President Akufo-Addo says the government is committed to establishing a committee to look into the problem of compulsory acquisition of lands by various governments.
Addressing the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on Thursday (29 October), President Akufo-Addo said: “Let me also indicate to you my commitment to establishing a committee, God willing, early next year, to take a comprehensive look at the issue to do with the compulsory acquisition of lands by government, its consequences and the possible restoration of lands to their allodial owners.”
He said, “The committee will make appropriate recommendations for the decision of the government. With a few weeks to the holding of the elections, the setting up of this committee this year may not be feasible.”
The president tasked the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs “to begin stakeholder consultations with the House, so an agreement can be reached on the composition of this committee and its terms of reference”.
He reassured the House that his government will continue to support the institution of chieftaincy so it can remain strong and resilient. Six new office complexes and bungalows would be provided for the six newly constituted Regional Houses of Chiefs, he also announced.
“Additionally, as I have said, we would strive to give to the institution the requisite support to resolve chieftaincy matters, and carry out research in the many areas of relevance to curb chieftaincy-related conflicts,” the president pledged.
Come together
With five weeks to go to the 7 December elections, President Akufo-Addo assured the House of the wholehearted efforts being made by the government to guarantee the peace and stability of the nation.
“Ghana has rightly earned a reputation as the pacesetter in democratic governance on the continent, a reputation I am determined to uphold and, indeed, enhance prior to, during and after the 7 December elections,” he said.
He added: “I will need, of course, your full collaboration and co-operation to help attain this end. We cannot afford a repetition of the deplorable events that took place recently at Odododiodoo.
“We have all to work together to create an environment that will allow the Ghanaian people to make their decision on 7 December in freedom, peace and security. It is their right.”
Development projects
As part of the government’s Agenda 111, which seeks to build hospitals in districts where there are none, the president told the House that, over the course of the next 12 months, the government will construct district hospitals in those districts of the Greater Accra Region that are lacking in health-care facilities.
“They are Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma North, Ablekuma West, Accra Metropolitan, Ada West, Adentan, Ashaiman, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso West, Ga Central, Ga South, Korle Klottey, Krowor, La Nkwantanang Madina, Ningo Prampram and Tema West,” he said.
He said each of the hospitals will have capacity for 100 beds and be fully equipped, with appropriate accommodation for medical personnel – doctors and other staff.
Giving an account of the work undertaken by the government in the Greater Accra Region over the course of his tenure, President Akufo-Addo told the House that “there are 847 projects being executed in the region, with 423 completed and the remaining 424 ongoing”.
Out of the 423 completed projects, 87 are in the education sector, 17 in health, 173 in roads, 74 in water and sanitation, 25 in the industrial sector, and ten are market projects.
Ninety-two of the 424 ongoing projects are in the education sector, 18 in health, 54 in roads, 113 in water and sanitation, 20 in the industrial sector and 19 are market projects.
* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio #TVOL
