IT HAS emerged that some chiefs and opinion leaders in Anyaani, a VRA resettlement town have been selling government lands indiscriminately to people.

Also, these chiefs and opinion leaders have been usurping the authority of the police service by sitting on criminal cases. Some of the resettlers made the complaint to the deputy Eastern Regional minister, Mr. Gustav Narh-Dometey, at a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction a ?179 million community centre at Anyabondi on March 26, this year.

About the resettlement land, Chronicle learnt that the government acquired it for resettlement purposes but has not paid the compensation up till now.

Receiving the complaints, the deputy regional minister warned that any chief who would be found engaging in such illegal dealings again would be put before court. He made it plain to them that the land belongs to the government, hence no one has the right to sell any portion of it.

Narh-Dometey advised the chiefs to refund whatever money they have realised from the sales to the potential land owners, because the land would be collected from them.

The deputy regional minister emphasised that one of the major preoccupations of the NPP government is to provide the facilities that would encourage the people to strive for development and self actualisation.

"We are of the hope that it is only through this that our people could be well-equipped to contribute their quota to national development," he said.

The Asesewa District police commander, Mr. Sekyere Bruku warned that any chief or opinion leader who would be found arbitrating criminal cases instead of referring them to court, would be prosecuted.

"Any chief or opinion leader who would be found sitting on any criminal case instead of lodging a complaint at the police station for arrest would be arrested and prosecuted," he warned.

The police commander noted that criminal acts such as rape, defilement, stealing and assault are high in the area.

Mr. Bruku urged them to report any peace officer who bullies them for possible action.

The ceremony nearly turned to a political rally as several speakers tried to use the occasion to score political points by convincing the residents to accept the NPP manifesto.