The Paramount Chief of Wenchi Traditional Area, Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoampong Tabrako III, has issued a stern warning to encroachers on government-acquired lands in the region. He emphasized that under his leadership, the traditional council would not tolerate any illegal occupation of lands designated for agricultural and developmental purposes.
Areas identified as hotspots for encroachment include the former Wenchi Tomato Factory (TOMACAN) land, the Wenchi Animal Husbandry land, Akrobi Irrigation land, and Wenchi Agricultural College land. To address these issues, the traditional council has established a stool lands secretariat to oversee land matters and ensure proper documentation for land acquisition.
Osagyefo Tabrako advised individuals seeking land parcels to engage with the newly formed secretariat instead of dealing with the Town and Country Planning Department. He clarified that neither the planning department nor the Wenchi Municipal Assembly have the authority to release land as the traditional council holds ownership over Wenchi lands.
Furthermore, the Paramount Chief raised concerns about the alleged rezoning of Wenchi by officials of the Town and Country Planning Department and the municipal assembly. He cautioned against any unlawful activities that could jeopardize the land rights of residents and urged a halt to illegal rezoning practices.
The warning from Osagyefo Tabrako follows a group of residents in Wenchi who expressed their intention to take legal action against the Town and Country Planning Officer for allegedly allocating portions of a 100-feet road as building plots to private developers. The group, led by William Brown, seeks justice and fairness in land administration within the municipality.
In response to the allegations, the Paramount Chief confirmed the lack of stakeholder engagement in the rezoning process and called for immediate action to reverse any unauthorized sale of land within his jurisdiction. He assured that the stool lands secretariat would operate within the boundaries of the law to address these land issues accordingly.
As the traditional council takes steps to protect government-acquired lands and uphold land administration regulations, Osagyefo Tabrako emphasized the importance of following due process and respecting the authority of the council in land matters.
