MP Fights Police Over Land guards

Kennedy Agyapong

Kennedy Agyapong

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central in the Central region, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong dropped a bombshell in Parliament yesterday when in a contribution to a statement on the disruptive activities of land guards, disclosed that some policemen were supplying land guards with arms to grab people’s lands and visit mayhem on innocent people.

He said officials of the Land Commission must also be blamed for the resurgence of land litigations in the country, stressing that these officials, for reasons best known to them, register a piece of land in the name of about three of four people thus creating conflict between the owners of the land.

“Mr speaker, I can say that officials at the Lands Commission are part of the problem because an individual will go to the commission and register a piece of land in his name and a second person will also pop at the commission to also register the same piece of land in his name and the same land will be registered in the name of the second person which will definitely result in problems of ownership,” he said.

According to the MP, some lawyers also take advantage of the land ownership problems and ‘knock’ people’s head together in prolonged court litigations.

It is painful for one to go through all these problems and spend all his or her resources to protect a land he legally acquired, he said.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bortianor/Ngleshie Amanfro, Bright Edward Kodzo Demordzi added that the land guards usually terrorize innocent people and also pose as land owners.

He noted that litigation over land could be attributed to proper land documentations, noting that the Ministry of Interior and the Land Valuation Board must live up to expectation and ensure the proper registration of land owners in the area.

The MP for Shai-Osudoku, David Tetteh Asumeng drew the house’s attention to the constant invasion of settlements in his constituency by land guards.

He mentioned that in communities such as Abonya, Sota, Odumse, Fiankonya and Adjumadjan residents live in fear because of land guards who have been recruited to protect lands.

“Mr Speaker, I want punitive sanctions to be taken by the necessary agencies to help curb the deadly activities of these land guards.

The NPP MP for Kwabre East wondered why Parliament has not summoned the ministers and heads of institutions to help solve the problems.

He stressed that Parliament must assert its authority to protect people who voted them into Parliament.

By Thomas Fosu Jnr