Land grabbing in Accra is now reaching dizzying heights. Two weeks ago about 50 muscled men menacingly stormed a large piece of land by the George Bush Highway - almost opposite Sam’s Cottage and asked squatters to leave.
They carried bags of money into which they dipped their hands to offer compensation to squatters, including hair dressers, mechanics and food vendors.
They claimed that they had bought the land from the Lands Commission and the squatters were paid between GH¢200.00 (two hundred Ghana cedis) to GH¢2000.00 (two thousand Ghana cedis) each to leave immediately.
The problem is that the land in question is under high tension wires carrying electricity and is meant for future extension works on the George Bush Highway.
Simply put, it is not to be sold.
Checks at the Greater Accra Secretarial of the Land Commission however indicate that it was leased to Brauinsfiled Limited on January 27, 2012.
The lease was signed by Oko Nikoi Dzani, Chairman of the Greater Accra Lands Commission in Clear violation of instructions from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
There are many problems with the leasing of this land.
Its development blocks access to other lands which have been properly acquired and would be a major hindrance to future expansion of the George Bush Highway.
The big question is, who will stop the land grab and restore sanity to land administration in Ghana?
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