Bolgatanga, Oct. 27, GNA - The Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, has been advised to generate documentation on ascension to the various skins in the region to help end chieftaincy disputes and litigations. Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, who made the call at=

the general meeting of the House in Bolgatanga at the weekend, urged the chiefs to sustain efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to chieftai= ncy disputes. He expressed dissatisfaction that chieftaincy disputes in Bawku, Sandema and Mirigu and other areas were affecting development in the regi= on. The Minister said gone were the days when traditional rulers were assessed by the number of wars they won or fought, and reminded them that=

currently chiefs were judged by the development projects they initiated o= r completed. He advised the chiefs to remain politically neutral and said that government was committed to promoting the chieftaincy institution. Mr Woyongo said funds had been allocated for the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to collaborate with District Assemblies and organ= ize capacity building workshops to sensitise chiefs on government policies an= d governance. He explained that this would enable the chiefs to appreciate their roles in conflict resolution and the promotion of agriculture, security, health, education, sanitation and infrastructure development. Mr Woyongo said that the region would celebrate its golden jubilee n= ext year adding that the occasion would be used to market potentials that abo= und in the region to attract investors, create employment, and reduce poverty= .. He appealed to the chiefs to liaise with the District Assemblies to create land banks for investment in the region. Pe Awiah Awampaga II, Paramount chief of Paga Traditional Area, President of the House of Chiefs, said the group had worked hard to reduc= e chieftaincy and land disputes in the region. The President of the House said a three-member committee formed by t= he House, had directed regents to perform the funeral rites of all deceased paramount chiefs to pave the way for the enskinement of new ones by the e= nd of December this year. Pe Awampaga said the House was worried about the Bawku conflict and commended government and other stakeholders working to bring peace to the=

area. He said the House would support all initiatives aimed at ending the crisis. Pe Awampaga appealed to Mr Woyongo to ensure the construction of dam= s in the districts in the region to promote "all-year farming." 2