The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has admonished residents of Ashanti Region to refrain from subscribing to land guards in addressing issues surrounding their properties since it is outlawed and punishable by law.
It has cautioned the public that anybody found engaging land guards would, together with the land guards, be arrested to face the law.
The Ashanti regional Security Council has, therefore, stated that “any person found to engage the services of land guards will be apprehended, prosecuted, and arraigned before court. The land guards will not be spared either. They will be made to face the full rigours of the law.”
REGSEC stated this in a strongly worded statement issued in Kumasi, which has been sighted by The Chronicle.
According to REGSEC, it has overseen an upsurge in the subscription or engagement of these violent figures in the region, where all stool lands belong to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
“The Ashanti regional Security Council has observed with serious concern the gradual surge of illegal operators of land guards in some communities in the region.
“Land guards are organised criminal groups employed to protect land and property, over land disputes and controversies, using violence, which always results in the eruption of violent clashes”
REGSEC explained that over the years, the Ashanti region has been fortunate because all stool lands are vested in His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, with his chiefs as caretakers. There is, therefore, every opportunity in instances of land controversies and disputes to appeal to His Majesty for resolution of the disputes.
Based on this fact, the Ashanti regional Security Council implored all citizens in the region to use the right procedures to address their land disputes rather than to employ the use of land guards whose activities always threaten law-abiding citizens and results in violence.
REGSEC expressed optimism that residents of the Ashanti region will adhere to the call and act accordingly.
“It is the expectation of the Regional Security Council that the public will accept the above directives for strict compliance to ensure peace in the region. Let us all work together to make the region as orderly, safe and peaceful one.”
