Accra, Nov. 11, GNA - Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso, on Wednesday told the Vetting Committee of Parliament that about 80 per cent of land-guards in Accra are armed robbers and given the opportunity he would ensure that the practice was stopped. He said he would prefer dialogue and negotiations to litigations anytime there was a land dispute between the government and landlords in any part of the country.

Mr Afotey-Agbo, who appeared before the Committee for approval as a Minister of State in the Office of the President, was answering a question posed by Mr Edward Doe-Ajaho, Chairman of the Committee as to whether he would encourage the use of land-guards as protectors of lands. The Presidential nominee, who was born on July 31, 1967, is married with six children. He holds an Ordinary Level Certificate from Datus Commercial College and short time certificate from Ghana Institute of Journalism. Mr Afotey-Agbo, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2005, is also a Member of Lands and Forestry Committee, Works and Housing Committee, Gender and Children and Trade and Industry committees.

He promised to advise President Mills to diligently deal with all outstanding land issues to bring comfort and understanding to people, who had lived in perpetual fear and discomfort on account of land litigations. On why he called for the resignation of the Information Minister, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, he said, in his own estimation, the Minister was not performing up to expectation and he still stood by that. He said he would be ready to resign his post anytime he was compelled to act against his will as a public official, when he was asked whether he would still remain principled and strong-hearted as he claimed he was.