Mr Albert Boakye Otchere, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, has denied media reports alleging that he has sold a parcel of land in the irrigation area at Ashaiman.
Mr Otchere said neither him nor the Ashiaman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) has sold or given permit to anybody to develop parcels of land released to the Assembly for developmental projects.
He stressed that “there is no iota of truth that the Assembly has given out the land to anybody” adding that, “I want to place it on record that the Assembly has not issued out any permit to the man in question to develop, and if the Assembly has done so then that would have amounted to giving him the tacit approval to do so”.
He explained that documents available to the Assembly indicated that the Irrigation Development Authority (IDA) released land in the irrigation area to the Assembly even though it was on record that the Ashaiman Divisional Council made the first request for it in 2010.
The MCE further said IDA rather released the land to ASHMA as it was also a state institution and therefore did not require a presidential white paper to do so.
“If government lands are to be returned to the traditional authorities it will take the issue of a white paper on it which is very difficult therefore, IDA could not release land to the traditional council but rather to the Assembly in consultation with the traditional leaders”
According to him, he received information that somebody was developing part of the lands, so he instructed the engineers to verify and demolish a wall that has been constructed there.
He added that the Regent of Ashaiman, after the demolition, informed him that the Council gave the said land to the person through mutual understanding since the developer assisted them when they were looking for the lands from the IDA.
Mr Otchere added that he requested for documents or IDA letters to the Council showing that the said land was released to them giving them the authority to allow somebody to develop it.
He stated that a meeting was also held with the Council, the developer and former MCEs and presiding members of ASHMA to find a lasting solution to the area but the traditional leaders were unable to produce any release letter rather they brought a site plan developed by them indicating the place they have given out to the developer.
The MCE observed that it was because of his insistent to demolish any illegal structure in the area that people were accusing him of selling that land to unknown persons.
He dared persons who want to develop the area to produce their documents covering their ownership of the land.
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