A wall constructed around the office building being used by the Nungua Livestock Breeding Station staff
A wall constructed around the office building being used by the Nungua Livestock Breeding Station staff
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Nungua livestock breeding lands under siege - Agric Minister to petition ORAL committee

A tract of land belonging to the Nungua Livestock Breeding Station along the Tema Motorway in the Tema West Municipality has been taken over by private developers. 

Several acres already have some almost completed apartments, while other portions have walls built around them to demarcate specific territories.

The main office of the Nungua Farms Livestock Breeding Station has been walled by a private developer, who is said to be forcing staff of the facility to vacate the office amid threats of demolition.

These came to light last Tuesday when the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, visited the facility as part of his familiarisation tour of facilities and agencies under the ministry.

Mr Opoku was sworn into office last Wednesday by President John Dramani Mahama following his successful vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.

Tour

As part of his familiarisation tour, Mr Opoku visited the Women in Agricultural Development Directorate at the Nungua Farms, the Head Office of the Veterinary Services Department and the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme, in Accra. 

Action

Speaking to the press during the visit to the Station, Mr Opoku indicated he would resist the appropriation of the land by the private developers.

He stated there was a need for the government to interrogate the processes towards the acquisition of the land by the private developers.

Mr Opoku indicated that he would petition the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) preparatory committee to take a look at the issue and generate a report for the consideration of the President in order to secure the land in the interest of the country.

The minister added that although there were ongoing arrangements to relocate the facility and its offices to Amrahia in the Adentan Municipality, those processes had not been completed, and, therefore, it was improper for the encroachers to force the workers to vacate the land.

Development

Recounting the development to the minister, the Manager of the Station, Dr Dennis Owusu Adjei, said due to the current situation, staff at the facility had to plead with the private developers every day before the staff could access the office.

He indicated that bungalows occupied by workers at the farm had been demolished by the private developers.

“Our bungalows were demolished some few years ago and we have been instructed to move out of our offices because they want to demolish our offices and redevelop the land,” he said.

Dr Adjei added that the situation was no different at the animal production centre which bred pigs, grasscutters and poultry, stressing that the developers had indicated that they would soon demolish the facility.

The Deputy Manager of the facility, Mrs Bridget Wiredu, called on the minister to take swift action to address the challenge to avert any damage to their facilities.

He also urged the minister to work on the promotion of some staff who had been at the facility for 16 years or more without promotion.

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