The Accra Airport South Landowners say the Military cannot claim ownership to any land in the area and that all the lands are privately owned.
According to them the military had over the years used different arguments to lay claim to the lands including allegation that the development of the land would threaten the “security and safety” of sensitive military installations.
The Airport South Landowners Association and the East Dadekotopon Development Trust, the original owners of the disputed land argued that the claim by the military had no basis.
Dr. Sammy Ohene –spokesperson for the landowners noted at a news conference in Accra last week Thursday that – “there are various legal documents which clearly show that the lands in question are not public lands and cannot therefore be military lands.”
“For any land to become public land including land acquired for use by the military, it must have been properly acquired by the state in keeping with the constitution and relevant laws,” he added.
Director of Operation of the East La-Dadekotopon Development Trust, Joseph Adjei, on his part mentioned that the military acted irresponsibly, saying their claim was “neither here nor there.”
Call on the military to respect laws
Dr. Ohene called on the military to respect the laws of the country and refrain from acts of trespass, intimidation and wanton destruction of property.
He said what was going on at Airport South (Tseado) threatens to set a very dangerous precedent whereby soldiers carrying arms in the name of the republic could destroy or forcibly take private property of unarmed citizens.
“The acts of the military are clear violations of the rights of the owners of destroyed properties and breaches the rule of law. They also pose a grave threat to the most fundamental principles and values of democratic constitutional order,” stated Dr. Ohene.
Not ceding an inch
Ursula Owusu, a Member of Parliament, who also owns land in the area noted that, the landowners are not giving up an inch of their lawfully acquired land to the military.
She said the military cannot threaten, harass, intimidate, and frustrate law abiding citizens who had lawfully acquired these lands thinking they will be scared away.
Ursula told journalists at the news conference that she was “amazed that they (military) think they can do this and get away with it.” She had no idea why the military bulldozed through people’s walls and “we will be not be scared –we are not running –we are standing and fighting,” declared Ursula.
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