Government to compensated traditional authorities and landowners

Denu, April 14, GNA-Miss Theresa Ameley Tagoe, Deputy Minister of Lands and Mines, on Wednesday announced that government would soon pay compensation for lands acquired from traditional authorities and other landowners for development projects.

She said an inventory of all state lands was therefore in process to facilitate payments.

Miss Tagoe, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ablekume-South, was speaking at the Ketu District People's Assembly at Denu.

She said a project, under which all land related departments would be grouped under one umbrella to offset the duplication of procedures and fraud in land administration, was underway to speed up the handling of land matters.

Miss Tagoe said portions of land acquired would be returned to owners if found to be in excess of what government needed. Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister, appealed to the people to avoid land litigation adding that the region stood in the "pole position" among other regions in the country.

He said: "Land problems form a major setback for investment in our region and until the problem is solved, other regions would lead us in development".

Mr Dzamesi said even though government has constructed 440 blocks of classrooms in the region within the past four years, 880 additional blocks would be required to improve education infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning at the basic level.

He said the rural electrification and road projects in the region were not suspended and that funds would be sourced for the completion of the Tema-Aflao Highway and other road projects this year.

Mr Dzamesi said the Workers Brigade that existed in the First Republic was not feasible now, adding that the government would assist the youth to undertake ventures of their choices.

Mr Linus Koffie, Ketu District Chief Executive, said the People's Assembly concept had assisted in improving the country's democratisation process, as the practice ensures interaction between state officials and the public.