Chiefs in La enclaves, the Coalition of La Associations (COLA), and the GaDangme Coalition Against Land Injustice embarked on a demonstration on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, against the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
They allege rampant unauthorized sales of state lands in the Greater Accra Region, particularly in the La Traditional area.
The groups further described these sales as immoral, claiming that government officials and their associates are involved.
Their concerns focused on recent actions involving key land parcels, notably the Ghana Prisons Service lands at Cantonments.
The Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, announced an arrangement with a private developer to redevelop portions of this land, which the groups have described as unethical.
They argue that this arrangement disregards the rights of the allodial landowners, the traditional authorities of La.
They are, therefore, demanding an immediate halt to the redevelopment plan and insist that the land should remain with the Prisons Service unless the La community is properly consulted in future decisions.
In addition to the Prisons Service lands, the Coalition has raised concerns about the Trade Fair land, which includes areas occupied by the Labadi Beach and La Palm Royal Beach hotels.
They claim that since its acquisition in the early 1960s, no compensation has been paid to the original landowners.
The coalition also criticized the government's redevelopment program, alleging that it has led to the sale of these lands to politicians and private developers, exacerbating the injustice faced by the original landowners.
“We want to inform you that the people of La, effective September, will move onto the Kpletso land to commence development. The following lands are also lands that we have issues with:
“The Prisons Service land at Cantonments, Trade Fair redevelopment—no compensation has been paid to the people of La as enshrined in the Constitution of Ghana," one of the chiefs said during the demonstration.
Other areas of concern include the Parks and Gardens at Cantonments, State Housing properties at South La, Labone, and Cantonments, Ministry of Agriculture land near the Burma Camp overpass, and the judges' bungalows at Cantonments.
The groups presented a petition to the President at the Jubilee House, in which their demands that all private developers halt any ongoing or planned work on these lands until proper discussions are held with the traditional authorities are captured.
"Mr. President, apart from the above-mentioned lands, several other parcels have been sold out to politicians and private developers without recourse to proper procedures and protocol.
"This includes the parcel of lands under the Parks and Gardens at Cantonments, the Ministry of Agric lands beside Burma Camp interchange, and the judge's bungalows at Cantonments. It is our submission that all these sales by the Lands Commission be put on hold.
“We have informed the police of a series of demonstrations should we not get some favorable response in the next two weeks. Your Excellency, the people of La believe in your judgment and we believe you will take steps to address these concerns.
“We are therefore, by this petition, pleading to call the Defense Minister and the Chief of Defense Staff to order and withdraw all their men from the portion of La which the chiefs and people of La are the rightful owners.
“Should they continue to disobey your orders, I plead that you relieve them of their post to serve as a deterrent to other officeholders, "part of the petition said.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the President was the Deputy Chief of Staff, Adumua-Bossman, who stated, “You have mentioned issues that concern the Minister for Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, and the Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Oppong Peprah.
"I will relay this message to the President. If the President has given a directive or order, it is to be implemented as he has directed.
"So, I will draw his attention and what needs to be done, I am sure it will be addressed.”
AM/AE
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