Return Our Stolen Lands, La Leaders Tell Government

The Coalition of La Associations and Ga Adangme Coalition against Land Injustice has issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, demanding the release of their ancestral lands currently occupied by the military. The group, comprising of La traditional authorities and youth, staged a peaceful protest to express their discontent over the seizure of their stool lands, which they describe as unethical.

Hundreds of protesters, mostly youth, marched from the La Market Complex through the township, carrying placards and banners, to present their petition to the President at the Flagstaff House. The protesters were met by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Adumuah-Bossman, who received their petition on behalf of the President.

Spokesperson for the La Associations, Jeffrey Tetteh, emphasized the need for the government to hand over their lands and provide compensation for the years of occupation. Tetteh stated that the people of La have been calling on successive governments to release their lands, and it is their expectation that the current administration will prioritize their request within the next two weeks.

He warned that failure to hear from the government soon will lead to a series of protests and demonstrations, which have already been notified to the police. The Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Adumuah-Bossman, acknowledged the group’s peaceful compliance with the law and promised to relay their concerns to the President.

Adumuah-Bossman assured the group that if the President has given a directive or order, it will be implemented, and he will ensure that their petition is addressed. The group has threatened to occupy the “Kpletso” lands and start development in September if their demands are not met, signaling a potential escalation of the situation if the government fails to respond to their ultimatum.