Speaker orders investigation

The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Peter Ala Adjetey, has asked the


Parliamentary Joint Committee on Lands and Forestry and Education to


investigate issues of encroachment on school lands and property and


report to the House after members of the House raised concerns about


encroachment on schools lands and property. They maintained that if not


curtailed, it could degenerate into persistent confrontations and chaos


between the educational institutions land encroaches. It could also


hinder ongoing expansion projects in various schools.




Mrs Cecilia Gyan Amoah (NPP, Asutifi South) the originator of the


statement on the encroachment of school lands and property, said most of


the illegal occupants of the school lands and property claimed to have


title deeds from the Lands Commission covering lands earmarked for


schools. She said investigations had revealed that some of the disputed


school lands were acquired by some district, municipal and metropolitan


assemblies as well as government as far back as the first republic from


traditional authorities and settlers for school purposes. “Whereas due


compensation were paid in many cases, the truth is the rightful owners


or custodians,” she added.




Mrs Amoah said it was awful to note that not only did some private


individuals and some traditional authorities engage in the sale of


school lands and properties to developers, but also some imposters


believed to be working with the Lands Department connived with ignorant


citizens to distort school land boundaries. She appealed to the


Ministry of Education and all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to


take the necessary steps to have all schools lands property registered


so as to enable the governing boards of the affected schools to fence


their lands to prevent further encroachment.




Dr Benjamin Kumbuor (NDC, Lawra-Nandom) asked that land administration


be properly harmonized to avoid duplication in dealing with land sale.


He also noted that school administrations pay attention to their surplus


school lands for agricultural activities and thus benefited from


harvests to enrich themselves.




E.T. Mensah (NDC, Ningo Prampram) said governments should ensure that


they paid compensations for lands acquired for schools, and ensure that


the district assemblies were resourced to enable them to follow up on


lands that have been encroached upon and demolish any structures.




M.A. Seidu (NDC, Wa Central) said there was a problem with the mode of


acquisition and demarcation of lands and called for the streamlining of


agencies to deal with lands.




A.K. Korankye (NPP, Asante Akim South) said there were lapses in the


country’s land policy and therefore the need to address them, as they


have given rise to a number of land cases pending in various courts in


the country. He stressed the need for a strong and comprehensive land


policy. George Amoo (NPP, Ayawaso West Wuogon) called on state agencies


that deal with land to ensure that the right procedures were adhered to


with regard to land acquisition.