The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has given a 48-hour evacuation notice to all encroachers of lands belonging to the Animal Research Institute (ARI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at Adentan-Frafraha.
Speaking to the press on Monday, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Chairman of REGSEC, Hon. Henry Quartey, disclosed that the government, with powers from Executive Instrument (E.I. 38), allocated over one thousand acres of land to the CSIR-ARI “with a mandate to conduct research into the development and transfer of livestock and poultry technologies to communities, farmer groups, private and public organizations,” with the goal of ensuring the nation’s food security. They noted that the owners of the land, including those at Berekuso (Akuapim), were duly compensated.
According to Hon. Quartey, over the years, sections of the CSIR-ARI lands have been illegally traded by some individuals, hence the rampant encroachment.
He also recounted several fruitless efforts by the Institute to protect and recover the lands, including legal suits and fencing activities, stating that out of the over one thousand (1,000) acres of land the CSIR-ARI was set up with, only 200 acres of land remains due to encroachment.
He bemoaned the activities of “armed land guards” who not only destroy infrastructure but also physically attack staff of the Animal Research Institute.
The Minister added that although the Adenta Municipal Assembly (ADMA) is mandated by law to demolish such illegal structures on the encroached lands, it had, together with the management of CSIR-ARI, issued warnings to developers within the perimeters of CSIR-ARI, all of which had not been heeded. Accordingly, he revealed that drastic measures will be taken to protect the remaining 200 acres going forward.
“REGSEC is collaborating with the Adenta Municipal Assembly and the CSIR to remove all unauthorized structures mushrooming within the fenced land without further delay,” he stressed.
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