Residents of the Ga South Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region are in an uproar over a contentious land reclamation exercise being undertaken by landguards. Those who purchased plots of land over the years in the rapidly developing Ashalajah area, located near Kasoa in the Central Region and Amasaman in Greater Accra, are now facing the harsh reality of their land being seized by these landguards. Despite their long-standing ownership, residents have reported feeling increasingly unsafe due to the landguards’ brazen activities. Interviews conducted by Classfmonline.com have revealed that the locals not only worry about the security of their properties but also the safety of their lives, as the landguards’ actions grow more aggressive and intimidating.
The situation is complicated by allegations that the landguards are receiving backing from a rival chief along with some local residents, further inflaming tensions within the community. These landguards often resort to forceful methods, such as storming homes of landowners—particularly targeting those who have purchased land from different chiefs—and insisting on re-demarcating and reselling the properties to new buyers. Some families, who have lived on these plots for decades, have reported horrific encounters where armed landguards, equipped with guns and clubs, re-demarcated and sold their land right in front of them. Vulnerable residents, particularly those living on unfenced property, are left at greater risk as the landguards push their agenda, claiming ownership based on a controversial court ruling.
This ruling allegedly recognizes one Solomon Atta Mintah, who professes to represent the Nii Kwanor Royal Family, as the legitimate head of the family against whom the land is claimed in the Ashalajah area. The distressing situation has intensified in the Domeabra-Obom Constituency, an area known for sand-winning activities, where community leaders are voicing their serious concerns. Mr. Gilbert Kwame Apekpe, the Assembly Member for the region, has characterized the circumstances as alarming, noting that while some landguards are locally known, others appear to be outsiders in this land conflict. The area is embroiled in controversy, simultaneously claimed by four different chiefs, which has only exacerbated the ongoing disputes over land ownership.
As innocent landowners find themselves in precarious positions, many have tragically lost their properties to the landguards, with accusations directed at Solomon Atta Mintah as the orchestrator of these unlawful actions. The lack of effective intervention by authorities is also a source of frustration for residents. Mr. Apekpe has indicated that despite numerous discussions and reports made to the Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Nyani, no substantial action has yet been taken to alleviate the dire situation. This neglect from the authorities has left the community feeling abandoned and increasingly anxious about their future.
With the severity of the landguard crisis on the rise, local leaders, including Mr. Apekpe, are urgently appealing to higher authorities to extend assistance to affected residents, particularly those who may lack the resources to fight back against the landguards’ tyranny. The sense of betrayal and hopelessness among the community members is palpable, given their past investments and what they believed were secure ownerships of their land. Their plea is not merely for intervention but for legitimate legal recognition of their rights as landowners.
The tumultuous environment in Ga South highlights a troubling intersection of property rights, local governance, and potentially unlawful land reclamation practices. Residents are caught in a difficult position, facing physical, emotional, and economic threats to their livelihoods. Without proper intervention from local governance structures to uphold the law and protect its citizens, the fears surrounding land ownership in the area are likely to escalate further, leading to a growing cycle of conflict and unrest. The ongoing struggle for justice among these residents underscores a broader systemic issue that affects not only individual landowners but also the community’s social fabric and overall stability within the Greater Accra Region.
