The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region, Frank Annor Dompreh, has petitioned President John Mahama to return a 600-acre land acquired compulsorily for Carriedem Development Company limited.

The land acquired through an executive order in 2013 for 50 years was sold for GH¢5 per acre.

The chiefs of Adoagyiri where the land is located say they were never consulted over the acquisition.

Mr Annor Dompreh tells Joy News tension is heightening in the area over the matter because no compensation has been paid.

"Tension is brewing between these suburbs and Carriedem and government is aware of this. The residents believe they have a right to their lands and that they are being treated unfairly by government because there have been similar cases where the lands were returned to their rightful owners," Mr Dompreh said.

"I am surprised that up to this time we have not had any pronouncement from government," he added.  

Mr Dompreh said he has filed a question in Parliament and the sector Minister has come to reply that the land was given out by the Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC), "but fact be told, the DIC was put together by the government."

"Besides the point, by law, the DIC is chaired by the Minister of Finance so government cannot absolve itself of the blame," the MP said.

According to him, the residents have been treated unfairly and being in an election year, the nation must be spared of any exchanges between Carriedem on one hand and four suburbs of Adoagyiri.

"Already there have been a number of violent exchanges and we don't want to compound the problem. This might be my last intervention because it does not yield any positive feedback from government," he said.

The frustrated lawmaker said they might be forced to resort to the law courts as a last resort for the lands to be returned.  

Although Joy News contacted the Minister for Lands and Natural resources he declined to comment saying he was awaiting the president’s review of the petition.