Tema, May 19, GNA - Mr Alban Kingsford Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Tuesday observed that the rest of Africa was looking up to Ghana as a toast to move the continent forward. He said in order not to fail people on the continent, Ghanaians should strive to live on values and principles, and work hard to improve the lives of majority of the people.

Mr Bagbin made the observation when he paid his maiden working visit to the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) in Tema to interact with management and staff of the Corporation. He pointed out that the country would not develop if the citizenry continued to live in the culture of corruption. The Minister, therefore, advised Ghanaians to reflect soberly on their lives, and strive to lead upright lives devoid of corrupt practices. Mr Bagbin advised management of TDC to guard against gluttony and greed in the allocation of lands, since they were major drawbacks on the country's development efforts.

On encroachments, he pointed out that they were part of insanity and indiscipline in society, and appealed to the law enforcement agencies to assist TDC to enforce the laws on its encroached lands. He advised management and staff of the corporation to help reduce land litigations at the law courts, by ensuring that the right thing was done at the right time.

Mr Joe Abbey, Acting Managing Director of TDC, expressed worry about regular encroachments on the corporation's lands at Communities 23 and 24 by land guards, and urged the Ministry to help abate the encroachments. Mr Abbey suggested that a ministerial intervention was the only possible way of bringing an end to the impasse between the Corporation and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly on the issuing of land permits.