The Lawra District in the Upper West Region, is plagued with increasing land tussles making it difficult for the district assembly to site and execute development projects.

The district is currently battling with four land tussles between Domwini and Boo, Domwini and Baazing and Yikpee and Orbile communities.

The Lawra Senior High School (SHS) and Tuori community are also involved in a similar land tussle, Dr Musheibu Mohammed Alfa, Deputy Regional Minister and Acting Lawra District Chief Executive said in a speech read on his behalf at Lawra District Town Hall Meeting.

He said the Domwini and Boo community land dispute nearly caused the withdrawal of a Community Day SHS allocated to the district while the Domwini and Baazing community land disagreement resulted in the suspension of a Climate Change Adaptation Sub-project under the Ghana Social Opportunities Project.

The Deputy Regional Minister appealed to the Lawra Traditional Council to come up with a comprehensive road map which would address the issue of community land boundaries in the district.

Dr Alfa entreated traditional rulers and assembly members to collaborate with their area councils to earmark land boundaries for development purposes, adding that it would help facilitate the implementation of projects and reduce disputes.

On education, Dr Alfa expressed regret about the decline in the Basic Education Certificate Examination from 28.4 per cent in 2014 to 26.3 per cent in 2015 despite several interventions.

He announced that the assembly in 2015 sponsored 47 females and 86 male students and trainees as part of its human development agenda.

Dr Alfa said the assembly had completed the construction of three Community-Based Health Planning Services compounds while three are under construction in addition to one number three- unit bedroom doctor’s bungalow at the Lawra Hospital.

Naa Puowele Karbo II, Paramount Chief of Lawra said although Ghana has an effective decentralised system, the problem is how to implement it to reap the maximum benefits.

He referred to the town hall meeting as one of the effective ways of implementing the decentralisation system as it encourages citizens participation in decision making.

Naa Kaabo stated however that the people need to have access to adequate and accurate information to be able to participate effectively in the development process.

He charged the assembly to be forthcoming with information such that the citizens would become properly informed and contribute effectively to make the decentralisation system meaningful and a reality.