AMA urged to pay compensation over Kwabenya Lands

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has been urged to pay compensation over a land it acquired at Kwabenya, a suburb of Accra, for a landfill project.

Mr Isaac Tetteh, relative to one Madam Agnes Tetteh, a part-owner of the said land, told the Judgement Debt Commission (JDC) on Wednesday that since using Executive Instrument to acquire the land in 2007, the AMA had refused to pay any compensation.

He told the Commission that a portion of the said land was acquired for his sister who stayed abroad in 2006 and it was duly registered by all the appropriate authorities.

He said government, however, published an Executive Instrument in 2007 to acquire the entire land which included that of his sister, on behalf of the AMA for a landfill project.

“We were, therefore, directed to write to the Lands Valuation Board for assessment of the land and payment of compensation and we did exactly that,” he said.

He said after going through the necessary formalities, they were offered GH¢19,898.00 as compensation and even though it was less than the money used in buying the land, they accepted the offer.

AMA is, however, yet to pay the compensation, while it has also not started the landfill project, thereby, leaving the land at the mercy of Landgaurds.

He demanded that the compensation be paid urgently by the AMA according to the current rate or evoke the Executive Instrument to give the land back to its owners.

Mr Kofi Bentsi Enchil, Chief Valuer in charge of Compensation at the Lands Commission, confirmed to the JDC that the Kwabenya land, which was 364.246 acres, was indeed acquired by the state for a landfill project.

He said even though Madam Agnes Tetteh owned a small portion of the said land, there were many other claimants.

He disclosed that a letter, which was available to the Lands Commission and was written by the AMA and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, showed that the land would not be used for the landfill project anymore.

He said the letter cited the installations of electric pylons on the land, non-payment of compensation and encroachment, as some of the reasons why the project was being discontinued.

Authorities of the AMA are, therefore, to appear before the JDC on Thursday to answer questions regarding the land and whether it would revoke the Executive Instrument and return to its rightful owners.