545 Plots sold to 850 People
Contrary to the general perception that it is only the national capital, Accra, that has serious land ownership problems, the Brong Ahafo region has also got more than her fair share of the problems, except that gun and knife-wielding landguards are not in full gear terrorizing people. But the painful truth is that if the situation is not quickly brought under control, one would not be surprised if the unexpected happens.

A forum on land issues held at Kotokrom, near Sunyani over the weekend, depicted the gloomy picture of the situation.

In his address, the regional land officer, Mr. Sandy Anthony Mensah, said his office is confronted with a very serious problem of multiple allocations of plots. He made a startling revelation that 545 plots earmarked for residential, recreation, civic education and worship purposes had been sold to 850 different people. This raises the fear of possible battles for ownership of one plot by two or three people.

Mr. Mensah decried the haphazard manner the people were developing the area, and cautioned prospective developers to contact bodies like the Lands Commission, Survey Department and Town and Country Planning Department before embarking on any development projects. Another issue that is a source of worry is the revelation that some people had removed survey pillars and erected their own pillars.

At the forum, a self-styled surveyor, Mr. Ibrahim Asante, was mentioned as having sold more than 300 plots. Mr. Asante, who was the chairman of the association for the defence of the revolution in the area during the PNDC regime, denied with vehemence, when asked by the host of SKY FM Morning Show, Kwaku Adjei Pato, to clear the air. He however admitted selling a little over 18 plots.

Meanwhile, the assembly member for Abonsuam electoral area, Raphael Cubbadge, had threatened to pursue the matter and unmask all top officials who are involved in land deals in the Sunyani area. Stay tuned.