The Asafoatse of the Ga Mantse, Nii Osah Mensah II, has called for the immediate renewal of all land leases under the jurisdiction of the Ga State.
When effected, this will likely impact the titles of lands owned by many businesses in the capital city, as most of the lands may revert to the original owners to be re-acquired.
Nii Osah Mensah showed documentary evidence dating back to 1905, which indicated the period the government acquired most lands in the capital city to buttress his call.
“We are Gas and we deserve the benefits of our lands,” he said.
According to Nii Osah Mensah, Ga lands were not endowed with natural resources such as gold, oil or diamond.
Royalties
“What we have is our land and, therefore, we should retain and benefit from the royalties of our gifted land,” he added.
Nii Osah Mensah also advocated the rectification of all land documents under the jurisdiction of the Ga Mantse.
He said a similar process was underway in the Ashanti Region under the command of the Asantehene.
“The continuous denial of our rights to benefit from our gifted lands breeds poverty in Ga areas and low level of education, diseases and teenage pregnancy, which perpetuate the cycle of poverty.”
Who is responsible for Ga lands?
“Who is the owner of Ga lands? Is it the Lands Commission or the Accra Metropolitan Assembly? Or just who?” he asked.
Nii Osah Mensah said the chiefs and people of the Ga State deserved respect from government institutions and called for a united front among the Gas in pursuit of their natural inheritance.
According to him, the agreements covering most lands upon which public and private buildings were sited in the capital city had expired.
“We are ready to pursue this at both the local and the international court of justice if our demand for renewal of all land agreements are not met,” Nii Osah Mensah warned and he also warned encroachers and developers who used foul means to get lands to be careful since such lands would eventually be returned to their rightful owners.