Bolgatanga, May 12, GNA - The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil society organization, has kicked against the policy of selling government low cost houses to individuals occupying them in the Upper East Region.

This was contained in a statement signed by its President, Mr. Bismark Adongo Ayorogo.

It said considering the fact that the Region had problems providing accommodation for public workers it was not prudent to transfer the ownership of the housing units to individual occupants. The statement commended the Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo and District Chief Executives for taking the bold initiative to buy the houses. It said though the occupants argued that there was a policy directive from the past government to sell the houses, the Region through its decentralization process also had a mandate to review it, taking into consideration the priorities of the Region.

"The practice where local government authorities fail to assess local development needs and conditions but rush to implement everything that comes from the top even in the face of those policies being detrimental and injurious to the healthy development of the locality must stop". The statement said every good policy should aim at meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising those of the future and added "any policy short of this is indeed a misplaced one and should not be allowed to see the light of the day".

"NORPRA therefore solidly stands behind the local government authorities on this particular issue and urges all who care about the plight of the young ones and generations yet unborn to join the struggle against the sale of these housing units to their present occupants".