The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has refuted claims suggesting it has engaged the services of a land guard to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands.
Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, had alleged that the government has confessed to entering into a contract with a land guard.
According to him, the chief director of the ministry Prof Patrick Agbesinyale at a Parliamentary Committee meeting on 10 July 2023 revealed before the committee; “I think the idea was that anytime the government apparatus; the police, military among others are seen going out there to claim lands, you know the hullabaloo and backlash the government receives. So, what they do is that you would set up somebody like this and government would literally be hiding behind it so he can reclaim government lands.”
“So, I remember that during the claiming process, three people lost their lives. There were gunshots; exchange of fire, and three people lost their lives there. Except that Gyato has a section of the media on site who would cover always – he is a whole set-up,” Agbesinyale said.
However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Monday (17 July), said the Lands Commission legally engaged the services of Aynok Holding Limited, a registered limited liability company to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands.
“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources by this Press Release refutes the allegations made by the Daily Post Newspaper and the Ghana web online news platform on the 17th, Day of July, 2023, on a purported statement made by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources captioned “Chief Director at the Lands Ministry reveals Ministry of Lands, Military and Police, have been contracting Land Guards” and “Government engages services of lands guards – chief director of Lands Ministry” respectively.
“The ministry would like to set the records straight that Government and for that matter the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources does not contract the services of land guards in its operations.”
“However, the Ministry through its agency, Lands Commission legally engaged the services of Aynok Holding Limited, a registered limited liability company to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands. This engagement has been in effect since 2012,” the statement said.
Legal
The Ministry says it employs legal means to reclaim all encroached lands.
“We wish to categorically state that Government and by extension the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources employs legal processes to reclaim all encroached state lands.”
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming on facebook.com/asaase99.5. Also on YouTube: AsaaseXtra.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#SafeMotorway4All
#Asaase321
#LetsGo
#AmplifyingTheVoiceofOurLand
#WeAreHere
#WeLoveOurLand
#AsaaseNews
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeLoveOurLand
#AsaaseSports
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeLoveOurLand
#AsaaseEntertainment
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeLoveOurLand
