Lands Commission initiates moves encroached public lands

Kumasi, June 15, GNA - The Ashanti regional office of the Lands Commission Secretariat has initiated moves to reclaim all public lands encroached upon by individuals and organisations in the Kumasi metropolis.

As a first measure, the Commission has completed the compilation of all such lands in the metropolis.

Mr Okyere Antwi, Principal State Attorney at the Lands Commission who disclosed this, said the encroachers included mechanics, individuals and food sellers.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Monday on the exercise, he said it would help ease traffic in the metropolis and also beautify it.

Mr Antwi said notices had been served on some of the encroachers while those who had not yet been served would soon receive their notices.

He mentioned the encroached areas to be tackled first as the Airport Roundabout, Suame Roundabout, Sofoline, Santasi Roundabout and the Ahodwo Roundabout as areas that would be cleared of encroachers for the construction of the Eastern and Western bypasses, which would begin this year.

Meanwhile, the Commission has initiated legal action at a Kumasi Circuit Court against a Kumasi-based businesswoman for unlawful occupation of public land.

Gertrude Adoma Afranie pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted 20 million cedis bail to re-appear on June 17.

Prosecuting, Mr Antwi told the court presided over by Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh that the Commission had since January last year, issued several warning letters to the accused who had installed a 40-foot container on the waterway at the TUC Junction in Kumasi.

He said Afranie action accounted for the flooding of the main road leading to the TUC area whenever it rained leading to the road being damaged.

Mr Antwi said all attempts to get the accused to remove the container from the area had proved futile.