Sandema (U/E), Dec. 21, GNA - Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, on Monday said the African Development Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) had provided 104.34 million dollars to improve the food security situation and reduce poverty in the region. Mr Woyongo made this known during this year's annual Feok Festival which is celebrated by the chiefs and people of the Builsa Traditional Area in Sandema.

The festival is in memory of the victory over slave raiders in the 18t= h century and as a thanksgiving to the gods for good harvest. Mr Woyongo said due to the poor rainfall pattern and poor yields, the Rural Safety Net was also in the region to assist in the promotion of sustainable means of putting food on the table of the poor in the communities. He expressed his worry over the petty grievances and conflicts that challenged the Builsa Traditional Council about who should be a chief after the death of Sandem=96Nab with other similar situations that had resulted i= n many divisions. He said the theme: 93Harnessing the Natural Resources of Buluk for Better Development," was appropriate because it embraced development and that without peace those dreams would not be realised. Mr Woyongo thanked the recent feuding families for letting peace prevail after an insurgence of some of the conflicts regarding chieftaincy. The minister said government had initiated the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) for the northern sector to enhance infrastructure development and create economic opportunities for the people in the three northern regions.

Mr Alex Azantillow, Regent of Sandema, thanked government for the many interventions for the area including the distribution of livestock through bilateral relations with Burkina Faso to improve the local breed.

He reminded government to expedite action on the many requests made by the overlord of Builsa before his death on the need for a veteran hall in memory of those who died in the wars saying; 93Human resource to us are more valuable than natural resource and hundreds of our people died in these wars". He said the bravery exhibited by the forefathers of the land during the first and second world wars cannot be over emphasised indicating that the first black Inspector General of Police came from the district yet it could not boast of a police station. Mr Nobert Awulley, District Chief Executive, urged all to help translate the natural resources in the area into wealth for the collective benefit of the people and eschew all forms of divisive attitudes.