The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has warned persons occupying its lands illegally to vacate or face forceful eviction and demolition in the coming days.
The ministry last week embarked on a similar exercise which saw the destruction of over 100 structures at Nungua, a suburb of Accra.
According to the sector minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, the action has become necessary after several failed attempts to get the illegal occupants out.
The exercise is aimed at putting the encroached lands to the original purpose for which they were acquired.
The lands, when reclaimed will be put to their original use, this includes the establishment of demonstration farms of national service personnel as well as research demonstration plots for the development of Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Additionally, the exercise forms part of moves to meet the accommodation needs of staff of the ministry and the general public through the construction of affordable housing units. The minister stressed however that the nationwide exercise is being conducted with human face taking into consideration the socio-economic needs of the people who may be affected in the process.
To this end, he has directed the taskforce in charge of the operation to consider persons living in areas which has been heavily encroached by regularizing their stay whilst those in light encroached ones will be totally demolished and confiscated.
“The Ministry is therefore sending strong caution to groups and individuals selling or buying government lands, especially those belonging to MOFA to desist from the act or face the full rigors of the law”
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