The Ashanti Regional Security Council has raised alarm over the rising illegal operations of land guards in several communities across the region.
These organised criminal groups, often hired to protect land and property amid disputes, typically resort to violence, resulting in frequent clashes and posing significant threats to public safety.
The Ashanti Region, historically, has been relatively free from such turmoil due to the centralised control of stool lands under His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, with his chiefs serving as caretakers. This system allows for land disputes to be resolved through appeals to the King, ensuring a peaceful and orderly process.
However, recent trends indicate a worrying increase in the employment of land guards, prompting the Regional Security Council to take action. The Council has urged all residents to follow legal procedures for resolving land disputes instead of resorting to the use of land guards.
“Any person found to be engaging the services of land guards will be apprehended, prosecuted, and arraigned,” a statement issued by the council on Friday (20 June 2024) and signed by its chairman, Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah. The statement said that the activities of land guards not only endanger law-abiding citizens but also lead to unnecessary violence.
The Regional Security Council called on the public to respect this directive to ensure peace and security in the region. The Council reiterated the importance of utilizing established legal channels and the role of His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in adjudicating land disputes, thereby avoiding the chaos associated with land guard activities.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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