Tarkwa, Dec. 23, GNA - The Wassa Fiase Traditional Council has vowed t= o reclaim all unused parcels of land that have been lying idle for more than five years. Additionally, farm lands that have been acquired but not being used will re-possessed and re-entries made for new owners. These decisions were taken at the last traditional council meeting at Tarkw= a on Wednesday.

The Council noted that many individuals had taken plots for residentia= l purposes but have not made use of them and they have become breeding ground= s for rodents, snakes, mosquitoes and even criminals. Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil VI, the Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, said thees steps were being taken to ensure rapid development of Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mpohor Wassa East and Prestea Huni-Valley. He said most of these lands were in indentures signed and released to land owners but their continual refusal to use them, most of whom are now located in prime areas, was creating a nuisance for the traditional council since its lands were also getting exhausted.

Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil appealed to all owners of lands within the Wass= a Fiase Traditional Area to use them for the purposes for which it was acquired or forfeit them to the council. The Council also proposed the institution of death levy of 30 Ghana cedis to be collected in local communities and paid into the traditional council's coffers as a means of generating revenue for the council's projects. Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil said the Council would liaise with the three assemblies to get the levies passed to make its collection easier. He said the Council's filling station and rubber out grower scheme projects would start next year and appealed to all chiefs to support financially to make the projects a success.