East Legon Mempeasem Residents Accuse Gov’t Officials Of Undue Takeover Of Their Lands

Hundreds of residents of Mempeasem, a residential community in East Legon in the Ayawaso West Waguon Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, have demonstrated to register their displeasure over the continued use of brute force to take over their lands and properties there.

The demonstration which saw the burning of car tyres, with residents draped in their red attires and arm bands hitting the streets of Mempeasem, were in direct response to recent landguard and police attacks on some residents who have resisted attempt by some politicians and well-connected individuals to take over their properties within the community.

According to the aggrieved residents, not even a court injunction on the operations of these individuals have been able to stop them from
continuing with their attacks and brute tactics to take over their lands and properties.

Addressing the press in the community, an executive member of the Mempeasem residents association, Lorinda Badu whose one plot of land is allegedly being snatched from her by a top official at the presidency with the use of landguards and some security personnel, she has been arrested on countless occasion by the East Legon police for defending her land, while those hoodlums are left off the hook.

She bemoaned the level at which some top officials of the current government are bent on using force and illegal means to take possession of the ordinary Ghanaian’s property as sickening and distasteful.

Mr Enoch Nkansah, a resident and a member of the Mempeasem residents’ association, decried the use of state security to intimidate the ordinary Ghanaian. Mr Nkansah who is faced with a similar fate as that of Lorinda Badu said, though there have been several unfruitful attempts by some highly connected individuals to change his name on his land documents, he is deeply concerned about the failure of the police to ensure peace in the area, despite several petitions and reports to the police hierarchy by the residents since 2016.

Pastor Abraham Adjei, a pastor with the Assemblies of God Church, whose two plots of land which was meant for a church building, has since been turned into a private apartment after it was forcefully taken from him by one Samuel Laryea and his cohorts, could not hide his disappointment in the institutions mandated to protect the interest and rights of the ordinary citizenry.

When contacted, the East Legon police command refused to talk on the matter, stressing that, the issues at hand are currently pending at the law court.