The Dagbon Forum has called on the Special Prosecutor to launch an investigation into the unregulated disposal of government lands in Tamale.

The Forum urged that a similar degree of importance that was attached to the alleged disposal of state lands at the Achimota Forest should be given to the incidence of the Tamale land grabbing issues.

The group proposed investigations, starting from 2012 to cover the periods from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) regimes.

Addressing a press conference in Tamale, president of the Dagbon Forum, Chief Sakoya, Naa Mahama Sintaro said the wanton sale of government land in the area would not be tolerated by the people any longer.

He said the Aboaba Timber Market one of such government lands has been sold to a private developer.

Chief Sintaro said the people of the area would resist the sale of the over 300 acres area land with all the legal means possible.

“The entire forestry area is under the management of the Forestry Commission as per Ghana Forestry Ordinance Act 1927, Cap157. It is in the light of this, that we wish to point out that no part of the Forestry lands can be sold or disposed of without an Executive Instrument that can alter the original arrangement. We are therefore by this, sending a caution that any attempt to encroach the Forestry lands under the pretext of private development will be resisted,” he said.

He named other lands that have been given out as the West Hospital lands, Tamale Central Hospital lands, Ghana Fire Service lands, the Old Irrigation Development Authority bungalows around the Catholic Guest House, Sakasaka Quarters among others.

Chief Sakoya added that not only are they selling the government lands, but some are also being leased.

“Besides the reckless disposal of government lands in Tamale, another rot that caught the attention of the Dagbon Forum is the fraudulent lease of lands in and around Tamale. A case in point is the parcel of land belonging to the Forestry Commission which is located between the Agric traffic light and the old Tamale Metropolitan Assembly office. This parcel of land was illegally planned and leases fraudulently issued by the Lands Commission in 2021. The Forestry Commission has since mounted sign posts around the reserves to ward off the cabal of land grabbers,” he said.

Chief Sakoya called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission to as a matter of urgency investigate and call the current leadership of the Northern Regional Lands Commission to order to avoid any possible breach of peace and security.

The Chief also called for the replacement of the current Chairman of the Lands Commission.

The Dagbon Forum is a platform for all Dagombas to work to promote peace and development of the Dagbon Kingdom. The Forum is made up of eminent sons and daughters of the kingdom home and abroad.