Committee on Education to expel enchroachers on Achimota school

February 17, 2010
Accra, Feb 17, GNA - The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, on Wednesday resolved to kick-out all encroachers on the Achimota school lands and ensure the building of fence wall around the property.

Members of the Committee, Chaired by Mr Mathias Puozaa, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli West, on Wednesday visited the school to acertain the extent of enchroachment and to find a lasting solution to the problem.

This followed a statement presented at Parliament by Professor Mike Oquaye, Second Deputy Speaker, calling on the law making body to take action to save the school from enchroachers.

Mr. Puozaa said the school and its land were a symbol of Ghana's national heritage, which must not be allowed to be taken over by lawless and unscrupulous individuals.

Prof. Dominic Fobih, MP for Assin South, said the enchroachment on Achimota school land was typical of all government lands and efforts should be made to protect the property.

He asked the Committee to meet with the Minister of Education and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to discuss how best to solve the problem of encroachment on government lands.

Prof. Fobih also suggested that the sewerage system, which serves the Achimota Police, Achimota Hospital and other staff bungalows of the Achimota School should be reconstructed for the School to have its separate sewerage.

Mr. Yaw Owusu-Boateng, MP for Akim Oda, called for Police protection for Ms. Beatrice Adom, headmistress of the Achimota School, before any action could be taken on the enchroachment issue.

The Headmistress told GNA that some residents of Achimota have prevented her from visiting the encroached lands and said that she heard rumours that some politicians were among the encroachers.

Ms. Adom said bakers, dog chain sellers, sandwiners, workshops and churches occupy the school plots and pilfering was common in the area.

She said the Achimota school land was bought on June 29, 1921 and paid for in 1922 and a receipt was issued in full satisfaction of all claims.

Ms. Adom said the land issue was taken to court twice and it was ruled in favour of the School and it should not be possible for anybody to produce documents on purchase of any plot of the school land.

On the Achimota sewage system, Ms. Adom said after it broke down, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly suggested that the students should be sent home but management of the school disagreed with the authorities, and was rather working assiduously to solve the problem.

She said 5,000 Ghana Cedis had already been spent on dislodging the sewerage.

GNA