Mr George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has inaugurated a 16-member Western North Regional Lands Commission Board with a call on members to help bring reforms in land administration in the Region.

The 16 members include a representative from all the nine Municipal and district assemblies in the Region, Ghana Bar Association, Regional House of Chiefs, Land use and Spatial Planning Authority, National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, Ghana Institution of Surveyors and Regional Lands Commission.

Mr Duker indicated that the Ministry expects the first-ever Regional Lands Commission members to ensure that proper land administration reforms are put in place to boost investor confidence in the area.

"You have been carefully selected based on your expertise and experience, and we as a Ministry expect you to serve the Region well".

"The vast natural resources of the Region have made it an attractive investment destination and prospective investors particularly in mining, cocoa and timber, may acquire lands but the multiplicity of claims to stool lands, family and individuals is a deterrent to potential investors inland and, therefore, jeopardise investment prospects."

The Deputy Minister expressed worry about the activities of illegal mining popularly known as "Galamsey", which had bedevilled the country in recent times and appealed to farmers not to give their farmlands out to illegal miners.

Mr Richard Ebbah Obeng, Regional Minister in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Louis Owusu-Agyapong, Sefwi- Waiwso Municipal Chief Executive asked members to exhibit professionalism and fairness in the discharge of their duties to the benefit of the Region.

A High Court Judge, Justice Kwame Amoako who administered the swearing of an oath, asked members to be guided by the oath in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Samuel Kofi Abiaw, Chairman of the Commission on behalf of members expressed gratitude to the government for the opportunity and promised to make important decisions to ensure proper administration of lands in the Region.

He also promised to work with other stakeholders for the benefit of the Region and appealed to traditional authorities, Municipal and District Assemblies and the Regional Coordinating Council and residents to give them the maximum support to enable them to execute their mandate effectively.