The Coalition of La Association wants the Member of Parliament for Bimbila (MP) who also doubles as the sector minister Hon. Dominic Nitiwul to be ousted, or the government faces their wrath through a series of demonstrations.
The outspoken and fearless youth leader Jeffery Tetteh made this known at a press conference in Accra.
The convener of the group, Jeffery Tetteh also accused the Bimbilla Member of Parliament of using the military to obstruct the La Traditional Council from having access to their stool lands.
He claimed the government has released parcels of lands at Kpletso which the minister is allegedly using brute force to take over the lands.
He equally censured the Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey for releasing portions of lands at Ghana Prison Service in Cantonment to a private developer without negotiating with the La Traditional Council.
He indicated that the coalition is prepared to hit the street on Tuesday, July 30, to channel their grievances.
Below is the statement
STATEMENT ON THE IMMORAL LOOTING OF LANDS BY POLITICAL FIGURES:
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, STOP THE LAND LOOTING NOW
Ladies and gentlemen from the media, it has become extremely important to invite you here this morning for this briefing following recent public outcry over the continuous and unprecedented wanton dissipation of lands within the Greater Accra Region in general and particularly in the La Traditional area by government and some state officials.
The rapid manner in which these lands are being sold out to politicians and their cronies has not only become a disturbing subject of public discourse but also smacks of the highest level of insults from the government to the traditional authorities, under whose jurisdiction these lands are located i.e. the chiefs of La whose subjects continue to ridicule them on the issue without justification despite efforts to get this land looting spree halted.
THE PRISONS SERVICE LANDS, CANTONMNTS
A couple of weeks ago, we woke up to an announcement by the Minister responsible for the Interior, the Honorable Henry Quartey on the floor of Parliament, that an arrangement has been made with “a private developer” to redevelop portions of the lands occupied by the Ghana Prisons Service in Cantonments. This immoral arrangement makes room for the private developer to retain the remainder of the land for his private business without any provision for the allodia owners of the land i.e. The Traditional Authorities. In our view, this is one of such bad decisions which should not be countenanced. We are asking the government to halt that process and leave that whole parcel of land for use by the Prisons Service. However, should the government insist on disposing of this land in question, then the people of La must of necessity be involved.
TRADE FAIR REDEVELOPMENT
It is trite knowledge that since the acquisition of the Trade Fair land which extends all the way to cover the space occupied by the LABADI BEACH AND LA PALM ROYAL BEACH HOTELS in the early 60’s, not a single pesewa has been paid in compensation as required by law to the pre-acquisition owners. It is therefore important, and common sense would require that the requisite compensation commensurate with the prevailing market value of the land is settled with the pre-acquisition owners of the Trade Fair land (including those occupied by the hotels) before the commencement of any redevelopment is commenced. If the government is unable to pay the requisite compensation, then the government should take steps to return the land to the people of La. This would at least breed some level of respect and good faith between the government on one side and the good people of La on the other.
KPETSO LAND
On the issue of the KPLETSO LAND, we wish to express our gratitude to the President of the Republic for his effort at releasing the land to the people of La. Indeed a search run on any portion of the land at the lands commission today would indicate the LA STOOL as the rightful and true owners of the land. Our biggest worry however, is the gross disrespect being exhibited by the Minister responsible for Defense, the Honorable Dominic Nitiwul, who is not only our tenant but also our son-in-law. Nitiwul, an appointee of the President, has refused to allow his in-laws (the people of La) access to their own lands in effect disrespecting His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (an institution whose policies he directs). This raises our adrenaline collectively as a people to its boiling point.
Considering the above, the Coalition of La Associations (COLA), working in close collaboration with The GaDangme Coalition Against Land Injustice is calling on the Minister for Defense to resign or be sacked by the President for insubornation.
ENERGY CITY PROJECT (AIRPORT CITY PHASE 2)
The Energy City Project is yet another scheme in which lands acquired under both the Hausa Reserve programme and the Airport Extension Acquisition has been chopped into pieces and doled out to politicians and politically exposed people. We ask that the deal, which appears questionable and unconscionable should be halted immediately.
OTHER AREAS IN CONTENTION
Aside above-mentioned lands, many others have come under scrutiny for either being sold to politicians, politically exposed persons or some private developers under the so-called government redevelopment programme, a scheme which is violently against the interests of pre-acquisition land owners. These lands included but not limited to all the parcels of land under the Parks and Gardens at Cantonments, several state housing properties at south La Labone and Cantonments, the Ministry of Agric land beside the Burma camp overpass and the judges bungalows in cantonments.
We are by this media briefing asking ALL private developers who have started or intend to start some works on these lands to, as a matter of urgency halt while the Traditional Authorities engage the Government on the matter. We also call on the government to treat our chiefs with the same level of respect it accords traditional leaders from other parts of the country.
It is time for every King, Chief, Queen and all other traditional leaders to rally support for the La and GaDangme people in this national fight against land injustice to avert possible replication in other places when the lands in Accra have been completely dissipated. It is us today and if you do not support our cry now, it will be in your jurisdiction tomorrow.
The Coalition of La Associations (COLA) and the GaDangme Coalition Against Land Injustice are also announcing a series of DEMONSTRATIONS commencing Tuesday July 30th, 2024 to drive home our displeasure and demand reversal of ALL affected transactions.
The Coalition of La Associations and its GaDangme partners believe that the people of GaDangme and in particular those from La have not been treated fairly compared to people from other parts of the country. It is only when this is done that we can be at peace and guarantee a peaceful coexistence with all other people.
Long live the people of La!
Long live the people of GaDangme!!
Long live the people of Ghana!!!
