Infiltrations of documents into the National Archives must stop

Accra, Nov 28, GNA- Professor Irene Odotei, a Lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana on Tuesday appealed to government to take measure to stop the infiltration of documents into the national archive.

Presenting a paper on the Socio-Economic and Political context for Land Management and Land Administration in Ghana during the second day of the first national land forum in Accra, she said research conducted at the place revealed that some people were inserting documents into the archives to suit the desires of some members of society. "When we allow such acts to continue, it means are history is being adulterated and distorted, she said, adding," we cannot and should not reinvent history, because it would affect the history of the country and culture of some segment of our society in the long run". "History is what is built upon to make a society stronger," she said.

The three-day meeting, which attracted about 300 participants including land experts, legal specialists, official of public land sector agencies, traditional authorities as well as representatives of the judiciary and farmers associations among others, is on the theme, "Securing Land Rights for Accelerated National Development". It is being organised by the Land Administration Project (LAP) of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines (MLFM) in collaboration with the Millennium Development Authority as the climax of the series of Regional Land Forums organised recently to collate public/stakeholder comments and views as input for the proposed Consolidated Land Act. Prof Odotei advocated that government allocated more resources for research purposes as well as trained more historians so that the history of the people of Ghana would be sustained.

Colonel Yaw Boafo-Mensah, Logistics, Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Headquarters, pleaded with landowners from whom lands were acquired during the colonial era for the establishment of military base across the country to exercise restraint in their demand for compensations. He said because the GAF had no budget to pay for such acquired lands for which some landowners were now asking for compensations and some double compensation due to the pressure on land, it was important they exercised restraint and dealt with government direct. "Without an armed forces the security of the state is jeopardised, making room for external invasions with it accompanying encroachment on all manner of land, " he said.

Mr James. E. K. Dadson, Chairman, General Practice, Ghana Institution of Surveyors appealed to government to hasten the development of the one-stop-shop for land issues in the name of the Lands Commission. 28 Nov 07