Accra lands should be re-zoned for agriculture – Nii Ashitey
Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Thursday appealed to chiefs and family heads in the Ga Traditional Area to refrain from selling lands indiscriminately because it could be detrimental to posterity.
“It is time we stop selling lands and re-zone these lands for agricultural purposes to boost food production and create employment,” he said.
Nii Ashitey made the appeal when addressing Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, at Dodowa to deliberate on the welfare and development of the Region.
He stressed the need for the judicious use of land for posterity adding “If lands were sold for personal gains, there would be non available for development projects such as schools, hospitals, and recreational activities for the public. I would therefore urge all family leaders not to deny future generations access to family properties and land”.
Nii Ashitey pointed out that government’s efforts to return undeveloped lands acquired to the Ga State could be difficult, taking into account the numerous chieftaincy disputes in the Region.
He expressed concern about activities of land guards in the Region and called for an end to such activities.
Nii Ashitey said government would continue to discuss with the chiefs on the way forward to end the intra-ethnic conflicts and chieftaincy disputes that had ravaged the Region.
On chieftaincy disputes, he said, the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council had set up an independent committee of eminent persons to help settle the various chieftaincy disputes.
Nii Ashitey said traditional authorities were key actors in the decentralisation process and partners in development, therefore they should eschew corruption, greed, pettiness and self-centredness, rancour and acrimony for the socio-economic development of the Region.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, President of the House appealed to kingmakers in the Region to help redeem its dwindling membership through the resolution of chieftaincy disputes.
He said their membership was 22 when it was established in 1982, but had reduced to nine and the vacant positions could not be filled due to litigations, while the Judicial Committee could not continue to adjudicate disputes because the cases were before the courts.
Nene Akuaku Chief of Ada appealed to government to accelerate efforts in relocating the capital city to Dodowa to ease congestion in Accra.
Source: GNA