Reserve Lands For '1 District, 1 Factory' Project . . . Otumfuo Tells His Chiefs

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has charged chiefs, particularly those in the Asante domain to reserve lands for investment and industrial purposes to enhance development in their areas.

He said it is incumbent on chiefs to reserve parcels of land in readiness for the 'One district, One factory' policy of the government to promote growth and development for the benefit of the people, particularly the youth.

Addressing a meeting of Asanteman Council last Monday, the Ashanti King noted that it was not prudent for chiefs to delight in monetary gains from proceeds of sale of lands, without considering investments in the said lands.

According to him, chiefs have the expertise to enhance development and charged them to engage surveyors to start demarcating lands reserved for the proposed "One District, One Factory' programme.

Otumfuo said it was not enough for chiefs to invoke the Great Oath of Asante to protect lands, in their fight over such lands, at the expense of development.

He referred to vast lands at Kumawu and Kwamang and implored on the chiefs of the area to take advantage of the policy and create an enabling environment for investment and job creation.

Otumfuo said the value of lands should be seen in the level of employment to be created, noting that more jobs in their traditional areas, through industrialization, would promote proper development.

He has charged chiefs to pool their resources and expertise in various fields of endeavor to promote development in their areas.