The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Victor-Hermann Condobrey, has called on students to use dialogue instead of demonstrations to address their concerns. He said this when the students of Saint Francis College of Education (FRANCO) in Hohoe, on Monday, staged a demonstration through the principal streets of the Municipality to demand a halt to the incessant encroachment on the school lands by estate developers. A petition signed by Mr Michael Sakpanyaku, President of the Students' Representative Council, appealed to the government through the Ministry of Education and the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, to address the issue. It said the persistent encroachment was generating tension between the students and developers and expressed fear that this could degenerate into clashes. The petition, which was distributed to the political and departmental heads in addition to the traditional authorities of the area, called for an expedited action to solve the issue otherwise the "students would advice themselves." Mr Victor-Hermann Condobrey, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, receiving the petition, criticised the demonstration and called for dialogue. He, however, pledged to forward the petition to the appropriate quarters for redress. He said the land was dutifully acquired by the government 102 years ago and condemned the encroachment of the college's lands. Mr Condobrey noted that some present and former tutors, as well as principals, had themselves acquired parcels of the land, making the issue complicated. He, therefore, called for a more technical approach towards the resolution of the issue. He advised the students to concentrate on their academic work while stakeholders tackle the problem. Mr Denis M. K. Agbenuvor, Principal of the College, explained to the Ghana News Agency that the lands of the College were procured in two instances, in 1905 and 1975 where 33.44 and 56.63 acres of land from five clans from the Gbi Traditional Area were released to the College. They are the Ahorkli, Loh, Ayim, Ewou-Adjakwaku and Anyigba clans. He stated that by a resolution of a Technical Committee of the Volta Regional Land Commission, 31 acres of the said land was released to the landowners after one Mr Dumevi petitioned it in October 2006. Mr Agbenuvor said reasons adduced by the Committee in releasing the land were for the non-payment of compensation and resale of portions of the land by the aggrieved landowners, who said they were not aware of the intended acquisition. He added that 33 acres of land was given to the College to be regularised with its current infrastructure occupying additional 33 acres. On the allegation of acquisition by staff, Mr Agbenuvor said there was no inventory taken on buyers of the College's lands but stated that new buildings may continue to spring up. Source: GNA