Minister worried about land dispute between citizens of Sissala and Dagaaba

Fielmua, (U/W), Dec. 31, GNA – Mr. Cezar Kale, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, has said a land dispute between citizens of Sissala and Dagaaba in the Sissala West District was the greatest security threat in the region.

He said the situation was so fragile that it could result in violent conflict and called on the people to support efforts aimed at settling the conflict.

Mr. Kale was addressing a durbar on the theme: “Peace and Culture necessary tools for Development”, to mark the celebration of the annual “Kukur Bagr” festival of the chiefs and people of Fielmua, on Thursday.

He has appealed to the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs to resolve the dispute to maintain peace in the area.

Mr. Kale said Government was committed to providing potable water, roads, health and education infrastructure, and it could not afford to spend the country's limited resources on dispute resolution.

He called on the peoples of Sissala and Dagaaba to cooperate with the Regional House of Chiefs to resolve the dispute.

Naa Mwin-ir-me Danikuu II, Chief of Fielmua, condemned disturbances arising out of the dispute, and said peoples of the two towns were related and they should protect each other from external attacks instead of quarrelling over land.

He commended the security agencies for working hard to contain the situation.

Naa Danikuu said the festival was observed to thank God for a pumper harvest, foster peace and unity to mobilise the people for development.

He appealed to Government to mechanize boreholes in Fielmua under the small town water system project, and to up-grade the Fielmua Health Center to hospital status to enable it meet the health needs of the people.

Mr. Haruna Bayirga, the Member of Parliament for Sissala West, who donated 20 sewing machines, some desktop computers and an ambulance for the Fielmua Health Center, appealed to the people to smoke the peace pipe for development.

GNA