Members of the Esiama-Ezohile Royal Stool in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region are up in arms against the District Chief Executive (DCE), Daniel Eshun, for allegedly selling portions of a land meant for the construction of the market and a lorry park to private developers.
According to members of the Ezohile stool in Esiama, the said tract of land was given to the people of Esiama by the then chief of the area, Nana Kaku Ngroroma III, about 26 years ago for the development of a coconut oil market for the people of Nzema.
They explained that since the proposed site for market and lorry station was a public land, it could not be given to private developers.
They could not fathom why the DCE, a member of the Kikam Royal Family also in the district, could grant a permit to some of his family members to develop the land without consulting the true owners.
“We, the people of Esiama, want to assure the DCE that he cannot use the authority he has to claim our lands for his people. We shall resist all his attempts and make sure that the truth prevails,” they asserted.
Addressing a press conference over the weekend, Nana Kofi Ampoe IV, Chief of Esiama alleged that the proposed market site formed part of Miegyinla lands, stressing that the Ezohile Royal Stool of Esiama has all the necessary documentation on the lands.
He alleged that even though the land was meant for market and a lorry station, the DCE had been holding meetings with his family members at Kikam, pledging to use his authority to assist them claim the land.
He indicated that because there was no proper market and lorry station at Esiama, both traders and commercial vehicles, had to fight for space along the Esiama-Elubo highway for their respective businesses.
“The DCE who is to care for the people as the President’s representative in the district only thinks of assisting his people from Kikam to take over Esiama lands,” the traditional ruler angrily stated.
He commented, “We, at Esiama, now see the DCE as an opponent and an enemy to our stool and, therefore, do not want to see him in or around our palace in his own capacity or in any other capacity.”
When contacted, the DCE for Ellembelle, Daniel Eshun debunked the allegations levelled against him, noting that the land in contention was acquired by the Nzema-East District Assembly some years ago and had been taken over by the Ellembelle District assembly.
He indicated that the ownership of the said piece of land was being contested by two stools of Esiama and Kikam, which had caused serious misunderstanding between the two communities regarding the development of the land.
He indicated that the matter was pending before the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council for settlement and promised that the assembly would settle the necessary obligation due the rightful owner of the land as soon as the case was determined by the traditional council.
