Damongo, (N/R), March 20, GNA - Vice-President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned chiefs against the indiscriminate sale of large tracts of land to investors and other land developers at ridiculous prices. He said land was a highly valued and precious commodity, which should be jealously protected and not given away to investors for paltry sums of money or a few bottles of schnapps. Vice-President Mahama gave the caution during the enskinment of the new king of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Sulemana Jakpa Tuntumba Bore Essa in Damongo, on Friday.

The Vice-President said he had been hinted that some investors were lobbying for as much as 10,000 hectares of land from some chiefs in the Gonja Traditional Area and warned them against the temptation of giving away such lands. He said land had become a scarce commodity and if we do not guard against its indiscriminate sale, a time would come when we would not have any to feed our people. He, therefore, advised the chiefs to consult the appropriate land agencies to assist them to properly value their lands before selling them.

Yagbonwura Bore Essa paid tribute to the founding fathers of Gonjaland for their vision in establishing a multi-ethnic society in which every one had a unique role to play in the administration of the State. He noted that the Gonja Society could, however, not be built on ignorance and, therefore, pledged to give priority attention to education during his reign.