Mpaha, (N/R), Oct 25, GNA- The Yagbonwura Bawa Doshie, King of Gonjaland on Friday said that decisions taken collectively by chiefs of traditional councils, especially with regards to the nomination and enskinment of chiefs must be made binding on them.

He noted with regret that most often decisions taken by the councils are flouted by some members who took part in taking the decisions, adding that this has caused numerous chieftancy disputes in the area.

The Yagbonwura, who is also the president of the Gonja Traditional Council said this at its annual meeting of the chiefs and peoples of Gonjaland at Mpaha, a farming community in the West Gonja District. He reminded the chiefs that they were under oath, to carry out their traditional obligations without fear or favour and urged them to turn over a new leaf in the discharge of their duties.

He said: "Decisions would be binding on every member and for that matter, members who fail to contribute effectively and dispassionately during discussions at meetings will have no excuse to dissociate themselves from decisions arrived at by the majority"

Yangbonwura Bawa Doshie, made these remarks in apparent reference to the chieftancy disputes in the Yapei and Kafaba. He blamed some of his chiefs for secretly supporting the activities of chain saw operators and charcoal burners who are destroying the environment for their selfish ends and warned those involved to stop it.

He enjoined all his sub-chiefs to avoid playing partisan politics and open their doors to all political parties who come to their areas to canvass for votes.

Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister told the chiefs to emulate the modern trends of traditional governance in other parts of the country by setting up development funds that would serve as a source of assistance to the youth in their education and other economic ventures.

Mr Debrah appealed to the chiefs to show commitment towards government policies by making land available for investors.

He said he has tasked the registrar of the Northern Regional House of chiefs and others to consult chiefs in the region for lands to embark on plantations as a way of reducing the rate of migration of the youth to the south in search of non-existent jobs.

The Regional Minister also touched on the HIV/AIDS and guinea worm in the country and cautioned the people to avoid lifestyles that could spread the two diseases.

He said to contain the spread of guinea worm in the area 26 boreholes would soon be installed in the communities to provide them with potable water and advised them to regularly drink from the boreholes and also maintain them well.

Debrewura Briamah Kelli chief of Mpaha traditional area appealed to the government to assist the people of the area with farm inputs and financial support to improve upon their productive capacity.

He also appealed to the government to tar the Domeabra-Mpaha -Shere-Kikale road, which serves the Debre Port that carters or heavy transport haulage in West Gonja District.

He further appealed for the provision for electricity and telephone facilities for the area.