A GOOD GESTURE (OCT 9, 2008)

LAND is very fundamental to our political, social, religious, cultural and economic development. And that is why it is not surprising that land administration has remained one of the biggest challenges our dear nation has faced over the years.
One vexed issue that, for some time now, has been agitating the Ga Traditional Council in particular is the demand on the government to release all acquired stool lands that have not been put to use to enable the chiefs and people to use such lands for development projects.
Indeed, the demand of the chiefs is in consonance with Article 20 (6) of the 1992 Constitution, which states, inter alia, that “Where the property is not used in the public interest or for the purpose for which it was acquired, the owner of the property immediately before the compulsory acquisition shall be given the first option for acquiring the property and shall, on such re-acquisition, refund the whole or part of the compensation paid to him as provided for by law or such other amount as commensurable with the value of the property at the time of the re-acquisition.”
The Daily Graphic recalls that four years ago — Saturday, September 11, 2004, to be precise — President Kufuor promised to hold discussions with the Ga Traditional Council on the release of Ga stool lands acquired by the state but which had not been used.
That was at a durbar held at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park to climax the celebrations of the annual Homowo Festival by the various traditional areas.
Four years on, the President has kept faith with the people and has moved on to start the process of returning excess lands acquired by the state to its original owners.
The first gesture was on October 2, this year, when the government handed over 1,016 acres, situated at Borteyman, in an area popularly known as Nungua Farms, to the Nungua Stool.
Then, only yesterday, another refreshing story was told. The government decided to return some parcels of lands it acquired in Accra to their original owners in a move geared towards “engendering trust and co-operation between the state and the land-owning groups, as well as promote optimal use of the land in Accra”.
The Daily Graphic is extremely delighted about these healthy developments and commends the government on its firm and committed position which provided the platform for us to give meaning to our Constitution.
In the same vein, we laud the chiefs and the membership of the Ga Traditional Council for exercising patience all these years while the critical issues were being addressed.
We, however, wish to appeal that whatever decisions have been taken in respect of Accra lands should be replicated throughout the country in dealing with lands acquired in the public interest but which could not be used for public good.
But knowing the intense nature of land acquisition in the country, we must throw in a word of caution now. Indeed, our hope and prayer is that the return of the lands would not mark the beginning of hostilities, acrimony, rancour and bitterness but rather a new dawn of peace and goodwill.
The time has come for our traditional authorities to establish customary secretariats and link up with professional associations for assistance in the proper management of their lands. This is crucial for accelerated development.