The Gomoa East Didtrict Assembly has banned all landguard activities and “Digging Fess” in the district.
This was announced by the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Solomon Darko-Quarm at a Press Briefing, where he indicated that, the decision was reached at a crucial meeting held last Thursday 15th September, 2022 between DISEC and the Chiefs, Elders and Opinion Leaders in the district.
According to him, the Assembly had received reports from residents of Dampaase (Langma); Nyanyano/ Nyanyano Kakraba; Kojoku; Fetteh & Fetteh Kakraba; Millennium City; Budumburam; Apra; Nkwantanan over the activities of landguards and the collection of “digging fee” which called for swift action by stakeholders to ensure residents are protected.
“This decision is to bring lasting peace and security to residents and developers relocating to the rapidly growing District. It is also intended to attract many more investors to the District which is already blessed with Seven (7) 1D1Fs, to create more jobs for the youth of the area.”
Below is the Press Statement delivered by the DCE:
PRESS CONFERENCE BY HON. SOLOMON DARKO-QUARM, DCE FOR GOMOA EAST, ON THE BANNING OF LANDGUARDISM AND “DIGGING FEES” IN THE DISTRICT.
DATE: MONDAY, 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2022
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the media, it has become necessary to invite you here this morning to elicit your support to communicate some pertinent decisions to the public, particularly residents and developers in our District.
First of all, I must thank you all for honouring our invitation this morning, and hope that you would all help us achieve the objective for this engagement.
Members of the media, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act 999 (2019) to prohibit the act or threat of violence or intimidation by a person or group of persons to further the interest of a land lord or owner or purchaser of landed property or a real estate developer.
Over the 4-year existence of the Gomoa East District Assembly, it has received myriad of complaints from inhabitants and the general public, about the activities of landguards in the district contrary to the provisions in the law referred hereto.
I AM HAPPY TO INFORM YOU AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THAT FROM TODAY, MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2022, THE DISTRICT SECURITY COUNCIL (DISEC) OF THE GOMOA EAST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHIEFS AND ELDERS OF THE DISTRICT, HAVE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, BANNED ALL LANDGUARD ACTIVITIES AND “DIGGING FEES” WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
This decision was reached at a crucial meeting held last Thursday 15th September, 2022 between DISEC and the Chiefs, Elders and Opinion Leaders in the district, especially, those in areas noted for these unfortunate practices, such as Dampaase (Langma); Nyanyano/ Nyanyano Kakraba; Kojoku; Fetteh & Fetteh Kakraba; Millennium City; Budumburam; Apra; Nkwantanan; etc etc.
This decision is to bring lasting peace and security to residents and developers relocating to the rapidly growing District. It is also intended to attract many more investors to the District which is already blessed with Seven (7) 1D1Fs, to create more jobs for the youth of the area.
Subsequent to the above, the following have been outlined forthwith for STRICT adherence and compliance within the Gomoa East District:
There shall be NO LANDGUARD ACTIVITIES in any area falling within the Political and Administrative jurisdiction of the Gomoa East District Assembly, established under L. I. 2340 (2017) by the President with the prior approval of the Parliament of Ghana.
“Digging Fees” SHALL now be incorporated into the payments for the land, and shall be paid ONLY ONCE, to the Land Owner/ Guarantor/ Lessor or their assigns at home during the handover of Site plan and Indentures. On NO ACCOUNT shall anyone demand “Digging Fees” on the field or at construction sites in any part of the District.
DISEC of Gomoa East with the support and concurrence of the Chiefs and elders is intensifying monitoring to ensure strict compliance, and would deal ruthlessly with any person or group of persons, who engage in any act that seeks to flout, undermine or disregard this directive in the areas aforementioned in paragraph 1.
In line with the above directives, all Estate Developers in the District are equally cautioned TO REFRAIN FROM engaging in any of the aforementioned, as that would NOT be countenanced by Gomoa East DISEC.
The Gomoa East District Assembly in collaboration with all the Security Services in the District, would henceforth, wish to know of ALL construction works and activities being undertaken in all parts of the district, for surveillance purposes, to ward off any miscreants.
In furtherance to the above, ALL SUCH DEVELOPERS are advised to Contact the District Assembly for relevant permits, and provide adequate information on the intended projects, BEFORE COMMENCING. This is necessary for ease of monitoring and surveillance. Anyone who flouts this would be availing themselves to Landguard disturbances, and would be charged for promoting Landguardism in the district. Such individuals would be penalized severely by the Assembly and DISEC when caught.
The Gomoa East District Assembly and her DISEC is entreating all residents, developers and the general public to co-operate with them by volunteering information, and also, adhere to the above directives, to help bring this canker in the district to a perpetual end. In particular, all are informed that the office of the IGP, the Ministry of the Interior, the Local Government Ministry, the Central Regional Coordinating Council, all Palaces, Churches and Mosques in the District are accordingly informed of this decision. All and sundry must take note and comply accordingly.
Thank you.
…………………………………………
HON. SOLOMON DARKO-QUARM
(DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE)
