Buem chiefs urged to modify the land tenure system

Accra, Sept.4, GNA- A Lecturer at the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, has called on the Buem Traditional Council, to modify the outmoded land tenure system in the predominantly farming area, to attract investors.

The Reverend Dr Elias Kwaku Asiama, said easy access to land would boost large-scale farming, especially the cultivation of non-traditional crops like potatoes, for export and also encourage other economic activities to enhance the development of the area.

The Lecturer, a citizen of Jasikan in Buem, was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, in Accra on Friday.

He said the area would remain underdeveloped despite the enormous human and natural resource, unless concerted efforts were made to exploit the potentials to the benefit of the people.

Rev. Dr Asiama, therefore, charged the traditional authorities to unite and mobilise the people for development to eradicate the widespread poverty, diseases, illiteracy and ignorance.

He said: " Though we would need Government's assistance to enable us to embark on a vigorous socio-economic development, much would be expected to pool our own resources to improve our standard of living" and appealed to citizens of Buem resident abroad to contribute to the development of the area.

Rev. Dr Asiama expressed regret that the cocoa industry, which formed the backbone of the economy of the people, had declined due to long neglect and the bushfires in 1983 that affected production. He urged the youth to take advantage of the Government's assistance package to revive abandoned cocoa farms to increase production.

Rev. Dr Asiama advised the people to stop spending lavishly on funerals, marriages and other social ceremonies and rather invest in the education of their children, especially in the acquisition of skills and knowledge required for national development.

Rev. Dr Asiama urged students to strive for excellence, to justify the huge investment being made in their education.

He tasked the Jasikan District Assembly, to establish an Educational Fund to assist brilliant but needy children.

Rev. Dr Asiama appealed to individuals, Churches and other organisations to contribute meaningfully to the development of education in the area.

He advised the youth against alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and hooliganism and to channel their youthful exuberance into hard work and to promote social virtues.

Rev. Dr Asiama said, pre-marital sex was undermining the national crusade against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and called on individuals and organisations to support the Government's campaign against the spread of the disease.

He reminded the people that the disease could be acquired mainly through sex and that no known cure had been found yet. Rev. Dr asked the central Government to provide social amenities such as roads, hospitals and water in the area to facilitate economic development in the area.