Bolgatanga, Feb 02, GNA - The University for Development Studies branch of the Upper West Students Union on Wednesday expressed concern about the spate of chieftaincy disputes in Upper West Region and said these have retrogressive effect on the development of the area. The union has also appealed to the government to appoint a resident attorney for the Regional House of Chiefs in Wa for the speedy resolution of chieftaincy cases rather than relying on the attorney from the Upper East Region who visits the Upper West once in a while to sit on such cases.

These were contained in a statement signed by Mr. Luke Panpogee, President, and Mr. Benjamin Dery, Vice President of the union. "It is worrisome and disappointing to note that out of the number of chieftaincy disputes in the country Upper West Region, which is the infant and most under-developed region, is conspicuously noted as the 'World Bank' of chieftaincy disputes."

It further expressed dismay about a petition alleged to have been written from the region to the Parliamentary Vetting Committee urging the Committee not to confirm Mr Ambrose Dery as Upper West Regional Minister.

The union called on politicians to refrain from capitalizing on chieftaincy issues to cause unrest in the area and appealed to kingmakers to go strictly by laid down traditional procedures in enskinning chiefs.

"This is because any breach of the traditional procedural way of selecting chiefs is likely to bring about an escalation of chieftaincy disputes," the statement said.

It urged the people of the Upper West Region to strive to resolve all chieftaincy problems amicably in order to create an enabling environment for investment and sustainable development.