Let’s prevent illegal land acquisition — Nii Osa Mills
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, has called on state agencies,especially those in the lands and environment sector to cooperate to prevent illegal land acquisition and encroachment on legally acquired land.
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He said that could help avoid many disputes with its attendant danger to lives and property.
He said it was of absolute importance for agencies which have responsibilities for land, environment, mining, town and country planning, forestry and security to work together in order to protect the state, company, family, stool or privately owned lands from being encroached upon.
Working visit
The minister made the observation during a working visit to Ablekuma in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region where developers have encroached on state and private lands including that of the Regimanuel Concrete Products Limited and for which the latter had petitioned his office.
Mr Osah Mills disclosed that the Regimanuel Concrete Products Limited had complained to his ministry about violent encroachments on the Greenbelt the company had created around its quarry site by some members of the local community. The Greenbelt had been created and maintained by the company around its quarry site to serve as a buffer zone to meet its obligations under the law for a 300 to 500 metre buffer zone.
The minister expressed surprise at the proximity of some buildings to the quarry site where blasting usually took place. “The quarry site has virtually been invaded – buildings are everywhere as close as 20 meters, while others are springing up quickly. This is a real danger.”
Blasting site
Osah Mills and his entourage took some time to interact with some residents living very close to the blasting site who confirmed that someone in the community had actually died as a result of the blasting at the quarry and were well aware of the danger they were living in.
The minister further disclosed that his office would join forces with the Minerals Commission Inspectorate, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the municipal/district assemblies to find a solution to the problem. According to him, “The whole area is government land; part of which has been leased legitimately to the company to do its work.
The Managing Director of the Regimanuel Concrete Products Limited, Mr Christian Braun, expressed concern about the extent of activities of encroachers, leading to the destruction of vegetation in the last six years.