Dagbon Forum has called on the office of the Special Prosecutor to launch special investigations into the indiscriminate sales of state lands in the Tamale metropolis of the northern region. The group wants the OSP to attach same degree of importance to unregulated disposal of government lands just like it did with the alleged disposal of state lands at the Achimota Forest reserve.
Addressing the media in Tamale on Thursday, January 26, 2023, President of Dagbon Forum, Sakoya Naa Sintaro Mahama said there must be a complete cessation to the lease of all government lands and properties by the Lands Commission in the Dagbon traditional area.
He added the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, should as a matter of urgency investigate and call the current leadership of the Northern Regional Lands Commission to order.
This, he Chief Sintaro indicated will prevent the breach of peace and security in the area as far as the management of Dagbon lands is concerned.
“We call for a special investigation to be conducted on all the government lands and properties in the Tamale metropolis that were disposed-off or leased to private individuals between the period of 2012 and 2022” he emphasized.
According to him, this will uncover a serious rot within the system, stating the people of the Northern Region have had enough of the blatant abuse of the powers of the state by self-seeking individuals who are supposed to protect government lands.
“Dagbon deserves better and at peace with itself, promote harmony and a healthy atmosphere of collective benefits under the leaderhip of Ndan Ya Naa, the King of Dagbon.”
“Reliable information reaching Dagbon Forum is that part of the Forestry Reserve named ‘Ward I’ as per an eviction notice to traders at the Timber Market in Aboabo has been disposed-off to a private developer” Naa Sintaro Mahama alleged.
The Ghana Forest Ordinance Act 1927, Cap 157, entrust the management of Ghana’s Forest Reserves into the care of the Lands Commission.
Nonetheless, the Sakoya Naa argues that no portion of the forest can be sold by the commission without an Executive Instrument to alter the original arrangement.
“We are therefore by this, sending a caution that any attempt to encroach the forestry land under the pretext of private development will be resisted and challenged by all means possible. “Dagbon is yearning for development but not half-baked concept of development to the benefit of private individuals at the expense of the entire community” he warned.
