Jama (N/R), March 20, GNA - The Bui Development Secretariat and major stakeholders on Wednesday signed documents for the acquisition of land for the Bui Development Project.

The event, which took place at Jama in the Northern Region, would pave the way for the government and its development partners to have access to a 443,000-acre land needed for the project.

The government is expected to make adequate and prompt payment of compensation to the chiefs and people in the affected areas. The chiefs from the Bole Traditional Council, however, expressed dissatisfaction about the non-inclusion of their representation on the Bui Dam Board to keep them abreast with events concerning the project. Naa Jama Kooro, Nana Kwadwo Pambo II, chief of Jama, told the delegation led by Nana Osahene Kwaku Atekyi II, a member of the Bui Dam Secretariat, that the inclusion of persons from the traditional council on the board should not be an afterthought since the people had to represent their interest.

He said gone were the days when scholars came to traditional councils with already prepared documents to compel chiefs to append their signatures only to regret afterwards. The chief said there were a lot of environmental problems associated with the project, adding that it was therefore necessary for them to examine the environmental impact report on the project and its effects on the people.

Nana Pambo said the council was not only concerned about compensation but also interested in matters that would have major consequence on the lives of the people. "We are going to trail you to make sure that our interest in the project is well protected," he emphasised. Bolewura Amankwa Gbeyeadese II, Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area, said the government had acquired large tracts of land for the Mole Game Reserve and the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Assembly project, for which compensation had not been paid. "I wonder whether the Bui Dam project would be made a special case," he said.

Mr Charles Abas, Northern Regional Coordinating Director, who represented the Regional Minister, appealed to the chiefs and opinion leaders to create a peaceful and congenial atmosphere for the smooth implementation of the project.

Nana Atekyi promised to convey the concerns of the chiefs to the President for consideration.