Check encroachment on govt lands - Amewu charges U/E Region Lands Commission
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Peter Amewu, has charged members of the newly constituted Upper East Regional Lands Commission to check encroachment on government lands in the area.
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He also urged them to find immediate solutions to the wanton dissipation of lands by customary claimants who did not consider the economic and security implications of their actions.
The minister expressed worry that, "key assets like the Ministries area, the residencies, road reservations, schools, hospitals and some agricultural investments such as the Vea and Tono Irrigation projects have all been subjected to these invasions."
Mr Amewu was speaking at the inauguration of the 20-member commission which is under the chairmanship of Mr Jonathan Angme in Bolgatanga last Wednesday.
The commission is tasked to manage public lands and other lands vested in the President by the 1992 Constitution.
Members took the official oath and those of secrecy and allegiance which were administered by the Bolgatanga High Court "2" Judge, Justice Asmah Asiedu.
Also present was the National Chairman of the Lands Commission, Mr Stephen Ntim.
Inventory
The minister further stated that it was necessary the commission took an inventory of communities whose ownership of lands was vested in clans and not skins in order to identify legitimate land owners.
In doing this, he noted that "great care must be taken to ensure the distinction between jurisdictional authority and proprietary ownership of land."
According to him, the "recent trend of very vocal persons who purport to speak for or act on behalf of Tindaanas or land owning clans need to be interrogated carefully."
Concerns
Mr Amewu expressed worry over haphazard developments in the various parts of the country, the springing up of filling stations and encroachment on road reservations which, he said, were disturbing and "frightening."
"I therefore urge you to go back to the functions of the commission in conjunction with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority Act 2016 (Act 925), as well as the Local Government Act (Act 936) and be a guide and advocate for change in the land administration regime in your various assemblies," he advised.
Harmonisation
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Rockson Bukari, also expressed concern that some sector agencies in the region were not harmonising their respective activities.
For instance, he said, "the revered Department of Town and Country Planning seemed to be working in isolation, which is common knowledge to all in the region."
"Land is becoming a major hindrance to spatial development, particularly for social infrastructure,” the minister said, adding, “there are no stool lands in the region."
For his part, Mr Angme pledged to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in members of the regional commission.