The Lands Commission correctly used its constitutional authority to safeguard public properties when it demolished buildings on state lands in Mpehuasem, East Legon in Accra, according to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy Minister in charge of Land and Forestry, clarified that the private demolition project near Ideal College carried out by Aynok Holdings Limited was legal because the company had been hired by the Lands Commission to aid in the recovery and protection of all infringed state lands.
To "put the record straight" on the circumstances surrounding the demolition of several buildings on public property close to the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) last Friday, he said this during a news briefing in Accra yesterday.
He said that the 22 plots of property being sought by Dr. Joseph Kobina Essibu, the owner of Ideal College, belonged to the state and would be properly returned.
He emphasised that the ministry will assist the Lands Commission and its deputies in removing any unauthorised inhabitants of state lands in the region and throughout the rest of the nation.
On September 6, 2021, the ministry launched a Public Lands Protection Team in an effort to safeguard public lands.
Aynok Holdings, the Attorney-Office, General's the Lands Commission, the National Security Agency, the Ghana Police Service, the Sector Ministry, and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority were all represented on the team.
Additionally present were the Presidency's Director of Operations and a member of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council. To help the government make choices on these assets, the team was tasked with reviewing the status of state-acquired property.
Additionally, it had the duty to frequently inspect and keep an eye on public lands to make sure there was no encroachment, as well as to make it easier for public institutions to demolish buildings when necessary.
The team is now working to secure the Accra Training College site at Mpehuasem, the Pantang Hospital, the CSIR Animal Research Institute, the Ramsar Site at Tema, the Dairy Farms at Amrahia, and the Ramsar Site at Tema, which is the focus of the news conference, he added.
Agreement with Aynok
According to James Dadson, the Executive Secretary of the Properties Commission, the ministry hired Messrs Aynok Holdings Limited to help recover and secure state lands since the commission lacked the infrastructure and logistics to safeguard the recovered lands.
"The Lands Commission lacks a task force to safeguard recovered lands. We hired Aynok Holdings to help us because we lack the necessary equipment "explained him.
He explained the historical context of the East Legon state lands by stating that Executive Instrument (E.I.) 72 of 1974 saw the government compel the acquisition of 225.18 acres of land for the Accra Training College at Mpehuasem.
He said that after signing a memorandum of understanding with the pre-acquisition owners, the Djirase Family of La and the Numoo Nmashie Family of Teshie, in December 2008, the government delivered 114.055 acres to the owners in lieu of payment.
Of the 111.125 acres kept by the government, he said Accra Training College had walled off and occupied around 50 acres. He said that "over the years, certain unidentified people have resorted to alienating and exploiting some of the retained territory outside of the college's walls."
He continued by saying that the commission has provided ample notice of the demolition of unlawful constructions on state property to those involved in encroachment operations since 2010, including Ideal College and various churches. Mr. Dadson pointed out that Dr. Essibu had formally requested the regularisation of two different property parcels within the enclave in the instance of Ideal College.
According to him, the two properties were the 2.50 acre current location of the school with the projected four canteen plots. He said that Dr. Essibu is also claiming 22 other plots totaling 3.60 acres that are dispersed across the neighbourhood, some of which he has sold to third parties.