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The Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission on Tuesday said conflicting claims by families over the Aveyime Cattle Ranch land acquired by the State in 1976 has caused the delay in compensation payment. Mr Kwesi Bentsi-Enchill, Chief Valuer in-charge of Compensation Payment at the Lands Valuation Division, said the Commission was aware of the acquisition of the land by the state under the State Lands (Aveyime � Site for Cattle Ranch) Instrument, 1976 (Executive Instrument 27), with a land area described in the Executive Instrument as �containing an approximate area of 24,790 acres� and accompanying Plan No. LD. 8802/59629. Mr Bentsil-Enchill who was testifying before the Judgement Debt Commission in Accra, said the record of submitted plotted claims include Sakpleka Tsidi Gbenour for the Tsidi Gbenour Family, General Agrifield Limited, Nene Buernortey Puplampu for the Adabiawe Division of Ada, Torgbui K. A. Badahene of Teh Clan, Dadelor Tsidi Gbenuor for the Dadelor Family of Mafi-Dove and Anum Norgbodzi, alias Kwami Kuma II, for the Kwami Kuma Family. The rest are Togbe E. K. Badahene and Togbe Kofi Neh Mekporsigbe for the Teh Clan, Messrs Battor Agricultural Industry Ltd, Togbui Dedu III and Togbui Agbodemegbe IV for the Dedu Family of Dedukope, Togbe Gbenuor XIV for the three branches of the Mafi Krobo Clan, Togbui Torkla IV and Togbe Beker III for the Gbevie Clan of Battor. The Chief Valuer said there were 11 claims in all, but not until the conflicting claims were resolved, the State could not pay any compensation. Mr Kofi Dometi Sokpor, counsel for the Commission, wanted to know from the Chief Valuer if the Carmichael Family was part of the claimants, but Mr Bentsil-Enchill replied that the land was confiscated, though government paid the compensations in 2009. Mr Justice Yaw Apau, Sole Commissioner of the Commission, said the land was valued at �330,000 in 1978 when claims were put in. He questioned the Chief Valuer whether so far the land had not been encroached upon, but Mr Bentsi-Enchill replied in the negative, and added that once a land had been acquired by the State, it was the responsibility of the State agency utilizing it to also protect it. Mr Bentsi-Enchill also stated that conflicting claims by various families and clans had led to delay in the payment of compensations for the State Housing Corporation�s lands at Adenta and the Trade Fair land at La in Accra.