HE
QUESTION OF ACQUIRED GADANGME LANDS, SOME REFLECTIONS (Part
Two)
By Fiobi Kwashie*
11.
Article 20 (6) of the 1992 Constitution which, in fact, is a
strict adoption of the provisions of the 1969 and 1979 Constitutions
affirm these. Consequently, anything short of the above
requirements constitutes a fundamental breach of contract. The
mischief and/or tribalism which the demands of the Gas are alleged to
have created therefore seems difficult to understand. In that
regard, the following may be instructive.
12.
It is a fact that government had NOT yet paid compensation on a
number of acquired lands. These include:
v
Asutsuare Sugar Plantation Lands
v
Dawhenya Irrigation Project Lands
v
Teshie-Nungua Estates
v
Dansoman Estates
v
Adentan Housing Project and
v
Redco Housing Project.
(See GaDangme Transactions � A compilation of GaDangme Publications:
page 39)
13
Over the years, government has been collecting money from the
completed projects but claims to have no money to pay the compensation
due. Besides, government is not ready to give back to the owners those
lands that are not being used even when the projects have been
abandoned. There is no justification for all these.
14
Meanwhile, the �most unkindest cut of all�, to the GaDangme cause
was when the Sempe Mantse and Acting President of the Ga Traditional
Council, Nii Adote Obuor II, chose to describe leaders of the �March for
Justice� demonstration (ipso facto, the GaDangme Council) as
�deceitful and self-seeking�. The Sempe Mantse was reported to
have �lauded the idea behind the demonstration but expressed displeasure
at the way the idea was forced on the Council.� (See Daily
Graphic, Friday, may 6, page 3).
15
The leaders of the Council may have their peculiar habits or
attitudes like any of us. But to call them �deceitful and self-seeking�
is far from the truth. Those who know them well enough can easily
testify that they had had their places in the sun already with notable
achievements, thanks to God. They are seeking nothing for themselves in
whatever they are doing. Their primary objective is the restoration of
dignity to all GaDangme chiefs and peoples through purposeful
development of the GaDangme Area and the well being of the people.
That�s all.
16
For the time being, we shall not discuss Nii Adote Obuor�s
statement but leave it to posterity to judge its validity or otherwise.
However, Nii�s Press Statement of May 5, 2005 indicating an open quarrel
between some of the Ga chiefs and the GaDangme Council greatly surprised
me and many of my friends, both Gas and non-Gas. Naturally, we wondered
whether that was the best way to deal with any misunderstanding which
might have developed between the two parties. We also felt that perhaps
the Ga chiefs were missing out on chances for developing excellent
relations between themselves and some of their very well educated
subjects. In recent years, the traditional leaders in other regions
have admirably done this for the benefit of their peoples and progress
of their communities. On the other hand, the Ga chiefs build up
barricades between themselves and their educated folks!
17
It was more disappointing to realize that barely four days
earlier, another chief, the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, had
called for the return of acquired lands to Ghanaian chiefs. (See
Daily Graphic of Saturday, April 30, 2005; page 20). In that
connection, the Okyehene drew the attention of all of us to the fact
that the tradition leaders had enormous responsibilities yet �they
did not have significant control over the use and sale of lands and
resources in their various jurisdictions.� He therefore urged
all chiefs to come together �to fight to get control over our
resources.�
18
But why should the Okyehene make the demand to gain control over
their resources? Simply and clearly stated, the chiefs want to use the
resources for the development of their communities. In his words,
�future generations would not be happy with their chiefs, if they could
not associate them with any development projects in the communities.�
In a related matter, another great traditional leader, the late Nii
Kwabena Bonne IV, Osu Alata Mantse dramatically lamented the fate that
might befall the traditional leaders of Osu if they failed to address
the needs of their people. He pointedly said many times that� our
children (meaning future generations of the people of Osu) would not
only condemn us (their leaders) but would dig up our bones and burn them
for neglecting to develop our respective areas and communities.� This
should not have to be prophetic. Should it?
19
Here, one immediately recognizes two traditional leaders with a
clear vision NOT only for the progress and well being of their people
but also for all Ghanaians. The Okyehene is a leader who by his
pronouncements, drive and worthy actions in various aspects of our
national life has deservedly earned the respect of millions of
Ghanaians. If he is demanding the return of acquired lands to the
chiefs in order to develop their communities, then his objectives are
noble indeed. Nana Dr. S. K. B. Asante expressed those very objectives
on the same occasion and at the same venue.
20
I know and I do fervently believe that these are the very things
being preached and fought for by the GaDangme Council over the years.
Above all, I would want to believe that the Okyehene�s views are NOT
inconsistent with those held by the Ga chiefs, particularly, Nii Adote
Obuor. I further pray that he (Nii Adote Obuor) would continue to �work
assiduously� not only with the President but also collaborate with other
GaDangme chiefs and subjects to redeem GaDangme lands to the chiefs and
people for their development. Nii should also join hands with other
traditional leaders to fight for the control of acquired lands and
resources for development in their various jurisdictions.
21
We often hear government saying that it cannot provide enough of
the basic needs of the population. No one doubts this and everybody
knows that to be the gospel truth. That being the case, there is
nothing wrong with any attempts by our chiefs to seek the means to fend
for themselves and our local communities. And if the government owes
monies to certain stools for lands acquired and for which no
compensation had been paid, our traditional leaders and local
communities have every right to ask for the money and control over their
resources which would generate much needed revenue for their
development.
22
What then is the problem with those Ghanaians who are attacking
the GaDangme Council or more specifically, the Gas for fighting to gain
control of their own resources for their own development and progress?
23
In this regard, one may seriously note that the Ga land space is
severely limited. Just a few hundred yards walk towards the
South, the people of Ga Mashie, Osu La, Teshie, Nungua and
Tema are already in the sea. To the East and West,
they have just a few miles to go (under 30 miles, at the most) and they
are in other peoples� territories. To the North, another
20 miles (maximum) and they are in the land of others. Meanwhile, the
�traditional� local communities of the Gas are overcrowded with 10-15
persons in one room, in many cases. In addition, thousands of people
from other regions coming daily to live in the metropolis have
compounded all the issues confronting the Gas. There are not enough
school and health facilities for the teeming millions in the city.
Accra suffers from extremely poor sanitation and acute shortage of
housing units etc.
24
Under the circumstances, who would or can truthfully blame the
Gas for their cries? They are definitely overwhelmed by their
problems. Yes, the chiefs had sold so much of Ga lands and had not
accounted for the monies so collected. But that is something the Gas can
deal with later, all by themselves. For the
present, government owes them billions if not trillions of Cedis which
they can use to improve upon their lot. The argument being made in
certain quarters that sometimes government finds it very difficult to
ascertain the real owners of acquired lands when compensation was
available is untenable. Government knows the owners when acquiring the
lands but cannot ascertain the rightful owners when it is time to pay
for such acquisitions! That was Baryeh talking and that statement was
and is most unfortunate. (See Daily Graphic, Thursday,
April 28, 2005; page 31, column 3)
25
Assuming that government could not really find the rightful
owners of acquired lands to pay compensation to them, why should the
money be paid back into government chest and not into an escrow account
for it to earn some interest for the ultimate beneficiaries? This is
the practice in many countries all over the world and we need to be
hooked into that practice.
26
In instances where there are rival claimants to one and the same
stool, an Interim Stool Lands Management Council or Department may be
created or established by the people of the area concerned to administer
the use of such funds for development purposes. The work of such a
Council or Department shall be carried out in close collaboration and
consultation with the traditional leaders. This is not a far-fetched
idea especially when everyone knows what is at stake. Government must
therefore not turn itself into a banker for any of Ghana�s traditional
authorities. In fact, the notion that stool lands can be managed better
or that the peoples� interest can be better protected by government
officials rather than by chiefs and/or their subjects through their own
institutions is not acceptable.
27
Presently, the Gas are being asked to be patient because
government is busy working to find solutions to their problem(s). The
Sempe Mantse and Acting President of the Ga Traditional Area also claims
that �the Traditional Council had been working assiduously with the
President for Ga lands on which the leases had expired or were unused to
be released to the rightful owners or get the relevant compensation
paid.� In effect, the Sempe Mantse is claiming to be fighting the same
cause as the GaDangme Council. The seeming difference as at the time of
the demonstration was only in the approach! Needless to say, those
opposed to the stand of the GaDangmes on land issues are quite happy
about the statement purported to have been issued in the name of the Ga
Traditional Council and which clearly shows a rift between some of the
chiefs and the GaDangme Council.
28
But the frightening thing about all these problems is that there
is a scrambling for Ga lands at this very moment when Gas are asked to
be patient. Many of the old bungalows are being sold to private persons
or to companies. In every respect, it appears that the �rich and
famous�, the powerful and their well-connected political and/or business
associates are the only ones who know the details about such
transactions. In this manner, by the time government settles down for
talks with the Ga traditional leaders there might be nothing left to
talk about. Gas may not find even 4ft by 10ft piece of plot to
negotiate on in the choicest areas of Cantonments, East Cantonments,
Labone, Airport Residential Area, the Ridge, Roman Ridge, Teshie-Nungua
and Tema.
29
These are the major concerns of the GaDangmes, especially Gas.
The Gas need
their land to develop and live decently as a people. They need to
control their own modest resources in order to provide basic necessities
for their own people today and lay a better foundation for future
generations. Government cannot do all and this is accepted. Ghana�s
traditional leaders and their subjects are ready, willing and able to
help themselves. They must therefore have full control over their
resources to manage their own affairs.
30
This is the time for all reasonable persons who love peace to
start thinking about ways and means of finding just, satisfactory and
therefore lasting solutions to the problems of the GaDangme people,
especially the Gas for reasons already well known. This is the time for
government to listen to our enlightened chiefs, like the Okyehene to
return all acquired but misapplied, illegally allocated and unused lands
and resources to Ghanaian chiefs and their peoples as original owners of
such lands. This will enable them generate revenue to develop and
manage their respective traditional areas. The government always has
the power to do just as it pleases. However, when push comes to shove,
no government can suppress the just cause of an awakened people
throughout time. God bless Ghana!
*Fiobi Kwashie is the pen name of Mr. E. Amatei Akuete
Previous page
