Nandom, Nov 28, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Sunday charged all District Assemblies in the Upper West Region to enact by-law on bushfires and enforce it vigorously to serve as punitive measures against offenders.

He said that would deter people from engaging in indiscriminate bush burning, which has for so many years become detrimental to human development in the Northern sector of the country.

Vice President Mahama made the request at Nandom during Kakube festival for the chiefs and people of the Nandom Traditional Area. He observed that "As we drove from Wa to Nandom, we observed that the bushfires have already started and this is just the beginning of the dry season".

Kakube festival is celebrated annually by the chiefs and people of the Nandom Traditional Area to give thanks to God for the harvest of the year and to pray for bumper harvest the following year. Apart from bringing the citizens of the area together it also offer them the opportunity to harness their resources for the development of the area.

The Vice President said the annual bushfire ceremonies were not only harmful to the environment but were also depriving the farmers of their property and wealth as it could burn their farm produce and personal belongings.

He said the government would under the Northern Savanna Biodiversity Conservation Project, construct dams and dugouts in the three Northern Regions to ensure food security.

Vice President Mahama appealed to hunters, long journey drivers, farmers, honey tapers among others to put a stop to the annual ritual of bush burning which was not helping the people in anyway.

He said the tarring of the Bole-Bamboi road was on course and gave the assurance that the government was sourcing funds for the Linga-Bamboi road, which was yet to be given on contract.

Naa Pouri Poube Chiir, Paramount Chief of the Traditional Area commended the government for constructing schools, good roads and building health centres and other infrastructure.

He, however, appealed to the government to include the Nandom Secondary School in the selected schools for upgrading.

A minute silence was observed for the late Sylvanus Ganfaa, former Lawra District Chief Executive.