Save Achimota School from encroachers

Save Achimota School from encroachers
February 03, 2010
Accra, Feb 3, GNA - Professor Mike Oquaye, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has called on President Atta Mills to save Achimota School lands from encroachers.

Prof. Oquaye who said this in a statement presented to the house on Wednesday noted that the school lands were by law vested in the Head of State of Ghana and that no President since independence has divested an inch of the lands.

"The white man laboured to leave a monument for us why should we destroy it", he said and citing the "Foyer", entire sewerage system which had been channelled since the time of Gold Coast Governor Gordon Guggisberg but had been taken over entirely by structures at the moment.

Prof. Oquaye said the encroachers had no building permits, adding that not one has been approved by the authorities.

He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly confirmed this in 2005 and the Owoo Family which many people rely on as grantors has come to out clearly that they have not divested any land in the Foyer (Daily Graphic August 27,2009).

The Second Deputy Speaker called for a committee to be set up to look into this and act accordingly adding, the security agencies should be employed to save Achimota School, a national heritage from collapse.

He said all houses built there should be compulsorily acquired and given to the school

"Government should take all the buildings by law. If a bona fide purchaser for value without notice is identified by a commission which could be set up, compensation should be paid by law", he said.

Mr. Isaac Osei, Member for Subin, contributing to the statement, said it was about time government instituted measures to deal with encroachers of school properties.

He said government should exhibit the political will for people to do the right thing otherwise encroachers would be roaming freely on many school lands.

Mr. Dominic Azumah, Member for Garu/Tempane, said the demolition of these unauthorized structures should be carried out without political interference.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey, Member for Okaikwei North, asked former President Jerry John Rawlings and Nana Agyeman Konadu to intervene because they were old students of the school.

She said AMA should be held responsible for these problems; there are prayer camps around, sand winning activities and garages which were nuisance and must be closed down immediately.

Mr. Enock T. Mensah, Member for Ningo Prampram and Majority Chief Whip, said he was surprised at a court ruling that put the demolition of these unauthorized structures on hold.

According to the member, the Kanda Highway before its construction was occupied by encroachers but those encroachers were removed and this could be done at the Achimota School also.

Earlier during question time, Mr. Raphael Kofi Ahaliga, Member for Afram Plains South, asked the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) how much was given by the European Union for the construction of a clinic at Mami Krobo through Kwahu North District Assembly.

Mr. Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of the LGRD and also the Member for Lassia-Tuolu, in an answer to the question said Twenty five thousand, eight hundred and seventy eight Ghana cedis ninety six Ghana pesewas was spent on the construction of the clinic.

Out of this amount, the European Union contributed 19,409.22 Ghana cedis, he noted.

GNA