Speaking at a brief ceremony to hand over, the out-going Minister said even though he was re-assigned as Minister of State at the Presidency, the development of the region was of paramount importance to him, and added that he would be an Ambassador of the region at the national level.

Mr Bukari as part of his handing-over message, observed that traditional rulers were not willing to release land for development projects and appealed to them to readily release same for development.

“Land issue is very critical, if you go to Bongo is like that, is a very sad matter, they have no roads, the whole place is just terrible, it does not befit a district capital, you go to Tongo the same thing, Nangodi the same thing, Builsa South, Builsa North the same thing,” he said.

He charged the media in the region to educate the people on the importance of releasing land, and to encourage them to embrace development projects earmarked at various communities in the region and not engage in squabbling.

Mr Bukari said petty quarrels scared investors away from the region, adding that “people do not want to invest where there is dispute,” and called for attitudinal change among people of the region. “I believe that if you give out your land and a project is undertaken, and there is any vacancy you should be first to be employed.”

He asked for forgiveness from people that he might have offended in the course of his duty in the region.

Taking over from his boss, Mr Adongo said the region had “enjoyed his administration,” and indicated that they would continue to build from where Mr Bukari left, “do not be tired of our calls to get fatherly advice from you because of your exposure.”

He pledged to continue from where the out-gone Minister left off, and called on the media to accord the Regional Coordinating Council same opportunity they gave the out-going Minister to help propagate government policies.

Mr Adongo who is also the Member of Parliament for the Zebilla Constituency, prayed for God’s blessings for Mr Bukari and wished him well in his new position.

It is recalled that the President in his reshuffle in August re-assigned Mr Bukari to the Presidency and appointed Ghana's Ambassador to Italy, Madam Paulina Tangoba Abayage as the new Upper East Regional Minister. She is yet to appear before parliament to be vetted.