Legitimate landowners of Buobai in the Asokore Mampong Municipality have pleaded to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to help them retrieve their nine-acre land from unknown land guards.

According to the property holders, an angry group known as Landlords Association have threatened to slaughter them if they set foot on their acquired asset hence their petition to the Ruler of the Asante Empire to intervene.

 

 

The 19.64 acres of land was acquired in 2011 from the deceased chief of Kenyasi, a suburb in the Municipal but due to various disputes, almost half was recovered and agreed with the rest dedicated to the building of developmental projects for the township following the intervention of the current Kenyasi chief and the Asantehene.

 

 

Leader of the ninety-nine landowners, Ismahil Omar narrated the ordeal they have gone through as legitimate owners with the backing of legal documents acquired from the late Kenyaasehene in 2011 before his demise.

“We purchased the land from the chief of Kenyasi in 2011. Everyone who had a share in the property started a structure on the land. In the middle of 2012, around 4 am, we were hinted that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly have stormed the site with soldiers and police demolishing the works we have begun.

 

 

“We quickly got to the site, witnessed the incident, and enquired as to why they are flattening the land only to hear that the place belongs to the government.

“We informed the KMA on the necessary steps we have taken to acquire the asset so why is the government taking actions in such a time where we have invested a lot on the land? Our proof fell on deaf ear- In fact we were frustrated so we decided to petition the Member of Parliament for Asawasi, Hon. Mubarak on the issue. As a staunch member of the NDC, he heard our cry and assured to do the best to help us retrieve our property. We constantly visited him in order to aid us to get our land.

 

 

“From 2013 and 2014, after the Municipal office was built, he told us that our plea has been handed to the Municipal Chief Executive then, Hon. Nurudeen Hamidan so we should consult him for any help.

“The MCE guaranteed to help us so we must be patient. In the process of time, the municipality promised to give us half of the land and invest the other half into building government projects. Initially, we opposed the decision but they threatened to take all the land from us if we do not accept their proposal. We reported the case to the Kenyasi chief and due to his ailment then, he pleaded with us to accept the half for when he is well, the rest would be recovered.

 

 

“We then accepted the half and an agreement was made with the MP and MCE. There were further delays in the handing over of the half so we visited the MCE for clarifications. He told us to go back for allocation documents from the then Kenyasi chief. Nana stood against the decision because of the behavior of the government officials but we pleaded to him to provide us the allocation to retrieve the half land.

 

 

 

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“The land issue later became a court case and unfortunately, when the National Democratic Congress, which is my party, lost power in 2016, my fellow brothers who were New Patriotic Party members investigated on the land and found out that government has no dealing in the property.

“We were challenged to take our land at the demise of Nana Kenyaasehene. A new chief was installed so we paid him a visit. He revealed to us that the government nor we have ownership of any land at Kenyasi therefore before he will make a decision, he would consult Otumfuo first.

 

 

“He requested the land documents and after clarifications, Kenyaasehene invited the government officials for proof of ownership. After comparing the two, he took them to the Asantehene.

“Justice was served and the half land was given to us to start works. All of a sudden, some unknown land guards rose against us that the land is governments and so they won’t allow works to begin. We challenged them to present the proof that the land is for the government but they have hesitated and threatened to slaughter us if we set foot on the land.

 

 

They petitioned Otumfuo to help retrieve their misplaced assets.