Ho, Jan. 13, GNA- More than 30 applicants have expressed interest in developing the salt industry under the President's Special Initiative (PSI) in the Volta region.
The Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa made this known when Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and his chiefs and elders paid a courtesy call on him at the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) on Monday.
Mr Owusu-Yeboa, however, said the insistence of landowners that they should be contacted directly by the would-be investors for negotiations was affecting the necessary preparations for investment. He explained that salt was a mineral under the country's mineral laws and that it required the involvement of the Mineral's Commission in carrying out the statutory technical works before contacting the landowners.
Mr Owusu-Yeboa said though Chiefs in the region did not have ownership authority over lands as in some parts of the country, they had "jurisdictional authority" over lands in their communities.
That authority is recognised by their people because of the lead role played by the Chiefs whenever landowners from different communities were engaged in land disputes, the Minister said.
He appealed to the Chiefs to use their influence and interpose between local landowners and investment opportunities.
Mr Owusu-Yeboa was hopeful that the new Agbogbomefia, with his knowledge would play an important role in resolving the complex problems regarding investment and development in the region.
He said the final report on the Investment Conference held in the region last year would soon be published, and that investors from the region would be expected to lead the way in attracting other investors. Togbe Afede said Chiefs in the region looked forward to a development blue print to address developmental problems.
