The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, reaffirmed the government’s commitment today, October 11, 2024, to tackling land encroachment, illegal sand-winning, and the activities of land guards in the region.
During a media briefing at the Reggie Manuel site, he outlined the efforts by the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to investigate and resolve multiple petitions related to land disputes. He clarified that Reggie Manuel Limited, a real estate developer, holds a legal title to the land in question, granted through a 1996 Supreme Court judgment. Despite this, the company continues to face encroachment from individuals claiming ownership without legal backing.
“Each time Reggie Manuel attempts to develop their land, they are met with resistance from encroachers who assert ownership without any legal justification,” the minister noted. He added that efforts to engage these individuals in discussions had failed, as they did not appear for scheduled meetings.
The minister highlighted that Reggie Manuel had successfully won court cases against Positive Investment, including a High Court ruling by Justice Amo Yartey that awarded them 91.47 acres of land. The judgment also directed those who had encroached on the land to settle the matter with Reggie Manuel, while instructing the Lands Commission to rectify any errors in land allocation.
“We are a country governed by laws, not a jungle,” Titus Glover stressed, noting that REGSEC’s site visit was aimed at assessing the situation firsthand. Five suspects—two from Reggie Manuel’s estate site and three from Katamanso—were arrested in connection with the encroachment and are currently being questioned by the police.
The minister also addressed ongoing land disputes in the Katamanso and Damfa areas, where illegal sand-winning and other unauthorized activities have occurred. Although no suspects were found at the Katamanso site during the visit, REGSEC is working to ensure that no further illegal activities take place.
In another dispute involving the chiefs of Damfa, Amrahia, and Kweiman, the chiefs claimed that the 40% of land returned to them by the government was less than the agreed amount. The minister urged the chiefs to formally submit an application through his office to the Minister for Lands for further investigation. Until the matter is resolved, all construction and development on the disputed land has been halted.
“We are here to sanitize the region. We will not tolerate any form of lawlessness, including the activities of land guards,” Titus Glover emphasized. He called on landowners to present their legal documents for review to ensure that legitimate claims are upheld and peace is maintained.
REGSEC remains committed to resolving land disputes within the legal framework and will not tolerate land guards or any other illegal activities. “If you have your documents, write an official letter to REGSEC, and we will address it,” the minister concluded.
