Deputy Minister Inaugurates 18-Member Board to Oversee Lands and Natural Resources in Upper West Region

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, has inaugurated an 18-member Lands and Natural Resources Board to oversee the management and protection of natural resources in the Upper West Region.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister emphasized that the formation of the board signifies a renewed commitment to sustainable resource management in the region.

He noted that the board is tasked with resolving land disputes, safeguarding natural resources, and curbing environmental degradation caused by human activities.

Alhaji Sulemana further stated that the committee’s mandate aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader national agenda to combat illegal mining and promote responsible land use.

He urged the members to work in the collective interest of the region by fostering investment while discouraging exploitation and abuse of land and natural resources.

“I expect the board to act decisively on land disputes and help create a framework that promotes responsible stewardship of our resources,” he said during the swearing-in ceremony.

Also addressing the gathering, the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, called for close collaboration between the board and traditional authorities to ensure sustainable land management.

He pledged the Regional Coordinating Council’s (RCC) support in providing the necessary logistics and resources to facilitate the board’s operations.

Mr. Puozuing emphasized the importance of preserving land for future generations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering local bodies to lead these efforts effectively.

In his inaugural address, the newly appointed Board Chairman, Iddrisu Munjamilu, Esq., expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the government for the opportunity to serve.

He pledged the Board’s unwavering commitment to fostering effective, transparent, and accountable land administration in the region.

The Commission’s Board Composition and Inaugural Remarks

The Commission’s Board is comprised of representatives from various institutions and key stakeholders, including:

• Iddrisu Munjamilu, Esq. – Chairman

• Wilfred Acheampong (Surv.) – Acting Regional Lands Officer (Secretary/Member)

• Naa Karbo Puowele III – Representative, House of Chiefs

Other members of the Board include:

• Miriam Amoako, Esq. – Representative, Ghana Bar Association

• Sebastian Daguah, Esq. – Representative, Nadowli/Kaleo District Assembly

• Dr. Samuel Banleman Biitir – Representative, Ghana Institute of Surveyors

• George Akpass – Representative, Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF)

• Mrs. Patience Osei Nyarko – Representative, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA)

• Kardiri Sibiri Edmond, Esq. – Representative, Sissala West District Assembly

Additional members are:

• Luri Kanton Bahian – Representative, Sissala East Municipal Assembly

• Dr. Reginald Tang Guuroh – Representative, Lawra Municipal Assembly

• Aliu Mahama Abubakari – Representative, Wa Municipal Assembly

• Seidu Mohammed-Saani – Representative, Wa East District Assembly

• Haruna Semba – Representative, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (D.B.I.) District Assembly

• Kuro Babinuoh Samuel – Representative, Lambussie District Assembly

• Prof. Juventus Benogle Ziem – Representative, Nandom Municipal Assembly

• Abudi Abu – Representative, Wa West District Assembly

• Dr. Frederick Dapilah – Representative, Nandom Municipal Assembly