This action is in response to concerns from the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs about increasing encroachment by private developers.

Following the demolition, REGSEC, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, initiated a tree-planting exercise to help restore the affected areas of the forest.

Regional Minister and REGSEC Chairman, Daniel Titus-Glover, discussed the initiative in detail while addressing journalists.

“We declared the Dodowa forest and Katamanso Pinkwai forests as a security zone. These are two landmark forests in Ga-dangbe history. So we are here to regain our forest back with the support of the forestry commission, they have given us some trees that we are coming to plant, then DCE and some students around to do the planting.”

“I have got documents from the regional house of chiefs that state that this land is for the Shai people. We told them, if they have documents, bring them to the RCC. As we speak, nobody has brought us any document apart from what the registrar brought to us from the Regional House of Chiefs.

“So we are here to do two things. We break this wall and plant the trees back. This place is a security zone, we are regaining our forest back.”

The youth of Dodowa expressed their excitement over efforts by the government to reclaim the forest.

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During a press conference, the Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah revealed the formation of a specialized task force dedicated to resolve the problem.

According to the Minister, the initiative aims to reclaim the city from the intrusion of these wandering animals.

Speaking after inspecting newly planted trees as part of the Green Ghana Day campaign, he emphasized the negative impact of cattle roaming freely on the region’s efforts to promote greenery.

He said the task force will prevent the cattle from destroying the trees planted in the capital.

Mr. Mensah assured that the allocated budget would cover the expenses of the task force for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of renewal based on resource availability.

“You know, it is not easy to catch a cow. It is extremely difficult, so we are going to get some of those people who are good at it to do the work for us. We are going to engage them, we will pay them, and it will be their responsibility to ensure that the trees that we planted will not be destroyed by the cattle.

“We will pay them during the period that is for a whole year, and if it is possible to have adequate resources to sustain it, then we sustain them the following year too,” he said.

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The decision comes amidst escalating tensions and perceived security risks associated with the traders’ operations within the market.

On Monday, April 22, authorities took decisive action by demolishing hundreds of sheds at the bustling Kwadaso market, prompting a flurry of activity as traders rushed to salvage their belongings.

The sudden demolition caught many traders off guard, leaving them scrambling to salvage their goods and protect their livelihoods.

However, the abrupt nature of the demolition and subsequent arrests has sparked outrage among the affected traders, who feel aggrieved by the manner in which the situation was handled.

One of the traders who could not control her temper, reportedly invoked curses on the Municipal Chief Executive Officer (MCE), Richmond Agyenim Boateng.

The trader was arrested by the police for the conduct.

The Council also attributed a recent accident resulting in the death of a 45-year-old woman to the activities of the traders.

Although the traders were given April 21, 2024, to move to the new area at Atwima Takyiman, the majority of them were reluctant to relocate.

Armed police and military officers were deployed to the market to oversee the forced relocation of the traders and the demolition of the market.

The Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey announced this when a composite plan of the area was presented to him by the Lands Commission at a meeting held at the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).

He said, “We have formally lifted the security ban restricting access to the Borteyman enclave and its adjoining lands. Therefore, land and property owners within the enclave are free to access their properties.”

In February 2016, the REGSEC chaired by the then Regional Minister declared Borteyman and some areas a security zone after gathering intelligence about imminent clashes between Top Kings and Empire Builders, who were engaged in a dispute over the land for decades.

Present at the meeting were representatives of the Nungua stool lands, some officials of the Lands Commission, members of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and staff of the Nungua Traditional Council.

The minister said following deliberations at its meeting held on February 8, 2024, REGSEC agreed for the Lands Commission to present the status of affairs and demarcation of boundaries after a court judgment on the ownership of the land.

The Survey and Mapping Division of the Lands Commission undertook the demarcation exercise to understand the subject matter of the court judgment.

He said the boundaries include 465 acres, 114 acres and 62 acres, all referred to in the court judgments.

Maxwell Adu Nsafoah, Technical Director of Lands, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Head of Operations, Lands Commission said the RCC and Ministry of Lands directed the Lands Commission to demarcate the boundaries in the Supreme Court judgment in the said case.

According to him, a report on the demarcation of the land has been done and submitted to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for further action.

Robert Hackman Antwi, Chief Examiner, Survey and Mapping Division at the Lands Commission, who displayed the composite plan, said the 114 acres was later demarcated to be 114.33 while the 62. 01 acres was 62.04, showing all the parcel of land against the site plans used.

Oblantai Mantse of the Nungua Traditional Area, Nii Bortey Okplen Djalesane II, who was accompanied by other chiefs representing the Nungua Traditional Council, expressed satisfaction with the level of work done by the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Lands while thanking REGSEC for their role in the exercise and the challenges the stool has faced in addressing this land dispute for 23 years.

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The Regional Minister, Joshua Makubu, who confirmed the number of deaths while speaking on Accra-based TV3, attributed the chaos to ‘ethnic clashes.”

“Tomorrow, we are going to have an emergency security meeting again,” he said.

He further revealed that, there had been clashes between members of two tribes, Adele and Akyode, in the town two weeks ago.

Minister for the Interior Ambrose Dery, acting on the advice of the REGSEC and by Executive Instrument, has imposed a curfew on Nkwanta township.

The curfew hours start from 5:00pm to 6:00am effective Tuesday, November 21.

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The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) led by the Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has passed resolutions to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols to help curb the spread.

The meeting was termed as ‘Expanded REGSEC’ which also included MCE’s, DCE’s, the media and news editors.

Dr Francis Aseidu Bekoe, during his brief, said the Ghana Health Service has recorded an increase in the spread in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi as at least 1,000 cases are being recorded a day.

Mr Quartey led the house to impose the restrictions to curb the issue at hand.

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The two Chiefs are; Wasipewura Anyame Kabasagya II and Soo Naba Nantogmah Seidu of Wasipe Traditional Area and Janga Traditional Area respectively.

The ban, which took effect on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, also affects the warriors and Sub-chiefs from the two Palaces.

The Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jebreel, who made the disclosure during an exclusive interview with JoyNews‘ Isaac Nongya at Damongo warned that the two Security Councils will not hesitate to arrest the two Paramount Chiefs and deal with them if they continue to create problems at Lukula irrespective of their tribes or origins.

Mr Jebreel stressed that the two security bodies have the mandate to ensure law and order.

“Let me sound this warning to those two chiefs that there is a tendency for them to be arrested if they continue giving us problems in those communities, whether Gonja Chief or Mamprusis Chief. We will make sure we recommend to National Security to pick them up and give peace to the people”, he warned.

According to Mr Jebreel, the two Paramount Chiefs should respect their Kings and allow them to take a decision on Lukula.

“If Wasipewura respect Yagbomwura (King of Gonjas) and Soo Naba in Janga traditional area respects Nayiri (King of Mamprugu), there will not be any problems because the decision the two REGSECs took was that, the two Chiefs should stay off till such a time that the two Regional Houses of Chiefs work for peace to return so that those the Land belongs to, then, the Chiefs of that area will enskin a Chief to take care,” he stated.

“But what the man (Soo Naba Nantogmah Seidu) said is actually making people in my region angry. So, I want to plead with all Gonjas to take everything lightly as we REGSECs are on top of issues.

“We will not allow, whether Gonja or Mamprusi Chief who is there to claim ownership of the place. As long as the two REGSECs are concerned, we are not going to allow anybody to bring disturbances there. We will make sure that anybody who goes in there we will flush him out with the security apparatus on the ground”, the Regional Minister said.

Lukula is a cosmopolitan farming community located in the North Gonja district of the Savannah Region. It has for over a decade, been the center of violent attacks and counter-attacks from the two Paramouncies over ownership and who to rule the town as Chief.

The Regional Minister indicated that a Fact-finding Committee has been set up to probe the matter and enable the Savannah and North East Regional Houses of Chiefs to take a decision on Lukula.

He added, “we are not concentrating on these Sub-chiefs who are there trying to claim ownership of the Land but Nayiri and Yagbomwura to solve the problem.

According to Mr Saeed Muhazu, “if we didn’t move the Gonja warriors from Lukula three days ago, and yesterday and warriors from Soo Naba went, you would have imagined what would happen. Lives would have been lost.”

He said the two Security Councils are on red alert with intelligence on the ground to make sure that every disturbance that will come to Lukula is nipped in the bud.

This is pursuant to President Nana’s Akufo-Addo’s update number 26 on the need for adherence to Covid-19 Safety Protocols amid the increasing number of cases in the Greater Accra Region.

A press release, signed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, directed, “all Security Councils in the various Assemblies should embark on routine checks at public places i.e. schools, lorry stations, markets, especially in trotro’s to ensure that there is strict compliance.”

Mr Quartey further indicated that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’s) should ensure that anyone who goes contrary to the Covid-19 protocols is “arrested, fined or prosecuted according to the law, to serve as deterrent to others.”

He also tasked the MMDAs to collaborate with their respective Police Commanders and other security apparatus to ensure that funerals organised in the region do not exceed two hours.

“All Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies should, with immediate effect, reactivate their District Public Health Emergency Management Committees in the fight against the pandemic,” the release added.

It assured that “the Regional Coordinating Council would continue to play its supervisory role with random spot checks.”

The Regional Minister also appealed to revered traditional, political, religious and opinion leaders to be at the forefront of this drive and campaign in order to curtail this steep increase of Covid-19 cases in the region. 

Below is the full statement: