In a surprising revelation, the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (MLNR) has admitted to entering into a contract with a land guard, despite the existence of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019 (Act, 999).
The government’s actions seem to contradict the law, which explicitly prohibits engaging land guards to protect or guard any property. Violation of this provision carries severe penalties, including imprisonment ranging from 10 to 15 years.
A leaked audio intercepted by newsalertgh.com which captures a voice purporting to be that of the Chief Director of the Ministry, Prof Patrick Agbesinyale, allegedly shed light on the government’s rationale behind this decision.
He explained that the government faced significant public backlash whenever the police or military were involved in reclaiming lands. To circumvent this issue, the government resorted to employing a land guard who would operate discreetly on their behalf to reclaim government-owned lands.
“I think the idea was that anytime the Government apparatus; the police, military among others are seen going out there to claim lands, you know the hullabaloo and backlash the Government receives. So, what they do is that you would set up somebody like this and Government would literally be hiding behind it so he can reclaim government lands.”
“So, I remember that during the claiming process, three people lost their lives. There were gunshots; an exchange of fire, and three people lost their lives there. Except that Gyato has a section of the media on site who would cover always – he is a whole set-up.”
Prof Agbesinyale recalled an incident during the land-claiming process where three individuals tragically lost their lives due to gunfire and an exchange of fire. He revealed that the land guard, named Gyato, had a media team on-site to provide coverage and support. This setup essentially allowed the government to hide behind the land guard’s activities.
The Chief Director also made a startling revelation that even the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police have engaged the services of this same private land guard to protect their lands. He asserted that the contractor had established a network that included media personnel, national security officials, members of the judiciary, and others.
“I can give you a long, tall list of litany of lands that Gyato has reclaimed for us….even the military hires Gyato to reclaim their lands that have been encroached on. The Ghana Police, in particular, Gyato reclaims their lands,” he said.
This revelation raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights. It also brings into question the effectiveness of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, which was introduced to curb such practices.
