Madina Community Violence Committee submits report

Accra, July 4, GNA - The Five-Member Committee of Enquiry set up to investigate the Madina Communal Violence on Monday submitted its report wit= h a call on government to re-possess the disputed land and compensate its owners to restore peace between the church and the community. The committee stated that it sighted a High Court ruling which gave possession of the land to the Faith Community Baptist Church and an earlier High Court ruling which also indicated La Nkwantanang Traditional Council a= s owners of the land.

"Government should examine the conflicting rulings to establish the true ownership of the land," the report stated. The Committee also recommended that government should compensate the families of the two deceased persons as well as those who received injuries based on the submission of authentic medical report. The report was presented to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashiety, in Accra by Mr Al-Hassan Legibo, Deputy Director of Ghana Prisons Service and Chairman of the Committee. Mr Legibo said there was the need for Ga East Municipal Chief Executiv= e to separately meet and dialogue with all the parties involved in the violence, the police and the community to restore peace. He said the committee suggested that the community, especially the youth, should notify the police of any intended demonstration in accordance with the Public Order Act.

Mr Legibo stated that there was the need for the Police to be equipped with adequate resources to enable them manage such conflicts. Nii Ashiety said it was important for every citizen to always follow the due process of the law, especially when embarking on a demonstration to protect lives.

"We must all endeavour to make sure the rule of law prevails in the country and make sure no lives are lost, since lives lost can never be retrieved," he added. Nii Ashietey noted that the report would be studied and the recommendations implemented to prevent any future occurrences. He expressed gratitude to members of the Committee for their efforts during the investigations to submit the report on schedule. The Committee was set up, following violence that occurred between the people of the Zongo community in Madina and the Faith Community Baptist Church about two months ago. It was mandated to investigate the causes of the violence, determine the legal ownership of the land, the number of persons injured and the extent of injury.