GHA alarmed by encroachment on road reservations

THE GHANA Highways Authority (GHA) has expressed grave concern over the continuous development of properties by prospective developers on road reservations - that is 45 metres on each side of the central line on the main Kumasi-Accra road.

In a memorandum, with reference No. GHA/ASH/AGJV.11/049 and dated February 4, 2009, to the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Valuation respectively of the GHA, as well as regional directors of the Lands Valuation Board, Lands Commission and all concerned Metropolitan, Municipal and District chief executives (MMDCEs), for the attention of all unauthorised developers, Ing. N. D. Brown, acting Ashanti Regional Director of the GHA, cautioned that development on road reservations constituted encroachment.

He has accordingly reminded all concerned, that no claim for compensation, in respect of properties developed on such road reservations, would be entertained by the Authority.

Mr. Brown referred concerned members of the public to a publication in the Ghanaian Times of October 24, 2008, as issued by the CEO of the GHA on October 20, 2008, to the effect that no claim for compensation in contravention of the Executive Instrument (E.I.) 17 of 2005 would be entertained, cautioning them to stop any further developments.

In the said publication, the GHA made special reference to E.I. 17 of 2005, under which such lands as road reservations fall, and informed the public that work on the said road corridor (state land) along the Accra-Kumasi site for Highway Dualisation project, had already commenced, and that all persons living along the said road corridors, should vacate the demarcated site for construction works to continue uninterrupted.

The publication indicated, however, that the provision of State Lands Act 125 of 1962, would apply with respect to affected properties.