The Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament has taken a proactive step to address the contentious issues surrounding state lands in the Cantonments area of Accra.
The committee has summoned the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Henry Quartey, and the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service to appear before it on Monday, July 29, to provide clarity on the matter.
The inquiry focuses on the Ghana Prisons Service Barracks at Cantonments and the Prisons Service land at Roman Ridge in Accra, which have been at the center of controversy.
The summons comes in response to the announcement by the Coalition of La Associations and the GaDangme Coalition Against Land Injustice to stage a series of street protests starting Tuesday, July 30, against perceived unethical land seizures by political entities in the Greater Accra Region.
The protestors are concerned about the plans to redevelop the Prisons Service lands at Cantonments for private business ventures, which they argue undermines public interest. They are calling for greater transparency and fairness in the handling of these lands.
The parliamentary session aims to address these concerns and seek clarification from the Interior Minister and Prisons Director on the current status and future plans for the contested lands.
The committee’s inquiry is a step towards ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of state lands and addressing the concerns of the affected communities.