The long-standing battle over land rights in the Kweiman, Damfa and Amrahia communities in the Greater Accra Region has taken a dramatic turn, with community chiefs pointing fingers once more at Moses Abor, a former Greater Accra Regional Youth Organiser, and other New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials including Ben Seyram and Freddie Blay, a former National Chair.
At a press conference on Monday, October 9, 2023, the chiefs accused the NPP officials of involvement in the alleged sale of their lands. They made a final, impassioned appeal to the government for immediate intervention and vehemently warned against any attempts by the NPP to encroach upon their lands in a bid to secure political gains.
“Enough is enough” was the rallying cry of the chiefs and people of the Kweiman, Damfa and Amrahia communities. With bloodshot eyes just like the red hand and armbands they wielded, they narrated how they continue to face incessant struggles to protect their ancestral lands from these said individuals.
The Chief of Amrahia, Nii Ashong Kojo III who addressed the media made a fervent plea to the Akufo-Addo-led government for protection against the ongoing menace of land guards being visited on them by Moses Abor, Clement Gyato and Ben Seyram.
“We have suffered for far too long under the constant threat of land guards. Our people live in fear, and our lands are under siege. We call on the government to intervene immediately and put an end to this crisis. “We are once again raising our voices because our lands are under siege. We have credible evidence that Moses Abor and certain NPP officials are involved in illegal land sales,” declared Nii Ashong Kojo, his voice resonating with the urgency of the situation.
Flanked by the Chiefs, family heads and Wulomei of Kweiman, Damfa and Amrahia, Nii Kojo also alleged that these individuals have been at the forefront of land theft, using various illegal means to deprive the rightful landowners of their property.
“Enough is enough,” the Divisional Chief of Damfa, Nii Dzani Tsuru Afutu Brempong IV declared. “We will not stand idly by while our lands are stolen from us. We demand justice, and we call on the authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these heinous acts.”
Adding a political dimension to their grievances, the chiefs did not shy away from implicating the NPP in the land guard problem. They insinuated that if the NPP sought to maintain its political power and break the eight-year cycle, it should take immediate action to address the issue.
“The NPP should not turn a blind eye to the suffering of our people. If they want to win the trust of our community and break the eight-year cycle, they must show their commitment to our welfare and safety. They should call Moses Abor, especially to order. Why is he interested in taking over our lands?” they quizzed.
In a final warning, one of the chiefs emphasized, “We are prepared to do whatever it takes to safeguard our lands and our future. The government’s response will determine whether our trust in the system can be restored.”
“We have seen this before, and we will not allow our lands to be stolen to break the eight-year cycle. Kweiman’s future is not for sale,” he emphasized.
The situation in Kweiman has reached a critical juncture, with residents and leaders united in their call for government intervention. The chiefs and residents are determined to ensure that the alleged perpetrators of land theft are brought to justice and that their ancestral lands remain secure.
