By Bajin D. Pobia, GNA
Wa, April 20, GNA – The indiscriminate sale of lands and dissipation of large tracts of lands to individuals without considering the interest of the larger community raises concern in the Upper West Region.
The double sale of lands, encroachment on public lands, development without recourse to approved plans among others, impose security threats for the people.
Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister raised these concerns at the second general meeting of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs held in Wa.
He urged traditional rulers, and government institutions mandated to address these issues to work together to help reverse the menace.
He said the Regional Security Council was deeply concerned about these illegal activities affecting the environment and the survival of the people.
Dr. Bin Salih appealed to the chiefs to consider issues of illegal mining, depletion of the forest, felling of rosewood, and poor land management practices as destructive, which needed to be deliberated on and proffer solutions in addressing them.
He also pleaded with the chiefs in the region to work with landowners to ensure that lands that are on waterlogged areas, must not be sold to developers without the necessary infrastructure such as drains to prevent flooding.
On development projects, he said some roads in the region were under construction, which included the 31 kilometre Wa-Bulenga Road, the 56 kilometre Fian-Issa-Wahabu Road and the 41 kilometre Wahabu-Funsi-Yala Road, the 22kilometre Wa-Han Road and the Wa-Dorimon Roads.
He said those roads when completed would enhance the economic activities of the people and improve transportation of goods and services.
GNA
