Gov’t Returns Family Lands To Owners

The Government of Ghana has returned, to some families, lands taken compulsorily by the government in pursuit of development objectives. The lands, which were acquired for the construction of the Accra Training College and Development of Social Welfare and Community Development at Madina, a suburb of Accra, belonged to the Numo Nmashie family of Teshie, and Numo Nmashie of La.

Some of these sites have been fully utilised, and others appear to have been acquired in excess of the actual demand. At the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government and the two families, the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, Madam Esther Obeng Dapaah, noted that discussions had been done with some of the customary landowners, and principles of transferring the property had been agreed upon, since the state cannot pay the huge compensation involved.

She mentioned that after consulting the relevant ministries and institutions, cabinet decided that where there was no encroachment government must take action to protect the land. She indicated that encroachment might be regularised by the Lands Commission, subject to the preparation of a planning scheme and payment of penalty by the encroacher, where land is encroached upon.

Mad. Obeng Dapaah emphasised that the ministry had taken time to bring the conflicting claimants together, to agree to the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the state.