Kumasi, May 21, GNA - The leadership of the Dunkwa-on-Offin District of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has cautioned the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly to stop with immediate effect the encroachment of its land. They alleged that the impunity with which the Assembly had encroached on the about one-and- half acre land, putting up stores and stalls with the intention of turning the church's property into a market was a recipe for disaster. The church has therefore warned of its intention to take drastic measures to reclaim its land if the Assembly remains defiant in doing the right thing.

The Reverend Joseph Yaw Aboagye, District Minister of the Church, told a press conference at Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region, that the said land which lies in front of the church's manse at Dunkwa-on-Offin was legally acquired by the church in 1950. He showed to newsmen the site plan and other documents to prove that the land was legally-acquired property of the church. Rev Aboagye said in spite of several warnings the Assembly was developing the land as if 93it was their own property". He appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, as well as the Regional Co-ordinating Council to impress upon the Assembly to put a stop to the development of the land before the issue degenerates into a chaotic scene.

Rev Aboagye said the land had been earmarked for development projects to boost the internally-generated-funds of the church and stressed that under no circumstance would the leadership sit idle while the Assembly does what was clearly against the laws of the nation. When contacted, Mr Peter Owusu Ahyia, Municipal Chief Executive acknowledged that even though the Assembly had encroached on the land, it had no intension to claim ownership of the said property. He said the Assembly believed in dialogue and as such would meet the church to settle the issue amicably since the state and church were partners in development and not enemies.