Press Statement On Compensation Claims For Akosombo Lands

Press Statement On Compensation Claims For Akosombo Lands As Reported In The 2010 Auditor General’s Report

The Akwamu Youth Association are please to welcome you all to this press conference to address some issues which are mindboggling, disheartening and disgraceful to our beloved country, Ghana.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, the youth of the Akwamu Traditional Area of the Eastern Region wishes to petition the President and the Government of the National Democratic Congress over the above compensation claims meant for the Akwamu Traditional Area as result of the construction of the Akosombo Dam.

Recent publication of the Auditor General’s report for the year ending 2010 submitted to the Parliament of Ghana, states that compensation claims totalling GH¢20 million for the construction of the Akosombo Dam was paid on 25 February 2010 in two trenches . This interesting revelation is what has necessitated this press conference to ascertain the validity of the claims made in the 2010 Auditor General Report. This information about these paid compensations was first put in public by Member of Parliament for Dorman West, Hon. Agyemang Manu, on Joy fm radio program News File. This compensation was meant for the AHAMAND Area which has the following settlements Nyameben, Mpakadan, Dasaase, Old Anyinase, Kyease, Awura High among the few. Also the compensation claims for APAASO area of the Eastern Regions which also fall in the Akwamu Traditional Area is said to have been paid.

However, the chiefs of the Akwamu Traditional Area have denied vehemently ever been paid by the government as stated in the Auditor General’s Report.

We the youth are appealing to the government and the auditor general to explain to Akwamus whether these monies have been paid and that:

? Who gave the claimants of the compensation the mandate to go and process the compensation? ? Since 25 February 2010 why have the chiefs of the Akwamu Traditional Area kept mute over the compensation claims paid by the government? ? In whose accounts was the compensation paid? ? How many people benefitted from the compensation paid by the government of Ghana? ? Who facilitated the payment of the compensation since the lands in question were all vested in the Paramount Chief, in this case the Omanhene who is the sovereign overload of all Akwamu lands? ? Who stood in for the Omanhene since the Akwamu Traditional Area does not have an Omanhene at the moment. We believe that considering the number years that the state have defaulted in the payment of the compensation claims and the quantum of resources the Akwamu people lost, the GH¢20 million paid was very small in value and should be re-considered. It would interest Ghanaians to know that some of the chiefs and people who should have been benefactors never benefitted from the compensation claims, our investigations could reveal.

As it now stands, we wish to state that no compensation claims have been paid by the state and that those individuals who have defrauded the government should be held liable.

We the youth from the Akwamu Traditional Area would like to pledge our fullest support to the call by the President, Prof. J. E. A. Mills and all just Ghanaians to co-operate with EOCO and all other National investigative agencies such as the National Security and the BNI, and the Attorney General over all outstanding issues relating to the 2010 Auditor General Report which borders on criminalities and fraud.

We would therefore be grateful if the government could prosecute any person or group of persons found to be culpable in perpetuating these allegations of gargantuan fraud to serve as deterrence. Ladies and gentlemen, we the youth would not hold only the few Akwamus who are alleged to have perpetuate this fraud liable but also hold the National and Eastern Regional Houses of Chiefs indirectly liable over this unfortunate incident. We are convince that the monies lost to Akwamus was as a result of the deliberate attempt by the President of the Eastern Regional House of chiefs who have for over 20years denied the area of a legitimate chief by his twisting the justice system to make it bitter for the people from the Traditional area. Since when in Ghana has a lower court been given opportunity to conduct a re-trial over its own ruling from a higher Court as in the case of the Akwamu Chieftaincy when the National House of Chiefs referred the ruling of the regional house chiefs for re-trial?

How can the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chief appoint himself as a judge in the very court which he has an oversight responsibility? How come a member of the panel of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs invite and introduce a party to the Akwamu Chieftaincy dispute as Omanhene when he knew that person have no locus.

Recent disturbances as a result of the violation of the decision of the Eastern Regional House restraining the queenmother from enstooling her nephew lend credence to the fact that the installation was meant to cover up the alleged fraud that have been committed against the Akwamu people by some of these dishonest chiefs. Our advice as young people to our chiefs in Ghana is to stand up and uphold the principles justice, fairness, equity, honesty and above transparency as professed by our forefathers.

We wish to add that the government should take a second look at the institution of chieftaincy, since the actions or conducts of some of our chiefs are a threat to national security.

We further wish to commend our brethren who have taken over the civil functions of the Attorney General to drag some of our leaders to court over these claims. It is our fervent hope that the judiciary would expedite the trial. Ladies and gentlemen of the inky fraternity, we want to use your medium to state that the youth shall use all legal means to ensure that these monies are properly accounted for and that we would like to appeal to you to unravel this fraud. We are therefore calling on the people of Akwamu Traditional Area to demand probity, transparency and accountability from our chiefs. Thank you

ALEX OFFEI AGYEMANG.

Tel: 0241862426