about their duties in peace, that education and healthcare delivery meets the needs of residents, a befitting market, sports stadium, and mini turfs, and ensure that Sunyani catches up with other regional capitals in developments and opportunities".

He noted, they will roll out different strategies and approach issues differently from how it has been done in the past.

He said, "Sunyani deserves better because the regional library remains abandoned 18 years after it started, old educational facilities were converted into tertiary institutions unlike new buildings and campuses built for other regions, town roads and the ring road projects remain dangerous to drive on, dualization of the New Dormaa to Yawhima road moving at a slow pace after over 10 years, the Sunyani Airport rehabilitation work remains incomplete despite the announcement of several completion dates, the Center for National Culture building remains abandoned after 50 years, dwindling sports fortunes due to lack of a stadium with modern facilities for training despite producing top talents such as Kwasi Owusu, Dan Owusu, George Arthur, Kwasi Appiah", etc.

On government appointments, Ambassador Kumi said, "as happens in several areas, authorities seek the opinion of traditional authorities to ensure appointees meet the aspirations of the citizens and residents whom they are meant to serve. But the Sunyani Traditional Council has been ignored in such appointments".

This, he insists, affects the smooth running of the municipality since the effective administration rests with government appointees and the Traditional Council.

He, however, attributes the peace-loving nature of the chiefs and citizens as the reason why they have been neglected and denied their fair share of the national cake by successive governments.

"Like the cash cow, Sunyani has been milked by all and sundry with no attempt at looking after the welfare of the cow and how it will be able to produce the milk", he said.

Ambassador George Kumi called on the government to seriously look into their concerns with the view of correcting the wrongs.

Nana Kwaku Sarbeng said the Traditional Council welcomes the ownership, management, and use of Traditional lands in the new Lands Act 2020, unlike previously, where they had no control over the lands.

He, however, called on the Lands Commission to render accounts of the Sunyani Stool Lands to the Traditional Council.