Speaker gives directive on land encroachment

Accra, July 29, GNA - The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey has directed the Select Committees on Lands and Forestry and Education of Parliament to hold public hearings on the encroachment of lands earmarked for educational institutions.

At a meeting with the two Committees in Parliament, the Speaker said reports reaching him indicated that lands earmarked for educational institutions along the Spintex Road in Accra had been encroached upon. A statement released on Thursday by the Office of Parliament said prior to the meeting the Select Committee had issued a report stating the precarious nature of the situation, apparently leading to the Speaker's directive.

The statement said reports showed that the Chief and Elders of Nungua gave the land to the Management, Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) about 30 years ago through an Executive Instruments but it had been encroached upon.

It said the MDPI had since taken court action against individuals who were involved in the encroachment.

"According to the report, the MDPI all along had the support of the chiefs and elders of Nungua in taking possession of the land from the encroachers. Unfortunately, however, on May 13, 2003, the elders insisted on taking the remaining land because according to them, they felt, that the MDPI had no use for the land that had been acquired then through executive instruments," the statement said.

It said the Committee urged the Government to also intervene by demolishing all unauthorised structures on the land and also ensure the immediate disposal of the court action.

"The Select Committee has advised educational institutions whose lands have been encroached upon and the general public to submit memoranda to the Committee for consideration," the statement said.