The Upper West Regional Minister has expressed concern over the numerous land, chieftaincy and religious conflicts in the northern belt of the country.

He noted the results of these conflicts is having a toll on the development of the area as funds meant for development purposes are rather channeled to ensure that there is peace.

Amin Amidu Suleimani made the observation at the regional launch of the Northern Ghana Governance Activity (NGGA) in Wa, Friday.

‘‘Don’t be a drag on the nation’s economy. When the rest of the country is moving, you are busily dragging it backwards with needless conflicts,’’ he advised.

He urged the people to see each other as one people and work together to promote peace in their communities to ensure speedy development.

The United Nations Development Programme observed in its 2010 millennium development goals report pegged incidence of poverty at 53.3 percent for the Northern Region, 70.4 percent for Upper West Region and 87.9 percent for Upper East Region.

He said communal conflict, political intention, land and chieftaincy disputes as well as the potential for an expansion of violence in parts of the Upper West Region also threaten peace and security.

Mr Amidu Suleimani explained that the situation creates a climate which impedes investment and agriculture development, especially by private investors.

According to the Minister, there are latent tension in a number of traditional areas thereby threatening the peace of the areas.

‘‘In the absence of sustained conflict mitigation and community consensus building interventions, outbreaks violence are possible, resulting in adverse effects for the local economy, reduced trade and the dislocation of trade,’’ he stated.

He said the northern parts of the country has always made the headlines for all the wrong reasons due to the issues of land, chieftaincy and religion.  

Amin Amidu Suleimani noted that the region is an ardent beneficiary of donor support through many development partners. 

He, however, expressed worry that some of them only come to dissipate huge resources without impacting positively on the local people. 

The Minister lamented the lack of evidence at the end of projects in the communities although resources are sent to organisations in the name of people.

He thanked the American people through USAID for the project design and choice of the Upper West region for the intervention.

On behalf of the chiefs and people of the Region, he thanked CARE International for their support and its implementing partners towards the full achievement of the expected results of the project.

The Northern Ghana Governance Activity is funded by USAID and implemented by CARE International with SEND Ghana, WANEP and Action Aid Ghana as their partners.