The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, has advised chiefs in Gonjaland to strategically plan and add value to their lands to attract investors and accelerate development.
According to him, the Savannah Region, particularly Gonjaland, is endowed with vast arable lands, but poor land planning and unclear boundaries continue to undermine investor confidence.
Alhaji Sulemana, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, made the call while delivering a keynote address on the theme “Natural Resources as Wealth: Harnessing Them for the Present and the Future” at the Busunu Homecoming grand durbar held at the Busunu School Park in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region.
The Deputy Minister stressed that land boundaries in Gonjaland must be clearly identified and documented to ensure investors are given litigation-free lands for investment.
Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, Deputy Lands and Natural resources minister
“Chiefs must be willing to invest resources into identifying both internal and external boundaries. This will add value to the land and give confidence to investors,” he stated.
He urged traditional authorities to properly plan their lands for specific purposes such as agriculture, housing, industry and commercial use to make them easily identifiable and accessible to investors.
Alhaji Sulemana noted that despite the abundance of land in Gonjaland, its value remains relatively low due to poor planning, unresolved boundary disputes and lack of documentation.
Proper land planning, he added, would not only attract investors but also prevent disputes among neighbouring communities and promote sustainable development.
He further called on the Gonjaland Youth Association to support traditional authorities in land boundary identification and land-use planning initiatives.
The Deputy Lands Minister also advised the Busunu Traditional Authority to apply for the establishment of a Stool Lands Secretariat in Busunu, explaining that such an office would help improve land administration, transparency and revenue mobilisation.
Homecoming Beyond Celebration – Planning Committee Chair
Chairperson of the Busunu Homecoming Planning Committee, Madam Felicia Kraja, said the homecoming was more than a celebration, describing it as a moment of reflection, reconnection and collective responsibility.
She explained that development begins with the people and encouraged indigenes of Busunu to continue supporting development initiatives through communal labour and financial contributions.
According to her, the objectives of the homecoming included reconnecting natives with their roots, strengthening family and community bonds, celebrating the traditions and history of Busunu, and launching the implementation of a five-year development plan (2025–2031).
The plan focuses on key priority areas such as education, health, youth development and economic empowerment, while also inspiring young people to value and preserve their cultural heritage.
Madam Kraja noted that the people of Busunu had in the past initiated the construction of their first clinic and improved water sources through communal labour, adding that the current generation has a responsibility to ensure future generations inherit opportunities rather than limitations.
She disclosed that funds raised during the homecoming would be used to complete ongoing community-led projects, including the Busunu Community Centre, as well as other priority development initiatives.
Felicia Kraja, Chairperson, Busunu Homecoming planning committee
