New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has expressed concern over Ghana’s land tenure system, warning that it has long deprived customary landowners while foreign companies profit from the country’s resources.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, he said, “I am worried by what is happening, not only because of galamsey, but landowners have been deprived of what is theirs. The initiative I’m advocating will review and reform our land tenure system and ensure transparent compensation frameworks.”
He expressed shock at how resource exploitation benefits outsiders more than local communities.
“How is it that a company can come into Ahafo, make massive profits, sell shares to foreign investors, and the indigenous people are left behind? That is unacceptable. If our generation cannot exploit our God-given resources for the benefit of everyone, perhaps it’s better to leave them in the ground for future generations.”
Agyepong added that the injustice is longstanding, predating colonial times, with lands often taken via executive instruments without compensating the owners and handed over to foreign interests.
He further highlighted how wealth from Ghana’s resources ends up abroad: “If you go to boardrooms in London, Canada, and Australia, you’ll see mining cabals enjoying millions from poor Ghana. This is unacceptable, and we must find a way to re-engineer it.”
Source: Abubakar Ibrahim
