Inauguration Commission

MDAs to pay compensation for land Wa, April 12 GNA - Government institutions would now pay compensation for land acquired for them by government for development.

Ministries, government departments and agencies including district assemblies are to make provision in their annual estimates for this purpose. Mr. Richard Dornu-Nartey, Minister of Lands and Forestry, made this known at Wa on Wednesday, when he inaugurated an 11-member reconstituted Upper West Regional Lands Commission.

He expressed concern that the supposed land owing families since the divestment of Northern lands "are at each others throats on boundary and ownership rights".

The Deputy Minister noted that unlike other parts of the country where stools lands are subject to certification by the regional land commissions, the region is not affected.

He charged members of the commission to find ways of speeding up the processing of documents and the elimination of the collection of "inappropriate fees" by some officials.

Mr. Bede Ziedeng, Deputy Regional Minister deplored the spate of land disputes in the region and called on the members to help find solutions to the problem. They should also find an answer to encroachment and unauthorised development of land, especially in Wa.

Mrs. Blandina B. Batiir, chairperson gave the assurance that the members would live up to expectation.