MP calls on chiefs to release land for development

Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bolgatanga East Constituency, has entreated landlords to release lands for construction of District offices to promote the development of the area.

“I urge the chiefs, in particular, to ensure that nobody engages in litigations of any kind that will prevent the utilisation of land for the development of offices,” he said, and added that the new District could not achieve its development agenda without the full cooperation of the chiefs and land owners.

Dr Ayine made the appeal when he addressed government and Non-Government officials, chiefs, religious leaders, some departmental heads and the people of Zuarungu at the inaugural ceremony of the newly created District in the Region.

The MP, who is also a former Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said the new District would need land for constructing District offices such as District Health Directorate, hospital among others to enhance development.

“Today we have achieved self-governance, in fact March 15 is Bolga East Independence Day, and it shall be celebrated as such, however, the achievement of independence brings with it obligations,” he said.

He thanked the President of the Republic for upgrading the area to a District and advised the people of the area not to divide the Assembly into NPP and NDC because that would retard development and the essence of the District would be defeated.

He further called on government to complete the phase two of the Zuarungu market because market tolls were good sources of revenue for Assemblies and said “if you do not have a well-developed market not only at Zuarungu, but in all the surrounding communities, we will not have sufficient revenue for our development.”

Dr Ayine emphasised on the need to re-examine the District boundaries of both the Bolga East and Talensi Districts and disclosed that portions of the Bolga East constituency were part of the Talensi District per the Legislative Instrument (LI) that created the Talensi District. “So the boundary has to be re-examined, we need to work on the redrawing of the boundaries so that we do not have confusion.”

The Upper East Region currently has 15 Districts with the creation of the two new Districts; the Bolgatanga East District and the Tempane District which was formerly Garu-Tempane.

Naba Caesar Anaba Afeghera, the Divisional Chief of the Zuarungu Traditional Area, said the move by government to upgrade Zuarungu to the status of a District, was an indication that it listened to the people of the area and had their welfare at heart.

“It also means that the President of Ghana is sharing the national cake fairly across all parts and for all the people of Ghana. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has shown that he is in tune with times and changing dynamics of society.”

He said the chiefs and people of the area would support the Assembly and government to succeed, “we shall play a key role in the running of the new Assembly and initiate programmes that will benefit our people. I call on public servants who are posted to the District to accept the challenge and work honestly in their chosen professions.”

The Chief also extended invitations to all stakeholders, Assembly members, Civil Society Organisations, development partners and the private sector who were into the local governance to be active players in the District so that it would be one of the best in the country.