Danger looms over Keta reclaimed land

The government is to set up a committee to address the problems associated with land that has been reclaimed as part of the Keta Sea Defence Project.

This has become necessary in view of agitations by some families and individuals over the ownership of the reclaimed land.

Food and Agriculture Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd.) said “there is a looming problem if government does not take immediate action on the reclaimed land at the Keta Sea Defence Project site.”

The Minister, who was inaugurating an 11-member committee of the Vodza Development Union in Accra, called on the people not to take any hardline stance over the ownership of the reclaimed land since there is the need for a comprehensive solution that must be beneficial to everyone.

Major Quashigah said since the land that will be reclaimed will not be enough for everyone, there is the need to consider how to utilize what has been reclaimed and urged the people to resolve their differences and work for the development of the area.

The Sea Defence Project was started by the former government amidst allegations of financial impropriety, to stop the devastating effect of the sea and prevent it from taking submerging the whole Keta town.

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Labone closed down over violent clashes with Acquinas The Labone Secondary School in Accra was closed down yesterday, following violent clashes between students of the school and their counterparts of St. Aquinas Secondary School at the weekend. One student is feared dead. School authorities are yet to confirm or deny the report.

The school went to recess three days ahead of its scheduled closing date. Police patrol teams have been detailed to the two schools to maintain peace and order on their premises.

Last Friday, students of the two schools clashed, resulting in a serious injury to a student from Aquinas. Five of the students of Aquinas were arrested to help the police in their investigations.

An assistant headmaster of the school, Daniel Mohenu said there are rumours that one of the Aquinas students who sustained injury in the clash had died in hospital. Rumours also had it that the Aquinas students were planning to avenge the death of their colleague, by mobilizing support from one of the suburbs where the victim comes from to attack Labone students.

Mr. Mohenu said as a result of “the Labone students also armed themselves to the teeth with cutlasses they had sharpened night long in preparedness for the clash with the Aquinas boys.

The closure of the school came at the time when the terminal examinations for the final year students and class tests for the juniors were in progress.

But school authorities say it is safer students go home now and come back next term to write their exams.

The clash was allegedly over female students of Labone School, but students from both schools have consistently denied that girls had something to do with the situation.

Eyewitness accounts say the disturbances began at about 2.30 pm when about 30 Aquinas students besieged the premises of Labone School to teach them a lesson for supporting Accra Academy students during a fight between Accra Academy and Aquinas.

The Aquinas students were alleged to have injured the security officer who tired to stop them from entering the school premises. In the process, they destroyed the school’s gate, lights and other property.