WHITE PAPER RELEASED ON ODUGBLASE LAND (PAGE 20)

THE Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council has released the White Paper on the rival claims to the limestone-rich Odugblase land by both the Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Traditional Areas.
The White Paper, which did not determine the actual owner of the land, stated that both sides had a share in the limestone deposits and must therefore enjoy from its benefits.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, made this known when he read the contents of the report to the representatives of the two traditional councils and individual landowners (farmers) in the disputed area in Koforidua.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the district assemblies of Lower Manya, Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo.
According to the report, authority over the Odugblase land should be apportioned between the two traditional areas, since the area is inhabited by citizens from both tribes.
It stated that since there were 33 Manya Krobo and 15 Yilo Krobo landowners in the area, royalties accruing from the limestone concession should be shared in the proportion of 68.75 per cent for the Manya Krobo landowners and 31.25 per cent for the Yilos.
The report further recommended that a joint account currently held at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Koforidua, in respect of payments on the limestone mining on the disputed lands must be accessed and shared equally between the two traditional authorities, since they jointly and equally contributed to the account.
The regional minister expressed the hope that the recommendations of the White Paper would put to rest the differences between the two traditional areas.
The Konor of Yilo Krobo, Nene Dawutey Ologo V1, was, however, not happy with the recommendations of the report, which, he said, could not determine the ownership of the disputed land and that the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council would seek legal advice for the next line of action.
Nene Ologo stated that since Yilo Krobos and Manya Krobos were brothers and there had not been any confrontation between them, the committee’s recommendation would not heighten tension in the area.
He thanked the Regional Minister for his efforts in addressing the issue.
For his part, Nene Okpatakpla Sasraku IV, the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, said his side would also study the recommendations of the report to determine what to do.
Earlier the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr S.B. Bawa, said as the Krobo area had immense deposits of limestone, Ghacem, a major cement-producing firm, had come to do business in the area.
He said for some time now, there had been some slight disagreements between the two traditional authorities over the ownership of the disputed area and that led to the setting up of a five-member committee to deal with the problem, the findings of which had come out.