One of the most prominent highlights of the latest community engagement exercise undertaken by the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), in collaboration with the Lands Commission, was the presentation of the official gazette to the Municipal Chief Executive of Jomoro, as well as the chiefs and assembly members of each of the thirteen communities.
From Old Kabenlasuazo, where the four-day engagement began, to Ellenda, where the joint PHDC and Lands Commission team concluded the programme, the Western Regional Lands Commissioner, Nana Asante Boateng I, supported by Surveyor, Mark Gudu, presented copies of the gazette to the chiefs and assembly members.
While the gazette presentation proceeded fairly smoothly in most communities, it became a major point of contention during the engagement at Takinta. There, the Assemblyman and the Chief of the community raised pertinent issues concerning the gazette.
What is the Gazette, and Why Was It Presented to Chiefs and Assembly Members?
The presentation of the gazette to the affected communities is a critical legal procedure derived from the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which serves as the principal legislation governing compulsory land acquisition in Ghana.
As part of the compulsory acquisition process, the Lands Commission is mandated by law to publish a Declaration of Intent for Acquisition in a national newspaper. Following this publication, the Commission is required to officially inform the affected communities of the governmentโs intention to acquire their lands for a specific project.
Upon receipt of the gazette, the chiefs and assembly members are legally required to post the notice of the governmentโs intention at a place accessible to all members of their communities.
In the specific case of the Petroleum Hub project, the gazette presented to the chiefs and assembly members of the 13 communities outlines the governmentโs intention to acquire 12,356 acres (5,000 hectares) of land for the project.
Why Did It Become a Contentious Issue at Takinta?
Out of the 13 communities visited by the joint PHDC and Lands Commission team, most engagements were relatively smooth. However, the session at Takinta generated the most controversy and lasted significantly longer than the others.
From the registration of attendees to discussions about land size, almost every issue became contentious. The people of Takinta, who had gathered with information about their partial exclusion from the project, openly expressed their grievances.
One of the major issues was the initial refusal by the Chief of Takinta to sign the gazette when it was presented to him by Surveyor Mark Gudu.
The Chief argued strongly that appending his signature to the document would be interpreted as an acceptance of the reduction in the land size, thereby endorsing the exclusion of Takintaโs lands from the Petroleum Hub project.
Fearing that future generations might blame him for failing to secure the communityโs full share of land in a project that could transform the areaโs fortunes, the chief initially declined to sign.
Nana Asante Boateng, however, explained that the document did not mean the government was immediately taking over the land. Rather, it was an official announcement of the governmentโs intention to acquire 12,356 acres (5,000 hectares) of land from the Jomoro area for the Petroleum Hub project.
Following this explanation, Nana Abizi IV reversed his position and eventually signed the document, confirming that the people of Takinta had been officially informed of the governmentโs intention to acquire the land.
