Is Annor Adjaye III a caretaker or a substantive Paramount Chief?
With only seven months for the disastrous NPP government to leave office, Akufo-Addo has found cooperation in the self-serving and malleable Nana Annor Adjaye III, paramount chief of Western Nzema Traditional Area, to sign off a 20,000 acre land for a so-called petroleum hub that in reality may require only 7,000 acres for the purpose, and whose real owners are quite hazy.
This is the third controversial land acquisition in the Jomoro District in the last 40 years, showing wanton disrespect and dubiousness toward the people of Western Nzema.
The first was the land acquired for the failed Efasu-Mangyea Osagyefo Barge Project executed under Rawlings. The second is the ongoing Ezinlibo naval base project suspected to be a base for the US military. This has also claimed a 600 acre land and disrupted socioeconomic activities in the community.
But the most bizarre and apparently smokescreened project and land acquisition is the 20,000 acres carved out of Bonyere, Egbazo, Takinta, Kabenlasuazo, Nawule, Elenda and Tikobo No.1, supposed to be for a petroleum hub.
In none of the three land acquisitions was a thorough environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) done and properly disclosed to and negotiated with the people. In Ezinlibo, the greed and corruption of community leaders have resulted in increased sea erosion and disruption of the local drag-net fishing industry. Meanwhile, the land take is yet to be duly compensated for.
For the petroleum hub project, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, the paramount chief, was appointed the hub board chairman and given a car and other privileges to aid the land take instead of being inquisitorial in favour of his people. Surely, this is stinking corruption perpetrated against the people of Western Nzema District who until 1988 were variously referred to as Western Nzema District or Western Nzema Area, and whose traditional council is still referred to as Western Nzema Traditional Council.
It was Awulae Annor Adjaye II who volunteered the ridiculous and derogatory name Jomoro in 1987 for the district assembly in 1988. The name was virtually changed in 2003 to Western Nzema District Assembly (WENDA) but was reverted after my removal from office.
Now, one might wonder whether the 20,000 land take has been sealed off by Nana Annor Adjaye III with this signing ceremony under reference. One may also ask whether Annor Adjaye III has the authority and power to sign off the land under reference? The answer is no, under Nzema traditional setting and customary release of land.
The real landowners are the stools, families and individuals who own lands in the area.
It is true the moribund Municipal Assembly cannot be relied upon to speak for the people, but if they choose not to be “mumule”
as Nana Annor Adjaye II took us to be in 1988, they can go to court to seek appropriate remedies respecting their lands.
Meanwhile, let the ignorant youths in the area, desperately hoping for employment in the project, note that they can’t wishfully expect other people to lose their lands only because the menial jobs they hope for.
Things must be done properly and justly, and there is a lot more in that land undisclosed to the people.
Story By: Ketiboa Blay