We’ll deal with land encroachers — Greater Accra Regional Minister

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Titus Glover, has cautioned those encroaching on land in the region to desist from the act, warning that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) will commence action to clamp down on miscreants.

He said REGSEC was committed to sanitising the region of land guards encroaching on people's lands to restore peace and security in affected parts of the region, following series of petition received by the REGSEC.

“We are here to sanitise the region. We don't want any land guards, any sort of miscreants that will try to disturb the peace in the region,” he said.

Mr Glover was addressing the media after embarking on a fact-finding tour in areas in the La Nkwantanang Madina, Adentan and Kpone Katamanso municipalities  in the Greter Accra Region.

The tour saw the regional minister and the REGSEC engage traditional leaders and one Clemence Djato who was in charge of government lands in the La Nkwatanang Madina Municipality and the Adentan Municipality.

Context, concern 

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Divisional Chief of Danfa, Nii Dzame Tsuru Afutu Brimpong IV, narrated that lands were released to the government in 1970 for agricultural purposes by the Amrahia, Danfah and Kweiman traditional authorities.

Portion of some encroached lands used for sand winning visited by REGSEC

These were, 354 acres from Amrahia, 320 acres from Danfa and 153 from Kweiman traditional area.

He added that in November 2020, government issued a white paper for the release of 40 per cent of the said lands given to the government, and that  the lands returned to the traditional authorities by the Lands Commission in conjunction with one Clemence Djato, a contracted caretaker of the lands, did not reach the said 40 per cent stated in the white paper.

He explained that, "Danfa gave the government 320 acres. Its 40 per cent should not be 68 acres demarcated for us, but 128 acres. Amrahia gave 354 acres and only had 88 acres demarcated to be returned as the 40 per cent; Kweiman gave 153 acres and received only 35 acres,” the chief said. 

Response

For his part, Mr Djato indicated that his mandate was to take care of the lands in the area, and that he had always been in touch with the chiefs to address their concerns.

He added that the chiefs had not formally written to his outfit or the Lands Commission concerning the demarcated lands expected to be released to the traditional authorities.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister urged the aggrieved chiefs to make formal application through the ministry to the Minister of Lands to pursue the issue on their behalf to ensure there was peace in the area, and urged the respective parties to remain calm to allow the process proceed to address their concerns.