Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - Chiefs of the Birim North and Kwaebibrim districts of the Eastern Region have appealed to government to grant them oversight authority and responsibility over their lands to enable them to manage the lands better.

Osabarima Atwere Bediako II, Osiewuohene of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area and a representative of the Kwaebibirim District Chiefs and Obrempng Gyapire Agyekum II, Nifahene of Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area and a representative of the Birim North chiefs said at a panel discussion in Accra that the authority of Chiefs depended on what they controlled.

"But as the constitution stands, most chiefs have no authority over the resources in their areas and so some investors pay very little regard to the chiefs and people within their areas of operation.=94 The chiefs noted that official claim that they (chiefs) were only custodians of the land and held the land in trust for the state should be looked at critically.

The two were contributing to a panel discussion on "Our land, Our Security and Future Development" organized by the Civil Society Strengthening Facility (CSF), after the launch of a national documentary film on the devastation of farm lands by diamond operators in the Birim North and Kwaebibrim in the Eastern region.

The Civil Society Strengthening Facility, which has a grant from the British Department for International Development (DFID), has worked to ensure a balance in the voices that govern the forestry sector by supporting activities that identify, prepare, equip and strengthen grassroots civil society groups to influence policy formulation and decision-making.

Obrempng Gyapire Agyekum said if the chiefs were given the authority to co-manage the resources within their jurisdictions, investors would be brought to book by ensuring that they did not devastate the land.

He said, gone were the days when chiefs were regarded as illiterate who did not understand government policies. "Almost all chiefs (today) are educated and can effectively play the role of government in their areas by ensuring that the right thing was done."

He said chiefs in Kwaebibirim were angry because they did not see why government should give out their land for mining.