We don’t engage services of land guards- Ghana Police Service

The Ghana Police Service has denied claims that they engage the services of land guards to help reclaim encroached lands.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Prof Patrick Agbesinyale, on Monday, July 10, during a meeting with Parliament’s Lands and Forestry Committee, reportedly alleged that government engaged the service of a land guard to retrieve and protect encroached state lands.

The Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service were both accused of hiring a notorious land guard popularly known as ‘Gyato’ to reclaim their lands that have been encroached.

Prof Patrick Agbesinyale said the security agencies then apportion parts of the reclaimed lands to the land guard as payment his work. ‘Gyato’ allegedly carries out similar activities for the government according to Prof Agbesinyale.

However, in a sharp rebuttal, through a press release issued on Monday, July 17 the service noted that “this claim is, false baseless and unfounded, and should be treated with the contempt it deserves.”

According to them, the “Police Service has not on any occasion engaged the services of land guards to reclaim or protect its lands.”

It averred that contrary, the Service has in recent times intensified its anti-land guard operations in communities affected by the activities of these land guards.

They added that the renewed effort will not stop until perpetrators of such illegal activities are brought to justice.

“We wish to assure the public that the Police Service working in partnership with other security agencies, remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety and security at all times; and we will continue to count on the support of the good people of Ghana in this regard,” portions of the statement revealed.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme