We Won't Allow JJ to Develop Land - Kronti Adonteng

The Kronti Adonteng family of Akwamu, true owners of the disputed land bought by the former President, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings, has resolved that whether he has registered them or not, it will not allow him to develop it.

However, they held that if the former president would understand that it was not rightfully bought because the family was not contacted and this time make official contact for the land to be released, they were prepared to consider that.

The family came out with the resolution after the Lands Committee of the Akwamu Traditional Council (ATC) had met the two parties in the land dispute to see how best to resolve the matter at Akwamufie last Friday.

Nana Ansah Prem III, the Chief of Kyease, who sold the land and Mr. Kwasi Oppong, the mediator for the former President, were invited separately to present their cases at a close door meeting.

Speaking to The Chronicle after the meeting, the family head of Kronti Adonteng Abusuapanin Akoto Mensah and Obaapanin Ohenenana Nyarkua, pointed out that since the area needed development, whoever used the right channel to purchase their land would be allowed. But whoever uses "corner, corner" styles would not be allowed.

The family head warned that whoever had purchased any land without the family's concern had done so at his own risk and therefore advised all illegal squatters to quit and demand their money from whoever sold the land to them.

When Mr. Kwasi Oppong, the mediator for Rawlings, was contacted for his reaction after the meeting, he declined, saying the traditional council had asked them not to speak to the press until further notice.

Mr. Moro Seidu, the registrar at the (ATC), was contacted to share with the paper what transpired at the meeting, where he admitted that both Nana Ansah Prem III who sold the land and Mr. Kwasi Oppong (Rawlings mediator), had been charged not to talk to the press until further notice.

He said following media reports on the land dispute between the former president and the Kronti Adontenhene, Nana Ansah Prem III, the Lands Committee of the Akwamu Traditional Council decided to intervene, hence calling the meeting to find a mechanism to resolve the issue.

The registrar however asked the paper to suspend further publications until final recommendations on the issue had been made public.

As to when the final recommendations would be made he could not tell, but stay tuned.