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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, instructed the Forestry Commission and the Land Commission to work out modalities to track down invaders on public lands in the metropolis of Tamale.
The sector minister is also calling for sweeping action against encroachments on forest reserves in the region.
“We are told and it is very evident that the forest reserves in the metropolis of Tamale are being encroached upon. We cannot allow that. I am counting on your support so that we can tackle this file, ”he said.
Jinapor said the Regional Security Council will develop a strategy to eliminate all invaders along the forest reserves.
“A city without a forest reserve is not a sustainable city and these reserves have been in Choogu and several other places for years and all of a sudden we find washing bases, people building houses and blues kiosks. . This kind of trend cannot be allowed, ”he said.
Regarding the encroachment on public lands, Mr. Jinapor said that given the speed at which the area is developing, proper planning is needed to ensure that the area does not develop haphazardly.
“I’m not surprised about this. Tamale is increasingly becoming the headquarters of North Africa and many activities take place there. People from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are doing business here in Tamale and Tamale is becoming a trade center for North Africa so the land becomes precious and that is why we must also preserve the public lands of Tamale and the northern region. That is why Tamale has to develop according to a traced pattern so that it does not become the usual random development, ”he added.
Mr. Jinapor gave the directive when he met with staff from various agencies under his ministry in Tamale. This meeting was part of his five-day working visit to the five northern regions.
The minister is on tour with his deputy, George Mireku Duker and a deputy director general of the Forestry Commission, Mr. Sulemana Nelson Nyadiya.
The five-day working tour will take him to the Northeast, Upper East, Savannah and Upper West regions. He will meet with various stakeholders and organizations under the ministry
Mr. Jinapor, who also appealed to the YaNa, said land management in the country cannot be successful if the chiefs are not involved in its management.
He said chiefs have always played a vital role in land management even before independence. “The traditional authorities are the custodians of the land, so I ask for your support to preserve the landscape and the forest of our country,” he said.
The Supreme Leader of Dagbon YaNa Abukari II pledged to support the ministry in its fight against illegal mining and deforestation under his jurisdiction.
Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu said several invaders had been urged not to approach certain lands while an investigation was being carried out to ensure the proper acquisition of those lands.
He also expressed concern over the high rate of tree cutting in the area, adding that it is depleting the already savannah area.
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