Residents of Adoagyir, Akwamu, Owuraku and Ntoaso in the Eastern Region, are up in arms against a former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, accusing her of unlawfully leasing their lands to an estate agent.
The lands, which they claim were acquired by the Supreme Military Council (SMC) regime in 1977 for pineapple farming, were transferred to Nana Konadu under questionable circumstances.
[contextly_sidebar id=”X0qWnN0JAfby3dkW0Z5FGi4il02khBLj”]Subsequently, they claim that Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, now the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP), leased the lands to KOANS estate.
Whiles accusing management of the estate company of terrorizing them with land guards, the residents after a demonstration on Wednesday morning petitioned the Municipal Chief Executive.
Nana Amoako Ampong, the Dwantoahene of Adoagyiri, who is leader for the demonstrators said they want their lands back.
“We have been fighting for our lands and as part of efforts, we petitioned the late President Atta Mills before his death, and subsequently his excellency President John Mahama who directed us to Alhaji Fuseini the then Lands Minister. He assured us that he was working on it till they lost the election. We hope this government will take back our lands for us.”
“Rather, we heard the former first lady had offered our lands to KOANS. We are giving the government a week’s ultimatum to sack all the land guards from here. We are the rightful owners of the land, and we have the title documents. You are our father figure here and that is why we have petitioned you, but if we do not hear from you in a week, we will advise ourselves.”
The MCE for Nsawam Adoagyir, Isaac Kojo Buabeng, who received the petition, called for calm and pleaded with the demonstrators to allow the laws of the country to work.
“I have received your petition, and I will make sure that I forward it to the right people for our concerns to be addressed. I represent the President; this means you have petitioned Nana Akufo-Addo himself. I only plead that you stay calm and not resort to violence. I will do all I can to ensure each of you get back your lands.”
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By: Marian Ansah & Eugenia Tenkorang/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
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