PRESS RELEASE

The youth of Jujeidayiri, a suburb of Wa in the upper west region has read with keen interest on the 18th of August, 2010 edition of the daily graphic and subsequently appeared on other news papers with a headlined ‘‘Jujeidayiri Youth in showdown with GBC. The said was attributed to the chief executive of a very important agency in Ghana, Lands commision Dr. W. Odame-Larbi. In the said publication, Dr. Odame-Larbi tried to debunk the statement we made in our press conference held on the 6th of August 2010 that ‘‘it is ridiculous and elementary for GBC to rely on inconsistent certificates of allocation signed by commissioner of lands in 1954 and 56 respectively, as a basis for the ownerhip of the land’’, and our further assessing that the certificates of allocation only opens the doors for negotiations with land owners’’.

We the youth recognised and respect the position of the lands commission as a state statutory body charged with responsibilities of the proper management of public lands in Ghana and as an advisory body to the various stakeholders of land management in Ghana.

It is also worth noticing Dr. Odame-Larbi’s assession that, his intention was to educate the public and not to wade into the dispute between the two parties. We hope somebody somewhere is listening or will read the publication very well and take a lesson from that.

On paragraph five (5) of Dr. Odame Larbi’s lecture notes, he tried to trace the history of the acquisition of the piece of the land at Wa Jujeidayiri for government. Dr. Odame-larbi said a piece of land approximately 285.857 acres was acquired by the government for adminitrative purposes such a junior staff quarters and offices in 1934.
The Executive Secretary went further to state on paragraph (6) of the tutorials that, it was based on the said acquisision that the commissioner for lands by certificate of allocation dated January 23, 1954 allocated approximately 5,024acres to the director of information for redefusion station. Also, the commissioner for lands by certificate of allocation dated December 21, 1956 allocated approximately 2.71 acres that same parcel of land to the director, broadcasting department for junior staff quarters.
We the youth of Jujeidayiri community will like to thank Dr.W.Odame-Larbi, the executive secretary of lands commission on behalf of the general public for his attempt to educate us. However, Dr. Odame Larbi, there are few questions you did not tackle and so ended up by confusion the public. First of all, you were not able to tell the public the type of acquisition used by the government at that time.
Dr. Odame-larbi attempted to defend the inconsistencies of the GBC management in Wa and finally sounded more incosistent. How will governmrnt acquired 285.857 acres and turned to allocate 5,024 in 1954 and 2.71 acres in 1956. Has the government not far exceeded it number of acres acquired? This is highly pathetic and really annoying. It also shows the professional incompetence on the part of people entrusted with government bussiness. It could also be a deliberate attempt by some people to rob powerless citizens of their bonafide property and if that is true, it is unfortunate.
We will again use this opportunity to advise persons handling state affairs to always articulate their facts and figures before coming out public. Nobody expected a Dr. at the same time an executive secretary of a very sensitive department like lands commission to be using approximate figures when dealing with public lands, because as the executive secretary you have access to all the documents for this lecture. Please come out very well in your next episode to retain the confidence reposed in you by the good people of Ghana.your first appearance sorry to say and with all repect is more than a disaster.
The youth of Jujeidayiri will persue this matter till fairness and justice is achieved for generations not only from the community but from all parts of the globe.
Thanks to the media for echoeing our voice to the outside world and to Dr. Odame-Larbi, we appreciate your effort at throwing ome light in gto the isue.
By Mohammed Nani
(Spokesperson for jujeidairi youth)
Mobile: 0244594503/020184991