Professor Patrick Agbesinyale, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), recently revealed in a leaked audio that the Government of Ghana has been utilizing land guards to claim or protect lands, bypassing the use of police or army to avoid controversy. It has also been discovered that even security agencies like the army and police engage land guards for various purposes.
During a Parliamentary Committee meeting held on July 10th, 2023, Prof Patrick Agbesinyale disclosed that the government employs land guards as a means of claiming lands without facing the backlash and criticism that occur when utilizing the police or army. Unfortunately, the activities of these land guards have resulted in the loss of lives, with gunshots and exchanges of fire reported during land claiming processes. He further mentioned that Gyato, a well-known land guard, enjoys support from a section of the media, creating a setup that aids in covering up their actions.
It is important to note that the utilization of land guards goes against the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019 (Act, 999) passed by the current government. Clause 7(5) of the act explicitly prohibits individuals from directly or indirectly engaging land guards to protect or guard any property, with Clause 7(6) stating that contravening this provision is an offense punishable by imprisonment for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 15 years.
Audio Source here
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