The Glefe Stool has accused the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, Rev.Kweku Addo, of illegally encroaching on customary land designated for a traditional palace to build a health facility.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Naa Korkoi Asuo I, Oduntia Noyaa Manye and Secretary to the Glefe Stool, stated that the lawmaker has demonstrated a lack of respect for traditional authorities by attempting to take over the property through unlawful means.
Consequently, the Glefe Stool is appealing to the President to intervene and call the MP to order to protect their customary lands.
According to her, the site in question was earmarked for the construction of a palace. However, the MP initiated steps to construct a health post without consulting or engaging the traditional leadership. She clarified that the Stool is not opposed to health facilities or developmental projects in the constituency.
“When embarking on any government project, you have a responsibility to engage with the traditional leaders. You do not take land by force. We had earmarked the land for a palace and had already transported building materials to the site; however, we later discovered that someone was working on the land. We investigated and found out that the MP had instructed for a foundation to be dug.
“We tried our best to engage with the MP, but all our efforts proved futile. So, we had to head to Parliament to meet him and seek redress. Later, we were received by the Ada MP, Comfort Doyoe, the Ablekuma South MP, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, and the MP himself, and an agreement was reached that the land had already been earmarked for a palace and so we have to find new land for the hospital project. But the MP is currently not abiding by the agreement reached,” she told host Kwabena Agyapong.
She added that although the traditional authorities offered to allocate alternative land for the health center, the lawmaker refused to comply.
“The MP has proven stubborn and refused to abide by what we agreed on. He does not respect traditional leaders. We are not refusing or rejecting the project. We do not want the MP to hide behind his office as MP and forcefully take property belonging to others,” she said.
Naa Korkoi Asuo I further noted that despite advice from the two mediating MPs to resolve the dispute amicably, the MP has proceeded with construction using materials originally brought to the site by the Stool.
“I will repeat that we are not against the project, but the land is family land and he does not have any authorisation to use it. The health facility is not a bad project, but you cannot use force to take the land of a family for the project. You have to respect us and engage us so we arrive at an agreement. The land is not yours, and you cannot make arbitrary decisions to use it for the project,” she added.
She further alleged that when traditional authorities dispatched Asafo groups to halt work on the site, the MP sent a counter-group to confront them, raising serious concerns about his intentions.
When contacted by Rainbow Radio, the MP denied having any dispute with the traditional leaders or seeking to undermine their authority.
He stated that the health facility is intended to benefit local residents and is not a personal project.
The MP explained that when the family reported the matter to Parliament, they were asked to submit land documentation to substantiate their ownership claims, which they are yet to provide.
Refuting claims that he misappropriated building materials from the site, the MP insisted that the property is state land and that all necessary administrative procedures were followed prior to commencing construction.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
