Tamale, Oct. 02, GNA - Yagbonwura Doshie Bawa Abudu, President, Northern Regional House of Chiefs, has raised concerns about the region's poor roads and called on government to urgently construct and maintain them for easier commuting of people and carting of foodstuffs. He also called on government to explore the region's potential tourist sites that could be developed to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Yagbonwura made the appeal in Tamale on Thursday during the first ordinary meeting of the house. He commended the President and the government for the bold steps it was taking to address the poverty situation in the three northern regions through the Youth in Agriculture programme and the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). Yagbonwura Abudu also conveyed to the house the unanimous decision taken by the body to support the splitting up of the northern region into two or three parts to enhance its socio-economic development. Mr. Steven Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister, charged the house of chiefs to resolve all outstanding disputes especially those in the Nanumba Traditional Area which had rendered some skins unstable for the past seven years.

He also called on all stakeholders to make a concerted effort to stop the proliferation of small arms that had become a threat to the peace in the region. Mr. Nayina said construction of Tamale-Salaga, Forfosu-Damango, Gambaga-Nalerigu roads would soon commence and that earmarked roads in the Eastern corridor would be completed before the first term of Atta-Mill's administration.

He said the government would soon make available 2,000 more tractors to farmers at subsidized prices as a means of boosting agriculture in the country. The regional minister also reminded the people of the upcoming Farmer's Day celebration which would be hosted by the region and called for their support to make it a success.