La Leshie Mantse unhappy over government’s alleged release of lands pending at Supreme Court

Nii Tettey Ofro Osro I, the La Leshie Mantse, has registered his displeasure over the alleged release of acres of land under litigation at the Supreme Court of Ghana to the La Traditional Council by the government.

According to him, the lands that are said to be released to the Council have been under litigation for several years, adding that the superior court of the land is yet to deliver judgment on the said released lands.

He revealed that the Ga State, which La falls under, is made up of families and not kingdom, and therefore, he questioned who the beneficiaries or the true owners of the said released lands are.

Nii Tettey Ofro Osro I called on his fellow chiefs to desist from the indiscriminate sale of lands and reserve it for the next generation.

He advised that some of the land in the Ga-Dangbe area should be given out for farming purposes, which will serve as a means of preservation for the next generation.

Accra High Court documents sighted revealed that one Mike Nii Odoi Laryea, in a suit number LD/0688/2018, filed a suit as the Head and Lawful Representatives of the Nii Odoitso Odoi Kwao Family of Accra vs. 1) Ben T. Quaye (Applicant), 2) The Trustee, East Dadekotopon Development Trust (2nd Defendant), 3) Lands Commission (3rd Defendant), 4) Mr. Harry Baiden (4th Defendant), 5) Adolph Tetteh Adjei (5th Defendant).

The case then proceeded to the Supreme Court between the Republic of Ghana vs. the High Court Accra with Mike Nii Odoi Laryea, ex-parte under the suit number (J8/181/2023).

This has brought to the surprise of many within the La township as to when the court made its final determination of the case for which those lands were released.

Ghana Armed Forces
In a press release issued by the Ghana Armed Forces on September 26, 2023, it stated that a media report sighted claimed that the government had released 114 acres of Burma Camp Lands to the La Traditional Council for development.

The statement said a ceremony was held by the La Traditional Council and some rites were performed to signify the reclamation of the said land.

The La Lashie Mantse wishes to call the government’s attention to a letter from the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, dated 24th August 2021, an excerpt of which reads, “The Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has thirteen (13) Paramountcies and the Paramountcies are Ga, Ngleshie, Alata, Osu, Nungua, Teshie, La, Kpone, Tema, Prampram, Shai, Ningo, Osudoku and Ada. All these Paramountcies have their Traditional Councils with the exception of Teshie and La which do not have Traditional Councils and members respectively per the Chieftaincy Act 759 of 2008 …"

The La Lashie Mantse continued, ”This is indicative of the fact that there is currently no substantive La Traditional Council and therefore it begs the question as to who these lands have allegedly been released to.

"It therefore behoves on the government to ensure the appropriate channels and protocols are observed with respect to land issues in order not to go against the constitution and the rule of law.

"The Military High Command in its statement acknowledged that there are ongoing discussions by a Committee set up by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to deliberate and recommend possible measures to resolve the issue.

"The Ghana Armed Forces stated that it has not received any directives from the Ministry of Defence, which is the supervising Ministry, directing that the lands should be released to the La Traditional Council, neither has any government agency directed the Ghana Armed Forces to release any land to any traditional authority, adding that those lands remain a critical need of the Ghana Armed Forces for the preservation of state security.

"Whereas the Ghana Armed Forces looks forward to a peaceful resolution of the matter through the Committee's work by government, it takes exception to the premature announcement made by the La Traditional Council as it has the potency of breaching the existing cordial relations between the Ghana Armed Forces and the La Traditional Council.

"The Military High Command assured all personnel of Ghana Armed Forces of its desire and resolve to protect the interest of the Ghana Armed Forces at all times."