Tension is mounting between the chiefs and people of Gomoa Hwida and Dago over the release of a portion of land measuring 297.45 acres and Mr. Kwabena Poku, popularly known as Georgido, Ag. Managing Director, over the establishment of a Central Hwida/Dago Salt Industries Limited, in the area.
The trouble over the plot of land started after an agreement and indenture prepared by Mr.Poku and Nana Kweku Etruh IX, the Tufohene of Gomoa Hwida and his elders was later reported to have included the names of the other two chiefs who have no connection whatsoever with the land, now in dispute.
As a result, Nana Etruh and his elders protested to the Mineral's Commission not to grant any licence to the company because no proper agreements had been reached, thus beginning the almost two years of litigation.
Speaking to this writer here at the week end, Nana Etruh regretted that even though he reported the issue to both the District Chief Executive at Apam and the Regional Co-ordinating Council in Cape Coast, there was no response and wondered why later the Chief Executive of the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM), Mr. David Forster Forson, whose outfit does not deal in land disputes, should show up to declare his intention to intervene but did not want any of the parties to produce documents to prove his case.
According to Nana Etruh, Mr. Forson stated that he only wanted to hear the history of the area to enable him to take his decisions.
As a result, he said tension is seriously mounting in Gomoa Hwida, Dago and Muntford over the plot being acquired by Mr. Poku for his salt industry.
He contended that a similar issue cropped up in Ekumfi Srafu between Mr. Poku and some elders of the area, which resulted in some people being placed in prison custody and therefore called on the NPP Government to mediate as a matter of urgency to bring peace and harmony in the area.
Later in an interview with the Central Regional Lands Officer, Mr. Amos Wuni, about the acquisition of plot of land by Mr. Poku in the area, he explained that he was aware of the transactions but he did not know that Mr. Forson of CEDECOM had gone into the case, because he (Forson) has no business in land cases.
Some people this writer talked to pleaded with the authorities that be to initiate moves to resolve the impasse as early as possible because the people of Gomoa and their counterparts in Ekumfi are quick tempered and feared any delay in resolving the impasse could be fatal.
