Achimota School calls for help to end land encroachment

The Achimota School Land Petition Group has called on Government and other stakeholders to act now to halt the ongoing illegal encroachment, sale and theft of the School land.

Mr Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, spokesperson for the Group and an Alumni, said the encroachment of the school land by well to do people in the country undermines the nations capacity to expand educational opportunity for ordinary Ghanaians and to enhance the quality of teaching and learning for future generations.

He noted that the issue had caused very serious threat to the safety of students and other members of the community and should of great concern to all Ghanaians whether as parents or well-wishers to secure the land.

Mr Armstrong-Mortagbe said this at a news conference in Accra after delivering a petition at the Flagstaff House, Parliament House, to the Chief Justice, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Ghana Education Service to put a stop to the encroachment of school lands.

The petition addressed to the President John Dramani Mahama and the other state officials is to request the president’s immediate intervention to halt this rampant destruction of globally recognised national asset of the country for future generations.

He called on the President, the Attorney General and the Ministers among others to place a moratorium on all land sales, illegal construction activity on Achimota School land, secure and clearly demarcate the land.

There should also be investigation on all sales and encroachment activity on the land, prosecute all persons and entities engaging in illegal sale and acquisition, stop the issuance of permits and registration of the land and provide full disclosure of all transactions relating to the acquisitions of the school land, he stated.

Mr Armstrong-Mortagbe added that the issue is escalating by day and has therefore become necessary for all meaningful Ghanaians to join in the fight for the school land to be protected for future generations.

He said the situation is serious as it had claimed the lives of four students.

Mr Daniel Allan, Member of the Group and an Alumni, noted that the school is the only school that was purchased from the colonial master hence the responsibility of all to protect it for future generations.

“If our forefathers haven’t protected this land during their time, will there be enough to even apportion some for GIMPA.

This is what the leaders, authorities as well as the entire citizenry need to consider before the issue gets out of hand, “he stressed, adding that the petition to the authorities is to enforce and ensure that all parties engaged in encroachment activities are dealt with severely to secure the lands.

Dr Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, member of the Group however stated that Mr Kwesi Quartey, Secretary to the president receiving the petition on behalf of the Head of State said government sees the act of lawlessness as an attack on educational structures.

He said government has thus put in place measures to ensure that the situation is solved.