“This is not a witch-hunt” – Keta MCE urges calm as probe into reclaimed lands begins – MyJoyOnline

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta, Wisdom Bondzie Seade, is calling for calm and cooperation from the public as a high-level investigation begins into the controversial sale and encroachment of Keta’s reclaimed lands.

Speaking to the media after the inauguration of a seven-member committee tasked with unravelling the truth behind the land disputes, Mr. Seade stated emphatically that the committee’s work is not intended to witch-hunt anyone.

Rather, it is a necessary intervention to safeguard what remains of Keta’s only settlement lands and to restore confidence in the municipality’s land administration.

“This is not a witch-hunt,” Mr. Seade stated.

“We need to understand what happened to our reclaimed lands over the years, investigate the encroachment, and do things right. If you bought land or acquired it by any means, bring your documents and help the process. These lands are all we have left for people who lost everything.”

Keta’s reclaimed lands, originally earmarked for resettling families displaced by tidal waves, have over the years become hotbeds of contention due to unregulated land sales, unauthorised constructions, and what some residents suspect to be land-grabbing by powerful individuals.

In recent times, a rapid increase in building developments, many of which lack legal authorisation, has raised alarm among stakeholders and residents who feel cheated and sidelined.

The MCE stressed that the rate at which new structures are springing up is disturbing and undermines the very essence of the government’s resettlement initiative.

“We cannot look on while people lose their only source of hope,” he added. “This investigation will allow us to correct the wrongs and chart a better course for Keta.”

The seven-member committee, inaugurated by Volta Regional Minister James Gunu, is chaired by Dr Joe Attipoe, a seasoned land management expert.

The committee’s mandate is to probe the activities of the Keta Municipal Assembly, private stakeholders, and individuals involved in land acquisitions on the reclaimed lands. They are expected to submit their report within one month.

Dr. Attipoe, in his acceptance remarks, gave his assurance to the people of Keta that the committee would live up to expectations and uphold the public’s trust.

“We are not here to target anyone,” he said. “Our mission is to establish the facts, ensure fairness, and restore confidence in land administration. We owe it to the people of Keta.”

The Volta Regional Minister, who expressed deep concern over discrepancies between the official land layout and the current state of development on the ground, emphasised the importance of responsible land use and transparency.

He noted that the reclaimed lands were part of a broader vision to modernise Keta and provide long-term relief to those displaced by climate-related disasters.

“We’ll act on the report without fear or favour,” Mr Gunu declared. “The people of Keta deserve order, transparency, and development, not chaos over land ownership. This committee will help us realign our vision.”

The Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) has pledged to implement the committee’s recommendations fully.

Meanwhile, residents and individuals who acquired land in the area, whether through formal or informal channels, are being urged to come forward with documents and cooperate with the investigation to facilitate a smooth and fair process.

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