The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has refuted allegations made by the Minority Caucus in Parliament regarding steps taken to reclaim encroached government lands.

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The Minority members of the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament accused the government of enlisting the services of land guards for the retrieval and protection of government lands, citing statements made by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Professor Patrick Agbesinyale, during a meeting with the Committee.

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Addressing the media, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini bemoaned the lack of commitment on the part of the government to combat land guard activities.“The other shocking revelation according to the Chief Director is that even the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police use this same land guard to protect their lands.

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So, if the military and the police cannot protect their own lands and have to resort to the use of a land guard, then what will be the fate of the common Ghanaian who wants to acquire land and is faced with land guards?” he quizzed.However, the Ministry has denied these claims and emphasized that it does not employ land guards or condone any illegal activities in relation to land protection.

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In a statement shortly after news made the rounds, the Lands Ministry revealed that through its agency, the Lands Commission legally engaged the services of Aynok Holding Limited, a registered limited liability company to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands. This engagement, the ministry said, has been in effect since 2012.

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“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,” the statement added.

The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey

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