Ghana government advised to formalise acquisition of public lands

A member of the Upper East Regional Land Commission has appealed to government to ensure that all public lands meant for social services such as health, education and are properly and legally acquired to avoid future problems.

Mr Emmanuel Nsor-Atindana, the Presiding Member of the Bongo District Assembly, told the GNA in an interview that government’s directive to district assemblies to acquire public lands in their respective areas would be difficult.

This is because the amount involved was so much and the assemblies, with their meagre Common Fund, could not afford to acquire those lands.

Mr. Nsor-Atindana suggested that the government could use part of the Consolidated Fund, through the Lands Commission, to facilitate the legal acquisition of all public lands.

He said there are lots of public lands on which schools, health facilities and other government institutions had been established but had not been legally acquired and this could spark litigation and disputes in future.

Mr. Nsor-Atindana said several of such institutions, especially in the three northern regions, have been encroached on by estate developers and such cases could increase with time thereby depriving public institutions from further expansion.

He said for instance in the Bongo District over 100 primary schools and 38 junior high schools have been built on lands that have not been legally acquired.

Mr. Nsor-Atindana said there was a legal tussle between encroachers and the Zamse Secondary Technical Shool (ZAMSTEC) in the Bolgatanga Municipality.

Mr. Nsor-Atindana appealed to people who want to acquire land to go through the normal processes of acquisition through the Lands Commission.

Source: GNA