University workers demonstrate against encroachment by Nungua youth

Accra, June 12, GNA - Workers of University of Ghana Agricultural Research Centre, Nungua, on Thursday protested against encroachment on their land by unidentified youth from Nungua in Accra. The placard-bearing workers marched to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nii Boye Tagoe and presented a three-page resolution signed by the Senior Members of the Agricultural Research Centre to protest against the encroachment.

The resolution dated June 9, 2009 said they were bringing the action of the Nungua youth to the attention of the University authorities for action to be taken.

It said the actions by unidentified people claiming to be citizens of Nungua and Boteiman had resulted in the destruction of their grazing land, erection of unauthorized structures and threatening their livestock daily.

The resolution said actions of the unidentified people were disrupting work and their activities had increased since a newspaper publication that 60 per cent of land of University of Ghana Farms had been released to the Nungua stool.

"The announcement and the latest action by the unidentified trespassers have put our lives, especially resident staff and our families, in danger," it said.

An eyewitness said some of the youth were wielding guns, cutlasses, other dangerous weapons and being escorted by the police. Speaking to GNA, Mr Sawyer Kofi Ndamele, a Daft Animal Power Specialist at the Centre, said the invading youth, including land guards arrived at the station on Wednesday in their numbers and dispersed animals grazing on the farm.

He said they brought bulldozers on Wednesday and Thursday to demarcate roads and destroyed fence belonging to the centre. Mr Ndamele said the Vice-Chancellor assured them that he would inform the Inspector General of Police on the situation.