The Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service have been accused of hiring a notorious land guard, popularly known as ‘Gyato’, to reclaim their lands that have been encroached.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Prof Patrick Agbesinyale, made the revelation on Monday, July 10, during a meeting with Parliament’s Lands and Forestry Committee.
Prof Patrick Agbesinyale said the security agencies then apportioned parts of the reclaimed lands to the land guard as payment of his work. ‘Gyato’ allegedly carries out similar activities for the government, according to Prof Agbesinyale.
“So, he recently reclaimed some lands for us and out of that land, we gave him 50 of 6,000 acres as payment for all his expenses. So he has the right to and sell that 50. If he is selling it, there is noise all over the place.
“He doesn’t even sell it. He gives it out for people to develop so that he gets his share. I can give you a tall list of lands that Gyato (land guard) has claimed for us to the extent that even the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service their lands that have been encroached they hire Gyato to reclaim for them,” he claimed.
According to him, the decision not to use the police or the military in protecting and reclaiming lands was to avoid public backlash.
“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 the government would literally be hiding behind it so he can reclaim government lands.”
This is in spite of the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019(Act, 999) which clearly criminalises such activities.
Clause 7(5) of the Act says; A person shall not directly or indirectly, engage a land guard to protect or guard the property of that person or any other person. 7(6) says; a person who contravenes subsection (5) commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not less than 10 years and not more than 15 years.
Meanwhile, the Ministry in a press statement issued on Monday, July 17, has denied the allegations.
“The Ministry would like to set the records straight that the government and for that matter the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources does not contract the services of land guards in its operations.
“However, the Ministry through its agency, Lands Commission legally engaged the services of Aynok Holding Limited, a registered limited liability company to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands. This engagement has been in effect since 2012.”