Police Service, Armed Forces Deny Engaging Land Guards

The Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have denied engaging land guards in retrieving and protecting their lands.

The two state institutions in separate press statements on Monday reacted to the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini’s statement to the effect that land guards were being used by the State despite being outlawed.

He credited the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Professor Patrick Agbesinyale for the information.

Hon Suhuyini is quoted as saying, “The other shocking part of this revelation was that, according to the Chief Director, it is not only the Ministry that contracted the services of this land guard but also the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police depend on the services of this land guard to protect lands that are under their care.

“If the Ghana Armed Forces and the Police cannot protect their own lands and have to resort to the use of land guards what is the fate of the common Ghanaian who wants to acquire lands and if faced with the challenge of land guards? What was again scandalous was the revelation by Chief Director that this person that is engaged actually has a set-up that the state cannot compete with.”

In their statement, the Police administration said the allegations are unfounded and false.

“The police has not on any occasion engaged the services of land guards to reclaim or protect its lands.”

On the contrary, it said its clamp-down on land guard activities has been intensified in recent times.

On their part, the Army said it is “unimaginable” that it cannot protect its lands.

“We wish to stress that this allegation which was repeated by Hon Alhassan Suhuyini, Member of Parliament for Tamale South is false and should be ignored.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has discredited the reports it rather engages a registered company for the protection and retrieval of state lands.