CULTURAL NEWS
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Chief advocates food security policy for North
From: MATTHEW AYOO, Kaleo
The Paramount Chief of Kaleo Traditional Area in the Nadowli district of the Upper West Region, Naa Banarnini Sandu 11, said due to the long drought coupled with the torrential rains that caused havoc to crops, houses and road network, there was bound to be a shortfall in food production in the Northern, Upper East and West regions and called on the government to take steps to mitigate the suffering of the people.
The government has been urged to as a matter of urgency; initiate a food security plan to mitigate the looming hunger of the people of the north.
Naa Sandu made the appeal when the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. George Hikah Benson, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace here in Kaleo on Monday.
The Regional Minister is on a familiarization tour of the various paramounties to solicit the co-operation and support of traditional rulers to help move forward the development agenda of the region.
Naa Sandu who is also Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, said the drought and heavy rains had caused huge damage to crops and unless something drastic was done to mitigate the situation, the people of the three northern regions would suffer starvation.
He said that beans and early millet the first crops in the Upper West and East Regions respectively were lost to the drought while the majority of crops such as maize, late millet, sorghum, groundnuts and yam have been lost to the flood waters.
Naa Sandu also called on the government to take steps to repair damaged bridges washed away by the flood waters.
He urged the Regional Minister to work with all without discrimination adding “you should be a Regional Minister for the people and not NPP supporters alone.
The Regional Minister, Mr. Benson called for the support of traditional rulers to ensure development for the area and the people.
“I have come to continue from where my predecessors have left. I am here to serve all without discrimination. Whether you are an NDC, PNC or NPP my doors are open to all” he said.
Mr. Benson urged the chiefs to bring their rich experience to bear on the people to improve their living conditions.
He promised that prompt action would be taken to rehabilitate those roads affected by the floods to ease vehicular movement between the Upper West and East regions.
*Source:
The Ghanaian Times. - Wednesday, August 29, 2007 Page: 20 |