We will stop activities of Land Guards-Nartey

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 June ?99

Mr Richard Dornu Nartey, Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry told Parliament on Thursday that his ministry will soon come out with a Land Policy Document to address land-related issues.

He was reacting to concerns expressed by some members on the recent nefarious activities of the guards, which have become prevalent in some parts of the metropolis.

Mr Nartey pointed out that since the issue of land is very fundamental to the existence of the people, "we cannot allow certain individuals to take the law into their own hands".

The deputy minister, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Shama, called for the fullest support and co-operation of the house to enable his ministry to clamp down on the activities of the landguards.

Alhaji Collins Dauda, Chairman of the Select Committee on Lands and Forestry who made the statement on "The Menace of Land Guards", expressed the public?s concern about the way landguards "show gross disregard for the Rule of Law, and disrespect for human dignity in their operations."

Alhaji Dauda cited some incidents at Ablekuma and Aplaku, both in the Accra metropolis, during which the activities of landguards led to the death of some innocent people.

He pointed out that the activities of landguards are prevalent in lands owned exclusively by a stool or a family.

Alhaji Dauda, the MP for Asutifi South, regretted that since the operations of landguards normally fall outside state lands, "the Lands Commission appears helpless in dealing with the situation".

He urged law enforcement agencies to assist the Lands Commission to identify areas where landguards operate and ensure patrol on regular basis.

The Committee Chairman saw no justification in the actions of the landguards, since in his view, they are not only cruel, inhuman, but they "spark fear in investors and create a volatile environment for business."

Alhaji Dauda noted that the streamlining of court procedures in land matters has become imperative and crucial, and urged the Chief Justice to come out with special rules for land matters so that land cases can be quickly dispose of by the courts.

All members who associated themselves with the statement blamed the emergence of landguards on the methods and procedures for the acquisition of land.

They described the methods as expensive, cumbersome, burdensome, non-economical and not worthwhile, and urged the government to streamline the procedures to ensure that in the acquisition of land, the proper procedures are followed.

Members also expressed concern about the sophisticated weapons handled by the guards, which they described as illegal and unconstitutional, adding, "if the situation is allowed to persist, it will lead to an explosion sooner or later".