The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has cautioned chiefs, landowners and residents of the Upper West Region against disputes over land allocation, warning that such disagreements could derail the success of the Sheapark Resource Hub.?
?Speaking at the official launch of the Sheapark Resource Hub in Wa, Speaker Bagbin said the project was a major development intervention meant to revive the socio-economic life of the region and must not be undermined by conflicts over where projects will be sited.
?“Let us not mar the progress of this intervention with disagreements over land,” he said.
?Speaker Bagbin described the launch as a historic moment for the Upper West Region, noting that the Sheapark Resource Hub is a development pathway not only for the region, but for Ghana as a whole.
He said the initiative, which took about 17 months of preparation, is guided by a detailed development blueprint aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential.
The Speaker stressed that the project was not a ceremonial exercise or a political promise that will be abandoned after the launch.
He said government, traditional authorities, the private sector and development partners are all committed to ensuring the success of the initiative.
??He called on residents of the Upper West Region to actively support the project, work with government and private investors, and avoid actions that could slow down development.
The Speaker described the Sheapark Resource Hub as a clear development pathway that will transform the Upper West Region and contribute significantly to Ghana’s overall economic growth.?
According to him, the initiative had been designed to resuscitate the economy of the Upper West Region by unlocking its vast natural and human resources and turning them into sustainable economic opportunities.?
?He told the gathering that the project is guided by a well-thought-out development blueprint titled “Revealing Potential Pathways for Socio-Economic Development, 2025 and Beyond.”
The blueprint, developed through consultations with experts, traditional leaders, government officials and ordinary citizens, identifies shea as a major growth driver, supported by allied products such as dawadawa, neem, baobab, cotton, legumes, cereals and livestock.
?It also highlights investment opportunities and proposes a new urban setting supported by modern infrastructure to promote commercial and industrial activities.
“We are not here to impress the world with an expensive launch only to abandon the project. We mean business and serious business.”
??The Speaker noted that the Sheapark Resource Hub is not a solo effort but a collaborative initiative involving government, traditional authorities, the private sector, development partners and the media.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for his commitment to the project, describing him as one of the key drivers of the vision behind the initiative.
He said the hub aligns with the President’s flagship programmes, particularly the 24-hour economy, the Big Push, and accelerated export development, which aim to build a self-reliant, industrially competitive and export-driven Ghanaian economy.
?Speaker Bagbin emphasised that the Sheapark Resource Hub will operate within a 24-hour commercial framework, creating opportunities for women, men and young people to engage in productive activities such as farming, tree planting, harvesting, processing and marketing of shea and other products.
He said this will especially help women in micro, small and medium-scale shea butter processing to overcome challenges related to energy, financing, logistics and access to markets.
?However, he cautioned that launching the project alone will not automatically lead to factories and jobs.
?“If we cut the sod and go to sleep, nothing will change. There is serious work to be done and the work starts today.”
From Musah Umar Farouq, Wa
The post Bagbin warns against land disputes as Sheapark Resource Hub takes off appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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