|
Planting of unsolicited
documents into the National Archives must stop - Historian
Accra, Nov 28, Ghanadot/GNA- Professor Irene Odotei, a
Lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, University of
Ghana on Tuesday appealed to government to take measure to
stop the infiltration of documents into the national
archive.
Presenting a paper on the Socio-Economic and Political
context for Land Management and Land Administration in Ghana
during the second day of the first national land forum in
Accra, she said research conducted at the place revealed
that some people were inserting documents into the archives
to suit the desires of some members of society.
"When we allow such acts to continue, it means are history
is being adulterated and distorted, she said, adding," we
cannot and should not reinvent history, because it would
affect the history of the country and culture of some
segment of our society in the long run".
"History is what is built upon to make a society stronger,"
she said.
The three-day meeting, which attracted about 300
participants including land experts, legal specialists,
official of public land sector agencies, traditional
authorities as well as representatives of the judiciary and
farmers associations among others, is on the theme,
"Securing Land Rights for Accelerated National Development".
It is being organised by the Land Administration Project
(LAP) of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines (MLFM) in
collaboration with the Millennium Development Authority as
the climax of the series of Regional Land Forums organised
recently to collate public/stakeholder comments and views as
input for the proposed Consolidated Land Act.
Prof Odotei advocated that government allocated more
resources for research purposes as well as trained more
historians so that the history of the people of Ghana would
be sustained.
Colonel Yaw Boafo-Mensah, Logistics, Ghana Armed Forces
(GAF), Headquarters, pleaded with landowners from whom lands
were acquired during the colonial era for the establishment
of military base across the country to exercise restraint in
their demand for compensations.
He said because the GAF had no budget to pay for such
acquired lands for which some landowners were now asking for
compensations and some double compensation due to the
pressure on land, it was important they exercised restraint
and dealt with government direct.
"Without an armed forces the security of the state is
jeopardised, making room for external invasions with it
accompanying encroachment on all manner of land, " he said.
Mr James. E. K. Dadson, Chairman, General Practice, Ghana
Institution of Surveyors appealed to government to hasten
the development of the one-stop-shop for land issues in the
name of the Lands Commission.
GNA
|
