No individual can make declaration as the owner of disputed land in Ghana – Gonjaland Youth Association

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The president of the Gonjaland Youth Association, Lawyer Alhaji Mohammed Amin Osman is calling on the publics to desist from imploring violence to claiming ownership of disputed lands across the country. According to him no individual or a group of individuals can make declarations as the ownership of disputed land in Ghana except the law court.

Lawyer Amin said this at the annual Damba festival celebrations of the Chiefs and people of the Gonja Community at Kintampo in the Bono East region of Ghana on February 4th, 2022.

The program was attended by other ethnic groups in Kintampo. Notably, the Wangara community led by Chief Fanyinama, the Sisala, Chorkosi, Gurusi, Mo, Bono and the Dagaba communities in Kintampo.

Mankpanwura Jakpa Achoade Borenyi I represented the King of the Gonja Kingdom at the event.

The Member of Parliament for Damongo who doubles as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Municipal Chief executive of Kintampo, West Gonja Municipal Chief executive, District Chief executive of Central Gonja, Member of Parliament for Kintampo North and the leadership of Gonjaland Youth Association were all present to grace the occasion.

President Lawyer Alhaji Mohammed Amin Osman of Gonjaland Youth Association (GLYA) in his remarks, commended the Brong Ahafo caucus of GLYA for how consistent they have been in protecting and projecting the core values of the Association in that part of the country.

According to the president of GLYA, NO ONE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECLARATIONS TO LAND IN GHANA EXCEPT THE COURT;

He again urged the Gonja Community to always endeavor to promote peaceful coexistence in order to bring the necessary development in their community irrespective of where they find themselves in Ghana.

“ we are under rule of law and we must be guided by the principles and the laws of Ghana, especially on matters related to land ownership.
No individual or a group of people can make declarations as the ownership of disputed land in Ghana except the Court” Lawyer Amin added.

He admonished the people to use amicable way of settling their disputes and not to resort to violence and distractions of properties.

Other important program the President Lawyer Alhaji Mohammed Amin attended was the Gonjaland Youth Association’s 2022 Central Committee Meeting, which is geared towards preparations for 2022 Gonjaland Youth Association Daboya congress.

Below is brief report from the Central Committee Meeting held on February 4, 2022.

4th February 2022

A REPORT ON CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING, KINTAMPO.

The maiden Central Committee meeting for the year 2022 was held in Kintampo by the Kintampo Branch of Gonjaland Youth Association.

The decision to hold the Central Committee Meeting before GLYA Congress 2022 in Daboya was to help the Brong Ahafo caucus of GLYA to successfully stage their annual Damba Festival.

While in Kintampo, leadership of GLYA swiftly acted on the news circulating on social media and other networks which quoted the Bono East Regional Minister issuing threats of arrest to Gonja chiefs on that part of Gonjaland (From Babato Kuma to Benkrom). The leadership of GLYA engaged stakeholders including our chiefs to ascertain all the necessary information in order to deal with the looming tension associated with that statement attributed to the Minister.

Even though it was found out that the statement attributed to the Bono East Regional Minister was not accurate, Lawyer Amin emphatically stated that, Gonjalanders will at all times protect our land and urged all individuals or groups to desist from making comments that have the tendency of inciting people especially on land issues.

At the Central Committee meeting, the 2022 GLYA Congress and the elections of executives of GLYA dominated the discussions.

Mallam Majeed, the Wasipe Branch Chairman of GLYA was invited to brief membership on preparations to host the 46th Congress.

According to Mallam Majeed, Wasipe wura and his elders, the Member of Parliament, the DCE and all other stakeholders in that part of Gonjaland are working closely to ensure that, anyone who will be attending the Wasipe Congress will be thrilled with exciting activities.
Efforts to Bus members to the Kapria waterfalls in the Wasipe Teaditional Area is also progressing well.

Borejinkpr Habibu Muftawu (National PRO) also updated the house on the shea tree traditional wrestling which is currently gaining attention in and around the Gonja kingdom.

Borejinkpr stated that, zonal bouts are being staged across Savannah Region and the zonal level champions will participate in the grandfinale in Daboya on Friday 25th of March 2022 as part of the activities to make this Congress unique.

ON ELECTIONS

Alhaji Sulemana Yussif, the chairman of the Elections Committee briefed members on measures being employed to ensure that this year’s election is appropriately conducted.

He invited a member of the elections committee Mr. Lampo to further give details on some relevant information regarding the elections;
He first of all listed the following positions that were available for interested parties:

(a) President
(b) First Vice-President
(c) Second Vice-President
(d) General Secretary
(e) Treasurer
(f) Organizer
(g) Public Relations officer
(h) Women Organizer
(i) Deputy Organizer

QUALIFICATION OF ASPIRANTS.

Aspirants shall

i. Satisfy conditions set for membership of National Executive Committee (NEC).

ii. Satisfy conditions spelt under Article 17 of the GLYA constitution as follows:

Article 17(2) The President shall be a person of at least forty (40) years of age and shall have at least secondary level education.
17(3) The Second Vice-President and the General Women Organizer shall be females.
17(4) The General Secretary shall be a person who has at least diploma level education.

iii. Aspirants shall:

a. Be an active Member of an accredited branch

b. Be at least twenty-five (25) years of age.

c. Not be a holder of an office in a political party.

d. Not be a traditional chief.

e. Not be convicted of a criminal offence of dishonesty under the laws of Ghana.

NORMINATION

The following fees shall be charged:

i. Nomination forms – GH 20

FEES TO BE PAID BY ASPIRANTS.

The following fees shall be paid per the position to be contested.

President – GH 500.00
1st and 2nd Vice President’s – GH 300.00
Secretary, PRO, Organizer, Women Organizer and Treasurer – GH 200.00.

NB. All female aspirants will pay half the cost of filing fees.

DATE FOR VETTING

Vetting will be held in Damongo from 5th to 7th of March at the RCC conference hall.
Start at 8am to 5pm every day.

The national president in his remarks admonished aspirants not to resort to dirty campaign as we prepare for elections in Daboya.

“Efforts are being put in place to ensure that, the minister for sports and the CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority attend the Grand finale of the Shea Tree Traditional Wrestling in Daboya.

According to Lawyer Amin, some illustrious members of GLYA have offered support to the entire Kingdom through the association and they will accordingly be acknowledged at the Durbar in Daboya for their support to Association and Gonjaland as a whole.

The theme for Daboya Congress 2022 is;
IMPROVING STANDARDS OF EDUCATION IN GONJALAND FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF THE YOUTH” which the National Chairman indicated that, the theme was carefully chosen as a result of the appalling performance of students at all levels in Gonjaland.