Akim Oda (E/R), Dec. 14, GNA - Nana Yeboah Afum, Head (Abusuapanin) of the Royal Agona Family of Akyem Oda, has expressed concern about illegal sale of lands in the area, since the death of the Omanhene (Paramount Chief). A statement he issued at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region, said since death of the chief in 1998, no successor had been appointed to regularise=

the sale of the lands. Nana Afum said the Regional House of Chiefs had set up a Judicial Committee, to deal with the dispute regarding the appointment of a successor. He said the land for Akyem Oda and surrounding communities was purchased by Nana Attafua I, Omanhene of the area. "This means that apart from the members of the Attafua Royal family,=

none of his subjects or citizens have ancestral ownership claim on any pa= rt of the land. "This being the case, however, nobody has the right to sell or dispo= se any piece of land, apart from the occupant of the Akyem Oda stool. Nana Afum said soon after the death of the Omanhene, the Adontenhene=

(Sub-Chief) was nominated as the Acting President of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Council. "His role I believe was to see to the smooth running of the council and its sub-committees." He claimed that since the Adontenhene was not made a regent he canno= t hold himself as paramount chief with powers to sell lands. " As a concerned citizen of the town and head of the Agona Royal family, I feel that if the sale of lands is allowed to go on unchecked, there will come a time when all our farm lands would be sold and our peas= ant farmers displaced without means of livelihood. Nana Afum therefore appealed to the relevant authorities such as the=

Ministry of Lands and the Registrar of Lands not to register any land in the area on behalf of the council. He appealed to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to see to the=

speedy resolution of the protracted chieftaincy dispute to put an end to the confusion and factionalism that had plagued the area.