The Lands Commission has confirmed it is contracting a private developer to construct an office complex on the compound of the Institute of Surveying and Mapping in Accra.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding that property with chiefs from the La traditional area, storming the school on Wednesday to demand a halt to any plans to develop the land.

There has been a lot of speculation recently about plans to lease part of the land on which the Surveying and Mapping School is sited.

It was such speculation that pushed the La traditional authorities to besiege the school, writing warning notices on walls against any such plans.

A lecturer and some students who spoke to Joy News on Wednesday said, the last thing they expect is to be moved to a different location.

They also called on the Lands Commission to expand the infrastructure on the school compound rather than leasing it out.

But their appeals appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

On Thursday, the Executive Director of Lands Commission told Joy News, plans are far advanced for the leasing of the property and that the school will be moved to a different location.

Ofori Boadu

Mr. Ofori-Boadu would however not say who the private developer is and where the school will be resettled.

But speaking to JoyNews’ Latif Iddris, the paramount chief of La traditional council dared the Lands Commission to lease the land.

Nii Kpobi-Tettey Tsuru says they will “use every legal means available” to thwart any move to lease the land in contention.

Nii Kpobi-Tettey Tsuru

He added that as far as he is concerned, no consultation has been made on the lease and that the purpose for which the land was given to the commission by the council is for the construction of a school and not an office complex or a shopping mall.

It remains to be seen what happens to the only Surveying and Mapping institution in the country.