Sawla residents unhappy about unauthorised structures

Sawla, (N/R), Jan. 2, GNA - Some residents in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Northern Region, has expressed disappointed at the indiscriminate sale of land and poor planning of Sawla, the district capital.

They complained that indiscriminate sale of land by landowners to private developers has caused some upheavals; which is undermining the rapid development of Sawla.

They also expressed worries about unauthorised structures dotted around the capital, some on waterways and others on areas designated for development projects including sanitation facilities.

The residents raised the concern at a Town Hall Forum at Sawla to enable the Assembly to account for its stewardship to the people and to get a feedback from them on the implementation of the policies and programmes in the district.

The participants called for the provision of more urban and link roads in the town to ease congestion while efforts are made to ensure the proper planning of the capital a facelift.

The people lauded the assembly's achievement in education and health infrastructure and the provision of potable water in the communities, but expressed concern about the increasing number of teenage pregnancies, especially in the Brifo community.

They said a number of young girls are not accessing education because of teenage pregnancies while teacher-pupil ratio is also poor and affecting quality education.'

The forum called for stringent punishment to be meted out to those involved in the act to deter others.

The residents complained about poor roads in the district and appealed to the government to rehabilitate them to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.

Alhaji Mumuni Isaac Dramani, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Chief Executive, appealed to landowners, traditional authorities, and the district assembly as well as Town and Country Planning Department to work together to address issues of land and unauthorised structures in the township.

He gave the assurance that the assembly is sponsoring students to teacher training schools and engaging volunteer teachers to augment the problem.

Alhaji Dramani urged the people to take advantage of the numerous infrastructure provisions on health, education and potable water to more children to school and to improve their livelihoods.

GNA