ENCROACHERS TAKE OVER ARMED FORCES LANDS

The Minister for Defence, Hon. Joseph Henry Smith, complained in Parliament today that some civilians have encroached on lands (482 acres) originally allocated to the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces. He said the Ghana Armed Forces is facing an acute accommodation problem which is affecting their morale.

He was responding to a question filed by the Member for Nkoranza North, Hon. Major (rtd) Derek Yaw Oduro who sought to know about the state of the Armed Forces Housing Project started over a decade ago at Ofankor.                                                                                                                                                                                        

He added that in 1978, Government acquired 1,720 acres of land at Ofankor in the Greater Accra Region for residential accommodation purposes under the Ofankor Town Planning Scheme of which 483 acres was allocated to the Ministry of Defence for construction to meet the accommodation need of military personnel upon retiring from active service.

He however said that some bungalows have already been constructed and others remained uncompleted due to encroachment.

Despite the setbacks, the Minister assured the House that the project for the construction of 3 additional houses to fill the available space will commence in earnest after the Ministry has been able to secure title to the remaining two-acre land.