A total of six individuals have been arrested by the Greater Accra (G/A) Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for alleged land encroachment and improper sand winning in some communities in Accra.
Three suspects were arrested at Danfa in the La Nkwantanang Municipality, and the remaining three were grabbed at Katamanso Ashiyie.
The suspects would assist police in the investigations to unearth those behind the encroachment and improper sand winding.
The arrest was made on Friday when the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, together with members
of the REGSEC paid a working visit to three chiefs in Danfa, to discuss lands issues between the traditional authorities and the Lands Commission.
Additionally, the minister and the team checked the level of encroachment and sand winding on government lands and other private lands.
According to Mr Titus-Glover, the chief of Kweiman, Nii Sango Amarh I, the chief of Danfa, Nii Dzame Tsuru Afutu Brimpong IV, and the chief of Amrahia, Nii Ashong Kojo IV, had petitioned REGSEC over land that was a contention between them and the Lands Commission.
Briefing journalists, the minister said the chiefs informed REGSEC that some years ago,
they released land to government for agricultural purposes, however, as the population of the community increased, they (chiefs) demanded government to return 40 per cent of the lands to them (chiefs).
Mr Titus-Glover then stated that government through the Lands Commission demarcated 40 per cent of the lands to the chiefs.
He mentioned that the chiefs later said that the 40 per cent lands that the government gave to them was not enough because they released more than 300 acres lands to government.
According to the chiefs, Danfa Stool gave government 320 acres of land, and they were given 68 acres as the 40 per cent land instead of 128, Amrahia stool gave 354 acres and were given 88 acres
and Kweiman Stool gave 153 and were given 35 acres as the 40 per cent.
Mr Titus-Glover asked the chiefs to present an official application through the Greater Accra Ministry to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to help pursue the matter on their behalf.
He advised that, “in the meantime, nobody should build any structure on those lands that currently belong to government at the Danfa area, and also no one should demolish any structures, so that by the time we’ll be able to resolve this matter, everybody will be at peace.”
Mr Titus-Glover, however, cautioned individuals to cease encroachment, abuse of law and land-guard activities at the private
property that was ruled by court in favour of Regimanuel Gray Estate.
Moreover, he noted that 91.47 acres of land was given to Regimanuel Gray Estate in 1996 by the Katamanso Stool, and there was a judgment in favour of the company by the Supreme Court.
Mr Titus-Glover stated that, however, any time the Regimanuel Gray Estate wanted to work on the land, they were stopped by some individuals from La.
When the Minister visited the property that were acquired by the Ghana Standard Authority, some 20 years ago to cater for the welfare of its staff, he witnessed sand winning and encroachment on the land.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA