Residents in four communities whose lands were confiscated and later leased to former first lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings are preparing to hit the streets in a last gasp pressure to take back their lands.

The residents say they are waiting for a positive response from the District Security Council in Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region, as well as an appeal to president John Mahama  to intervene in the matter,  failure which they will have no choice but to pour out on the streets to demand the return of the over 770.74 acres of land.

In an interview with Myjoyonline.com the Mawerehene of Adoagyiri, Otuosiriboe Safo Kankam said the traditional council had met with the district security council over the implication of the intended demonstration by the residents but the traditional council was told to hold on to demonstration.

"By the next two weeks we will find out from the office of the MCE. If nothing much comes up, then we will fix a date for the demonstration," he said.

According to Otuosiriboe, the land belonged to four communities- Ntoaso, Akwamu, Adoagyiri and Owuraku- but were confiscated under an executive instrument EI 31 (77) and were later leased on October 4, 2013 for 50 years to Carridem Development Company, owned by Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

According to him the lands were leased at a total cost of GH¢3,850, with an average of less than GH¢5.00 per acre. He said Mrs Rawlings was given the option to extend the lease at the end of the 50 years if the company so wished.

He argued that if the state which confiscated the lands in 1977 had no interest in the lands it ought to have returned them to the rightful owners, which is the traditional council.

He wondered why the Eastern Region Lands Commission would sell the lands to Carridem without consulting the traditional council.

"When you go through our laws in terms of land issues it is the traditional authorities which have the power to give a land or sell a land to anyone. The government does not own a land in any community. But what happens is that the traditional authority can give 20 per cent of the land to the government," he said.

The lands sold to Carridem included the chiefs Palace, he indicated, adding, within a shocking period of 13 days the lands had been sold with documentations prepared and transfered.

He said from 2013, the traditional council has used all diplomatic means to revoke the sale but all to no avail.

The Member of Parliament for Adoagyiri Frank Annor Dompreh last month raised the issue on the floor but nothing substantive has come out of it.

Myjoyonline.com has sighted some of the documentations about the land sale, and a number of petitions sent to the presidency as well as the Lands Commission.

Otuo Siriboe, said the traditional council is desperate to use every legal means retrieve the lands from Mrs Rawlings so they can embark on other developmental projects.

The traditional council has sent the case to a Koforidua court and was heard last week but the case has since been adjourned.

The office of the former first lady will not comment on the matter but is ready to meet the traditional council in court.