Lashibi, Aug. 7 GNA - The Chief and elders of Lashibi on Wednesday appealed to the management of Tema Development Corporation (TDC) to release abandoned parcel of land within their area to them to under-take developmental projects.

Making the request at a press conference at Lashibi near Tema, Nii Whang Oweni II, Nungua Divisional Chief of Lashibi complained that the area lacks facilities such as hospital, market, lorry station, police station and palace among others yet there was available land for the purpose.

Flanked by his traditional elders, Nii Oweni said the Lashibi traditional council has written series of letters to the TDC to that effect but there has not been any response. He said their plight has been aggravated by the fact that parcels of land allocated by the TDC to some individuals for farming purposes have been re-sold to their 'favorites' and developed into residential areas.

The Chief pointed out that some portions of the land has been abandoned and lying fallow for so many years, therefore "we petitioned the TDC to consider the plight of Lashibi community and release part to us for development, but the Managing Director, Madam Elizabeth Mansah Banson whom we petitioned has not replied to our letter". Citing one case in point, Nii Oweni mentioned the owner of Ayeaye farms who acquired large track of land from the TDC for fish farming, but abandoned the project and rather re-allocated part to some individuals, to develop into residential areas while more houses are gradually springing up in the area.

Realizing that the land in the area was being misused to the detriment of the interest of the indigenes he, together with his elders consulted their solicitors who wrote to enquire from the management of TDC about their stance on the issue "but the TDC has refused to reply ever since".

According to him they have on their own initiative started preparing a 14 acre piece of land made up of 56 plots for the development of the needed facilities which would be undertaken gradually to benefit the whole Lashibi community. Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Abaka, Public Relations Officer of the TDC told the GNA that the surveyors of the corporation claim they were not aware of any letter concerning the issue.