The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon.Benito Owusu-Bio has strongly condemned encroachment actions on a government-owned land at Mphehuasem, a suburb of Accra and declared authorities’s willpower to win again the acres of land.
Addressing a press convention on Tuesday, July, 12, 2022, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio stated authorities is anxious with the encroachment on state lands and has embarked on mission to avert the illegality.
He defended the demolition of some partitions and temporal constructions on a parcel of land at Mphehuasem, stressing that the Ministry’s contractor had the legitimacy to guard the stated Lands from encroachment.
“In current occasions, there have been disturbances at Mphehuasem referring to authorities’s try to recuperate State Lands which have been encroached upon by unauthorised individuals. It should be acknowledged that the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), part 236 frowns on encroachment on state lands and criminalises such acts.
“The Lands Commission as the managers of public/state lands under the 1992 constitution under section 258 is performing its statutory functions to recover the encroached state lands,” he stated.
He additional disclosed that, authorities is conscious of the actions of encroachers and has established a Public Lands Protection Team to commonly survey and monitor public lands to make sure that they’re free from encroachment.
The group, in response to Hon. Owusu-Bio consists of A consultant of the MLNR, A consultant of Lands Commission, A consultant of National Security, Two (2) representatives from Ghana Police Service, considered one of whom ought to be from the Property Fraud Unit, A consultant of Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, a consultant from the Attorney General’s Department, A consultant from AYNOK Holdings and A consultant of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council.
Speaking at the identical press briefing, the Executive-Secretary of Lands Commission, Mr. Ebenzer Kobina Dadson sought to clear all doubts and mischief surrounding the public-owned land at Mphehuasem following a conflict between college students of Ideal College and a few males suspected to be contractor defending the stated land.
Mr.Ebenezer Kobina Dadson espoused that the land in query is a public land which has been encroached upon by Ideal College and others.
Mr Dadson defined that the Commission has in numerous methods knowledgeable the encroachers which embrace Ideal College and the University Professional Studies, Accra in addition to different non secular establishments on its plans to regularize the “illegal” constructions the place doable and to reclaim others.
Touching on the particular case of the Ideal College, Mr Dadson disclosed since 2018, the Commission has taken steps to interact the schooling establishment on the regional to have them regularization of its operational websites inside the enclave.
He acknowledged that the proprietor of Ideal College is laying declare to some 20plots of land a few of which he has bought to 3rd events on the blind facet of the fee.
Dealing with the demolishing workout routines, Mr Dadson insisted that the Commission via its contractor acted inside the confines of the legislation as notices had been served previous to the train.
He maintained that it has turn into obligatory for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take agency steps in the direction of retrieving all state lands which have been encroached on by individuals, group and establishments.
“The Commission has given a number of notices since 2010 to individuals engaged in these encroachments together with Ideal College, the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) hostel and several other church buildings. The final being a Press Release on sixteenth April, 2022 and Public Notice of demolition posted inside the space in April, 2022.
“By letter dated twelfth April, 2022, the Ghana Police Service has been engaged to supply safety to the Commission’s Contractor in defending the land. The similar letter was copied to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, the East Legon Police Command and the Legon Police Command.
“To ensure developments are done in accordance with the approved local plan, the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission would regularize the interests of UPSA in the hostel and other educational institutions. In the case of Ideal College, the Proprietor, Dr Joseph Kobina Essibu had been advised to formerly apply for regularization on two (2) separate parcels of land within the enclave. It is noteworthy that engagement with Dr Essibu dates back to 2018.”
He stated that the Commission will use the legislation and be a part of forces with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council in defending the land.
“The Commission is appearing beneath Section 236 of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) to recuperate these lands. This impunity of occupation of state lands should be mitigated.
“The Lands Commission released a press statement on 21st April 2022 debunking the claim of ownership by the Mpehuasem Mantse, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampao VI on 16th April 2022”, he concluded.
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