The eleven member land management committee of the secretariat, shall record all land transactions at the local level as well as resolve land disputes within the Talensi traditional area.

At the inauguration of the secretariat in Tongo, Paramount chief of Talensi traditional Area, Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang, said the secretariat will sanitize and streamline land ownership and management.

He said the secretariat will be responsible for the issuance of application forms and allocation notes in the acquisition of lands, and hence a requirement by the District Assembly in issuing  building permits  to prospective developers.

Tongraan added that,the secretariat will also capture all land acquired by developers in the area and prepare all land related documents to ensure accurate land transactions and records.

He called on stakeholders in the land sector to collaborate with the secretariat to achieve its set objectives.

He also appealed to government to include Clan, Tindana and Family lands under the stool/skin land since they constitute the chieftaincy institution of a traditional ruler instead of segregating them.

The secretariat will be manned with technical support from the Office of the Administrator of Stool/Skin lands (OASL).

The establishment of the secretariat is with support from the  Ministry of lands and Natural Resources, and the Ghana Land Administration project phase two(LAP-2).

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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All the 29 assembly members voted in favour of the nominee in his second confirmation sitting.

The DCE nominee for Bongo, Peter Ayimbisa Ayamga, was also confirmed with 85.18 percent of the vote.

Of the 54 assembly members present, 46 voted in favour of the nominee while 7 voted against his nomination.

Also at the Bolgatanga Municipal assembly, MCE nominee, Joseph Ameyure Atura was endorsed by 92.4 percent of assembly members. Of the 53 members, 49 voted in his favour while 4 voted against his nomination.

The endorsements were supervised by the respective Districts and Municipal electoral commissions and witnessed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Rockson Bukari Ayine and his deputy, the NPP Regional Chairman, Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, and other dignitaries.

The Regional Minister,  Rockson Bukari swore in the confirmed the Bolga Municipal Assembly, Talensi and Bongo MDCEs, Mr. Joseph Ameyure, Mr. Christopher Someteima  and Mr. Peter Ayimbisa  into office.

Mr. Rockson Bukari commended the assembly members’ for the massive endorsement of the President’s nominees and urged them to support and ensure that all good policies of the government were implemented to bring development to the people.

He advised the  MDCEs to operate an open-door policy so that the people would be able to contribute their quota towards the development of the area.

The Regional Minister, Mr. Rockson Bukari, cautioned all  Municipal and District Chief Executives to avoid any act of bribery and corruption so that they would be able to protect the public purse and prosecute the agenda of the government without any wastage.

Mr. Rockson Bukari reminded the confirmed MDCEs to avoid greediness and any other act that would bring the offices they held into disrepute as well as create any form of conflict with the people they had been assigned to lead.

He called on the assembly members’ to work as a team to ensure that they contribute their quota towards effective and efficient management of the assembly’s resources.

The confirmed MDCEs expressed  appreciation to assembly members of their respective assemblies for reposing confidence in them to propel the development of their districts.

The MDCEs pledged  to work in synergy with assembly members of the respective assemblies to address issues of falling standards of education, unemployment, water and sanitation, poor road infrastructure, food insecurity, alcoholism, bush fires and teenage pregnancy.

They reiterated their commitment to operate an open door policy and to welcome proposals and contributions to support them propel the development of their citizens by spearheading the pro-poor policies of the NPP government.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He has also cautioned all chiefs and landowners(Tindaanas) within the traditional area, not to lease out lands for any mining activity without the approval of the Talensi traditional council.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6Y2QmF3mBubtzjtrJR4ooA9OCWGI53AC”]This decision according to Tongoraa, is to allow for comprehensive investigations into all mining activities in Gbane in order to curb the precarious mining practices that have led to the loss of lives and environmental degradation.

“We the Talensi traditional council have extended the temporary ban beyond the Shaanxi Ghana Mining company limited to cover all licensed and illegal miners in Gbane. We are doing it through the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amemu, the Minerals Commission and the Upper East Regional Police command…”

Addressing a press conference at his palace in Tongo, Tongoraan Kulgbilsong Nanlebegtang said the perilous nature of mining in the area has not only polluted water bodies and destroyed farm lands, but the use of mercury and cyanide by the miners also has a serious effect on humans and the soil water.

“The top soil of farms in the area have been destroyed by graders and bulldozers. There is so much degradation of the land and water such that if it is not stopped now, future generations will curse us for not catering for them.”

The Tongraan blamed the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency for failing the fight against Galamsey in the area.

“The Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency have not been able to effectively play their roles as regulators and policing agencies collectively to curb Galamsey destruction of farm lands and water bodies within the mining areas,” he said.

The Minerals Commission has approved over 30 small scale miners in the Talensi traditional area.

“The situation has led to an increase in land boundary disputes and the incessant deaths of over 100 young people through collapsed pits and explosive toxic chemicals since 2006,” the Tongraan stated.

Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebetang also disclosed that, the Minerals Commission has never involved the Talensi traditional council before issuing permits or licenses to mining companies operating in the area.

Gov’t suspends Chinese mining firm’s operations in Talensi 

This comes after the government temporarily suspended the operations of Shaanxi Ghana Mining Company Limited operating at Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

According to a letter signed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, the suspension is to allow for thorough investigations into the company’s underground operations, and the alleged death of about seven miners in the area.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Of the 32 members of the assembly, 30 members were present and voted. At the end of poll, 19 voted yes representing 63.3 percent while 10 voted against his nomination, two members were absent.

The endorsement which was supervised by the District Electoral Commission, Jonas Mustapha and witnessed by the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari Ayine; his deputy, Frank Fuseini Adongo; NPP Regional Chairman, Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala and other dignitaries.

The Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari appealed to assembly members to eschew petty politics and confirm the nominee the second time.

‘The people matter and what has just happened is unfortunate because you (Assembly members) are punishing the people. The people need development and without a District Chief Executive no assembly business can commence so I plead that, the next time assembly members will consider the needs of the people and vote massively for the president’s nominee.”

The nominee, Christopher Sometiema, however, remained optimistic saying, “I believe God has chosen me to serve the people of Talensi. I bear no grudge with any assembly member… I also appeal to all members whom I may have wronged in one way or the other to forgive me and endorse me the next time to propel the development of the Talensi District.”

Meanwhile Presiding member of the assembly Mr. Ben Yindole said, the house will meet to fix a date for the second attempt at a confirmation of the nominee.

He was hopeful that, the assembly will consider and address pertinent issues that, made the confirmation of the nominee impossible and give him a resounding victory.

Until his appointment, Mr. Christopher Boatbil  Someteima who holds a Masters degree in Tourism from the University of Ghana and was a senior lecturer at the Bolgatanaga Polytechnic in the Upper East Region.

He is currently a PHD candidate at the University of Ghana.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Tong-Raana disclosed this when  vice president Kwesi Amissah-Arthur paid a courtesy call on him in Tongo on a two-day campaign tour.

He asked political parties to campaign in an atmosphere of peace adding that, the paramountcy  will ensure that any political party campaigning in the traditional area does that in peace.

Citing the violence that took place during the Talensi By-election, Tong-raan  Kugbilsong Nalebegtang reiterated the urgent need for peaceful campaigns by all political parties.

“During the By-election vigilante groups of some political parties clashed here and that mar the beauty of the elections. So I appeal to all parties to make sure that no such groups come here, we know how to vote and we are going to vote effectively and properly in peace”

Tongo-Raana appealed to Vice President, Amissah-Arthur for a face-lift on the Sheaga juction -Duusi road, Yinduri-Shia road and other roads before the general election. He again appealed for the remaining communities in the constituency to be connected to the national grid.

On his part, Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and introduced the party’s parliamentary candidate and Member of parliament for the area Mr. Benson  Tongo Baba  to the Tongo-Raana for his blessings ahead of the December polls.

He added that, the Talensi constituency will receive more development when B.T Baba is retained as Member of Parliament and appealed for the support of people within the traditional area to vote massively for President Mahama and B.T Baba on December 7.

Amissa-Arthur pledged that, president Mahama’s government and the NDC party will do everything humanly possible to ensure a violent free election.

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By: Frederick Awuni/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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