Agyemankata residents take case to UN

Accra, July 20, GNA - The Agyemankata Community said on Friday that they have sent their long-running dispute with the government and Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) over the construction of a landfill in their area to the United Nations.

"We write to inform the general public and all relevant authorities that we, the Agyemankata Community, have written to the United Nations who have communicated to us that our case will be handled under the revised 1503 Procedures .," the community said in a statement released in Accra.

The statement said valuation of all properties at Kwabenya Landfill site was done under duress and coercion.

"The alleged valuation was done in concert with over 200 armed policemen, who assisted the Land Valuation Board to do its 'valuation' on the Kwabenya Landfill site, long after the preliminary works on the landfill site had been completed. This is in violation of the prescribed procedure and law."

The community said the AMA had proceeded with the project without adequate procedures being followed.

"A culvert, a partially completed road and 16 electric poles were erected to the tune of three million British Pounds," it said. The community said under the State Lands Act 125, a copy of the Instrument shall be served personally on any persons having an interest in the land or left with any person in occupation of the land; be served on the traditional authority of the area of acquisition which shall request the chief to notify the people of the area concerned; and be affixed at a convenient place on the land.

"These actions have not been done by the Government as required but rather the Government has gone on to publish the Executive Instrument in newspapers without adequate notice.

"Under international human rights covenants, to which Ghana is a State Party, we, the people of Agyemankata, have the human right to adequate housing, the right to protect our environment and the right to be free from forced eviction. We have the right to live in security and peace, and to live in dignity.'

It said these rights were also protected under African Charter on Human and People's Rights, to which Ghana is a State Party while the Constitution of Ghana also served to protect their rights. "We have the documents that show our legal residence at Kwabenya, but we will not produce these to the Land Valuation Board, for they and the Government are not respecting the law and not respecting our rights."

The community said if the AMA had a case against them, it should use the law courts, but not use force to evict them against their will.