The Coalition of La Associations (CoLA) has called on President Akufo-Addo to relieve Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul of his duties over the wanton dissipation of La lands.

The Coalition demands that the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla Constituency in the Northern Region, who also serves as the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, be ousted.

They have threatened a series of demonstrations if the government does not comply.

The youth leader, Jeffery Tetteh, announced this at a press conference in Accra.

Mr. Tetteh accused the Bimbilla MP of using the military to obstruct the La Traditional Council from accessing their stool lands.

He claimed in his statement that the government has released parcels of land at Kpletso to the traditional council, yet the minister is allegedly using brute force to take over the lands.

He also criticised the Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey, for releasing a portion of land at the Ghana Prison Service in Cantonments to a private developer without negotiating with the La Traditional Council.

Read details of the statement below:

STATEMENT ON THE IMMORAL LOOTING OF LANDS BY POLITICAL FIGURES:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, STOP THE LAND LOOTING NOW

Ladies and gentlemen from the media, it has become extremely important to invite you here this morning for this briefing following recent public outcry over the continuous and unprecedented wanton dissipation of lands within the Greater Accra Region in general and particularly in the La Traditional area by government and some state officials.

The rapid manner in which these lands are being sold out to politicians and their cronies has not only become a disturbing subject of public discourse but also smacks of the highest level of insults from government to the traditional authorities, under whose jurisdiction these lands are located, i.e., the chiefs of La, whose subjects continue to ridicule them on the issue without justification despite efforts to get this land looting spree halted.

THE PRISON SERVICE LANDS, CANTONMENTS

A couple of weeks ago, we woke up to an announcement by the Minister responsible for the Interior, the Honorable Henry Quartey, on the floor of Parliament, that an arrangement has been made with “a private developer” to redevelop portions of the lands occupied by the Ghana Prisons Service in Cantonments.

This immoral arrangement makes room for the private developer to retain the remainder of the land for his private business without any provision for the allodial owners of the land, i.e., the Traditional Authorities. In our view, this is one of such bad decisions which should not be countenanced. We are asking the government to halt that process and leave that whole parcel of land for the use by the Prisons Service. However, should the government insist on disposing of this land in question, then the people of La must of necessity be involved.

TRADE FAIR REDEVELOPMENT

It is trite knowledge that since the acquisition of the Trade Fair land, which extends all the way to cover the space occupied by the LABADI BEACH AND LA PALM ROYAL BEACH HOTELS in the early 60s, not a single pesewa has been paid in compensation as required by law to the pre-acquisition owners. It is therefore important, and common sense would require, that the requisite compensation commensurate with the prevailing market value of the land is settled with the pre-acquisition owners of the Trade Fair land (including those occupied by the hotels) before the commencement of any redevelopment. If the government is unable to pay the requisite compensation, then the government should take steps to return the land to the people of La.

This would at least breed some level of respect and good faith between the government on one side and the good people of La on the other.

KPETSO LAND

On the issue of the KPLETSO LAND, we wish to express our gratitude to the President of the Republic for his effort at releasing the land to the people of La.

Indeed, a search run on any portion of the land at the Lands Commission today would indicate the LA STOOL as the rightful and true owners of the land.

Our biggest worry, however, is the gross disrespect being exhibited by the Minister responsible for Defence, the Honorable Dominic Nitiwul, who is not only our tenant but also our son-in-law. Nitiwul, an appointee of the President, has refused to allow his in-laws (the people of La) access to their own land, effectively disrespecting His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (an institution whose policies he directs).

This raises our adrenaline collectively as a people to its boiling point.

Considering the above, the Coalition of La Associations (CoLA), working in close collaboration with The GaDangme Coalition Against Land Injustice, is calling on the Minister for Defence to resign or be sacked by the President for insubordination.

ENERGY CITY PROJECT (AIRPORT CITY PHASE 2)

The Energy City Project is yet another scheme in which lands acquired under both the Hausa Reserve programme and the Airport Extension Acquisition have been chopped into pieces and doled out to politicians and politically exposed people. We ask that the deal, which appears questionable and unconscionable, should be halted immediately.

OTHER AREAS IN CONTENTION

Aside from the above-mentioned lands, many others have come under scrutiny for either being sold to politicians, politically exposed persons, or some private developers under the so-called government redevelopment programme, a scheme which is violently against the interests of pre-acquisition landowners.

These lands include but are not limited to all the parcels of land under the Parks and Gardens at Cantonments, several state housing properties at South La, Labone, and Cantonments, the Ministry of Agric land beside the Burma Camp overpass, and the judges' bungalows in Cantonments.

We are by this media briefing asking ALL private developers who have started or intend to start some works on these lands to, as a matter of urgency, halt while the Traditional Authorities engage the Government on the matter. We also call on the government to treat our chiefs with the same level of respect it accords traditional leaders from other parts of the country.

It is time for every King, Chief, Queen, and all other traditional leaders to rally support for the La and GaDangme people in this national fight against land injustice to avert possible replication of the same in other places when the lands in Accra have been completely dissipated.

It is us today, and if you do not support our cry now, it would be in your jurisdiction tomorrow.

The Coalition of La Associations (CoLA) and the GaDangme Coalition Against Land Injustice are also announcing a series of DEMONSTRATIONS commencing Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to drive home our displeasure and demand the reversal of ALL affected transactions.

The Coalition of La Associations and its GaDangme partners believe that the people of GaDangme, and in particular those from La, have not been treated fairly compared to people from other parts of the country.

It is only when this is done that we can be at peace and be guaranteed a peaceful coexistence with all other people.

Long live the people of La!

Long live the people of GaDangme!!

Long live the people of Ghana!!!