Encroachment on state lands continues because we have failed to fully enforce the law – CSIR

The Director of the Animal Research Institute, Dr. Ebenezer Ansa has argued that the demolition of structures on encroached state lands will send a clear signal to squatters and unsuspecting Ghanaians.

His comments follow the issuance of a 48-hour ultimatum by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council to persons who have encroached on over 200-acres of land belonging to the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research which also houses the Animal Research Institute.

Speaking to MX24 News, Dr. Ansa who bemoaned the lack of attention paid to the issue of encroachment said it is a criminal act and must be treated as such.
“The issue of encroachment has not been given the stage that it should have. It’s important that we know that encroaching of public lands is a criminal act but most often we haven’t treated it as such…”

“I think that when they see the rubbles, the foundations broken, that will send a clear message particularly to the unsuspecting Ghanaians who are deceived into buying these lands because as a matter of fact none of them have legal titles to the lands,” he indicated.

The Director also cited the lack of political will to decisively deal with the menace owing to cumbersome legal procedures surrounding the reclamation of such sites.