The Kwabenya Traditional Authority in the Ga East Municipality has expressed worry about how the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), has allowed unscrupulous persons to encroach on large tracts of land seized by the government.
According to members of the authority, GAEC which is in control of the land has allowed some corrupt people to be illegally selling and buying the land for their private businesses and gains.
The Authority has cited numerous individuals and real estate owners who have illegally occupied the land without any action by GAEC and the government to stop them.
Speaking with journalists at the authority’s office at Kwabenya yesterday, the Shippi’ of Abola, Nii Tetteh Kwaku II, shared tears over how the inheritance from their ancestors and forefathers have been seized by government with no compensation and now being shared illegally without any benefit coming to them.
“As you can see, we are not getting any benefit from being allodia owners of Kwabenya lands, whilst some unscrupulous individuals and their family members are enjoying,” the Traditional Leader disclosed.
According to him, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, during his reign, ordered that four hundred acres of the GAEC land be given to the Odai Ntow family as compensation, but that is yet to materialize. It has not been given to them.
“We are therefore calling on the government to give our land back to us if they are not using it for the intended purposes,” Nii Kwaku II stated.
Nii Kwaku II, who is also the principal elder of the Odai Ntow family, further disclosed that his outfit is taking steps to implement and execute the numerous court cases they have won to date.
“We wish to use this medium to inform the general public and all developers on our lands who are yet to regularize their documents or atone tenancy to the Nii Odai Ntow Family, to do so through the Nii Odai Ntow Customary Land Secretariat as early as possible. We therefore encourage all developers to cooperate with us when they see us in their vicinity, “he stated.
The Government of Ghana formerly acquired the Atomic Energy Land with an Executive Instrument (EI 73/75) State Lands Acquisition (Kwabenya Site, Accra)”
“The name of Kwabenya was first mentioned in the history of Gold Coast and the Ashanti’s by Reverend Carl Christian Reindolf in the 15th Century till date. A Supreme Court Judgement was first given in favour of Odai Ntow family on 30th July 1901, and again on 3rd May 1904 in the suit titled Bosompem and Another verses Martei and Others”
He stated that on 3rd July 1973, the government acquired portions of Kwabenya lands as Ghana Atomic Energy Commission facility for the construction of Atomic Bomb Reactor but have been left for individuals to occupy.
He expressed worry over how some individuals are using political powers to illegally encroach the land for their individual interests.
The Principal Elder of the Odai Ntow Family also called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to as a matter of urgency intervened to ensure that portions of the land which not developed is returned to their family for the benefit of the family.
