Achimota School Land: November 2015

Thursday 12 November 2015

Legislative Documents

Achimota College and School Ordinance, 1934: http://www.ac2010.org/health-crisis/Articles/Achimota_College_Ordinance.pdf Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, as amended: http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/gh/gh014en.pdf Land Title Registration Law 1986 PNDCL 152: http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gha6287.pdf

The Education Act of 1961 (Act 87): http://www.africanchildforum.org/clr/Legislation%20Per%20Country/ghana/ghana_education_1961_en.pdf The Education Act, 2008 (Act 778): http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/MONOGRAPH/83622/92463/F2061259086/GHA83622.pdf Land Development (Protection of Purchasers) Act, 1960 (Act 2): http://jtighana.org/new/actdetails.php?id=60 Public Land (Protection) Decree, 1974 (NRCD 240): http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gha85962.pdf

The Parliamentary debate as reported in The Hansard: http://www.ac2010.org/health-crisis/Articles/HAN_WED_3RDFEB_2010.pdf

News Reports - Encroachment of Other State Lands

Forestry Commission - Achimota Forest

Forestry Commission Boss Slams Regional Police Chief - Read more at: http://theheraldghana.com/forestry-commission-boss-slams-regional-police-chief/

Parliamentary C’ttee, police clash in Achimota Forest - Read more at: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/34455-parliamentary-c-ttee-police-clash-in-achimota-forest.html#sthash.4Ozee4TB.dpuf

Protecting Achimota Forest. . . Parliamentary Select C’ttee, Team Of Policemen Clash - Read more at: http://news.peacefmonline.com/pages/social/201411/224062.php

MPs, Police In Hot Exchanges Over FC Lands - Read more at: http://thechronicle.com.gh/mps-police-in-hot-exchanges-over-fc-lands/

Achimota Lands – Challenges with land ownership in Ghana - Read more at: http://citifmonline.com/2014/08/19/achimota-lands-challenges-with-land-ownership-in-ghana/#sthash.94upeQ56.dpuf

Ministry Of Lands, Natural Resources Denies Sale Of Forest - Read more at: https://233livenews.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/ministry-of-lands-natural-resources-denies-sale-of-forest/

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Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC)

GA E: GAEC wins court case over Atomic land -
Read more at: http://www.ghanadistricts.com/news/?read=45668

Ghana: Estate Developers Take Over Atomic Lands -
Read more at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201403102278.html

GAEC defends land against encroachment -
Read more at: https://www.modernghana.com/news/371988/1/gaec-defends-land-against-encroachment.html

Greater Accra PSWU supports demolition of illegal structures on Atomic Energy land -
Read more at: http://vibeghana.com/2012/02/15/greater-accra-pswu-supports-demolition-of-illegal-structures-on-atomic-energy-land/

Director-General of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, 36 others arrested over demolition
Read more at: http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2012/01/24/director-general-of-ghana-atomic-energy-commission-36-others-arrested-over-demolition/

Ghana Atomic Energy Commission vows to demolish all unauthorised structures on its lands -
Read more at: http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2012/01/13/ghana-atomic-energy-commission-vows-to-demolish-all-unauthorised-structures-on-its-lands/

Minister worried over encroachment on state lands -
Read more at: http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201110/74180.php

News Reports - Encroachment of Achimota School Land

AMA clears squarters on Achimota School land

Ama clears squatters on Achimota School land

See more at: http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/53740-ama-clears-squarters-on-achimota-school-land.html

Headmistress calls for help to fence Achimota School -

See more at: http://graphic.com.gh/news/education/53087-headmistress-calls-for-help-to-fence-achimota-school.html#sthash.lMsBblUu.dpuf

The 1989 Year Group donates to Achimota Schools

Achimota School raises concern about encroachment on school lands -

Displaced Old Fadama residents encroach Achimota School lands -

Evict squatters on Achimota School lands -

Achimota school is under threat!… developers take over lands, order staff to quit bungalows -

Re: Chief Seizes Achimota Forest …As Forestry Commission Fails To Defend Suit Read more at: http://thechronicle.com.gh/re-chief-seizes-achimota-forest-as-forestry-commission-fails-to-defend-suit/

Chief Seizes Achimota Forest…School Under Threat, As Lands Commission Fails To Defend Suit

Achimota initiates action against grab of school land -

Save Achimota School from encroachers

Oquaye Raises Red Flag over Achimota School Lands - Read more at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201002040873.html

See more at: http://vibeghana.com/2015/11/11/the-1989-year-group-donates-to-achimota-schools/

JoyFM News Video - Squatters on Achimota School Games Field

https://www.facebook.com/JoyNewsOnTV/videos/969404729798100/

Achimota School raises red flag over slum development on land -

See more at: http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/achimota-school-is-under-threat-developers-take-over-lands-order-staff-to-quit-bungalows/#sthash.av16YAVD.dpuf

Osu people celebrate and purify land -

Battle Of Achimota…Legal Bullets Ricochet Across Terrain

Justice Oppong’s Ruling On Achimota Lands Case -

Achimota School Threatened by Activities of Encroachers -

Minister worried over encroachment on state lands -

Owoo Family says Achimota School Lands can't be sold for non-educational use -

The Nii Owoo Family of Gamashie, has expressed concern about the sale of portions of the Achimota School lands for residential and other commercial purposes saying the action was against the laws of the country.

http://ama.ghanadistricts.gov.gh/?arrow=nws&read=33282

Video - Squatters on Games Field

Squatters from Old Fadama (Agbogbloshie aka Sodom and Gomorrah) have cleared the Achimota School games field land and built shacks on the games field. The squatters include women and children. The Achimota School administration has complained about criminal activity including the stabbing and killing of the school's driver, and drug dealing activity. Recently, dead bodies have been found at the games field. The presence of the squatters poses a significant risk to students and staff and they need to be moved.

Video - Encroachment on Sanitation System

Source: Akora Dr. Brenya Twumasi, C4C

Video - Encroachment on Western Compound

Video - Encroachment on School Farm

Video - Adverse Possession Claim

The School Headmistress, Mrs. Beatrice Adom, discusses the "Osu Mankralo vs. Land Commission" adverse possession case. The court ruling granted the Osu Stool 172.68 acres of Achimota Forest and Achimota School land!

Video - Shocking Extent of Encroachment

This shocking video provides a vivid look at the extent of encroachment of the Achimota School land. How and why did it get this bad?

Petitions

These are the links to petitions signed by Old Achimotans (alumni), Ghanaians, and friends of Achimota School -- imploring the Ghana Government to take action to halt the encroachment of Achimota School land. Despite the initial petition in the encroachment and illegal construction activity has continued unabated.

In 2010 the encroachment and illegal construction activity caused damage to the school's sewage system, and triggered a health crisis that almost caused the school to be shut down!

Parliamentarians such as Hon. Mike Oquaye and Hon. Akora Isaac Osei pleaded for an end to the encroachment activity.

2015: Change.org Petition - "Halt the illegal sale and encroachment of Achimota School land": https://www.change.org/p/petition-halt-the-illegal-sale-and-encroachment-of-achimota-school-land

2010: GoPetition - "Solve the Achimota School Health Crisis":
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/achimota-school-health-crisis.html

Website for the 2010 Petition: http://www.ac2010.org/health-crisis/main.html

Achimota School

Achimota School Links

The following links provide background information about Achimota School and the Old Achimota Association (OAA).

Achimota School Wikipedia Page

Old Achimotan Association

Achimota Trust

OAA UK

Map of Achimota School and Achimota Forest Reserve

Achimota School - Tour on Behance

Welcome!

Welcome to the Achimota School Land Blog! This blog is a compilation of background information about Achimota School's land encroachment situation. It provides links to articles, news reports, videos, legislative instruments, petitions, and other information pertaining to the Achimota School Land encroachment problem.

In 2010, we submitted a petition, signed by over 1300 Old Achimotans (alumni), and concerned Ghanaians and friends of Achimota School, to the late President John Evans Atta-Mills and requested that he take action to stop encroachment of the Achimota School land by developers and other parties. The encroachment and illegal construction activity continued.

Fast forward to 2015, the encroachment and illegal construction activity is so much worse than before! We are presenting another petition, signed by over 1500 Old Achimotans (alumni), and concerned Ghanaians and friends of Achimota School, to the Ghana Government. We reasonably expect that this time the Ghana Government will seriously consider the petition and take action to arrest the encroachment activity.

Please feel free to browse the blog to gain a better understanding of the land encroachment problem and its negative effect on the school's academic and student life, and sanitation and health situation.

Thank you for visiting the blog. Kindly share the blog link with others so that we can create awareness of this insidious problem, and put pressure on the Ghana Government to end this saga once and for all!

Tuesday 10 November 2015

The "Walled Bungalow" on Achimota School land!

I read this post by 'P.O.' on Facebook and as an alumni of Achimota I could not sit on the fence and do nothing. This led to the start of the petition to save Achimota land, preserve the legacy that the founding fathers of Aggrey, Fraser and Guggisberg bequeathed to mother Ghana...

"The encroachment on Achimota school land has reached fever pitch and it appears no one has got the power to do anything.

Just last week, my sister visited a Teacher on the western compound just behind the Animal Research (the building which is currently housing students)

To her surprise, a wall had been built around bungalow no 19 where two teachers are currently living. The builder has informed them that she had bought the building and the land and had given them two months to move. She offered them money to resettle them which they refused.

In the process, they fell all the mature trees around the building and have erected an 8 feet wall around them. Now the teachers have been given two weeks to move or face the consequences. The builder had told them that Achimota School is aware of her ‘purchase’ of the bungalow and her intention to break down the teacher’s bungalow and build her own house.

One of the teachers is an Achimota School Teacher and the other is a worker from University of Ghana. Both have gone to the administration and both institutions have been told that there is nothing the two institutions can do.

I have also been informed that the next two houses which includes the previous residence of Prof Anyidoho have been given notice to evict the property as it has been sold.

My fear is if this is allowed to happen, then Achimota School will have no right to claim any of the properties on the land and these people will slowly but surely continue to chip into the school. I will not be surprised Fraser house going next because the walled bungalow is just about 4 buildings away from Fraser House.

My question is the school aware of this??
Are the Bungalows on the western compound being sold off?
Is there anything anybody can do?

Is AMA aware of this?

Who gave this builder a building permit?"

Courtesy of Akora P.O. posted on Facebook: 16 July 2015

Related news story: Achimota school is under threat!… developers take over lands, order staff to quit bungalows -
See more at: http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/achimota-school-is-under-threat-developers-take-over-lands-order-staff-to-quit-bungalows/#sthash.av16YAVD.dpuf

Achimota School's Land

Background of the Land Encroachment Problem

Achimota School was founded in 1924.

The land on which Achimota School is situated was acquired in 1921 by the then Gold Coast government from two Osu families. This is state owned land that is owned by the Government of Ghana vested in the President for the people of Ghana. In the past decade and a half this land, acquired by the state expressly for the public benefit, has been placed under very severe threat.

Private developers have targeted the lands designated as Achimota School land to the detriment of the school’s capacity to meet the diverse needs of its ever growing body of students.

In a very recent worrying development, private developers are encroaching on inhabited school land which is presently the site of two staff bungalows. These developers ordered the School’s teachers who are residents of the bungalows to vacate the bungalows so that they can begin demolition of Achimota School’s buildings. We need to act now to stop the illegal encroachment activity!