Ex-President Rawlings appears to be in trouble again. This time, he is being forcibly ejected from a land he acquired for the building of his retirement home, when he was Head of State. Sources close to the national security say that the ex-President will not be allowed to build his retirement home at Kitase because it is too close to the Peduase lodge (pictured).

Ex-President Rawlings is not the only person being thrown off the land at Kitase. Those affected are about 100 and include the Chief of the town. Others are Brigadier Arnold Quainoo, former head of the Ghana Armed Forces; Nick Amarteifio, a close associate of President Kufuor, retired diplomats and top civil and public servants.

The Kufuor administration is insisting on acquiring all lands within half a mile radius of the Peduase lodge as a security zone. The move has been opposed by the Chiefs and people of the area who argue that the 60 to 100 houses affected by the governments’ decision do not pose any threat to the Peduase Lodge or its occupants. The houses in the area, including the Palace of the Chief of Kitase are at various stages of completion.

Ebusua Payin Kofi Sekyi, spokesperson of the owners of the land has denied claims that developers in the area are encroaching on parts of the land around the Peduase Lodge. According to him, the 90.42 acres of land, which the government acquired some years ago without compensation to the owners has not been encroached upon.

The Minister for Works and Housing, Mustapha Ali has denied any ulterior motive and has promised that the matter will be resolved amicably. He said the matter has been referred to the office of the National Security at the Akuapim District Assembly for consideration.