The Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast has had a day’s tour of some areas in Cape Coast where the university’s lands are being encroached upon.
The tour which was part of a three-day meeting the Council held was to ascertain the extent of encroachment.
The areas which were visited include Ankaful, Akotokyir, Kwawprow, and Kwesipra – all neighbouring communities of the university.
In 2021, while expressing concern about the situation, the Council indicated that the massive encroachment of the university’s land by some of its staff and residents of the satellite communities is posing a security threat to lives and property.
Speaking in an interview with the media after the tour, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong said the Governing Council of the university will soon come out with measures to help curb encroachment of the university’s lands.
He however indicated that the next action to be taken to curb the encroachment is dependent on the decision that will be taken by the university’s Governing Council after the three-day meeting.
He added saying “we are doing a lot of engagement but some people benefit from the encroachment by selling the land. So, when somebody is benefiting financially from the system, and you want to stop it, of course, the person will not be happy with you.”
As part of measures to mitigate the encroachment, the university has erected walls along some of its boundaries.
In October 2022, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong cut sod for the construction of 120 academic offices and 12 laboratories worth 151 million Ghana Cedis for three colleges in the university.
He noted that the project is among other constructions whose sites were chosen to strategically ward off encroachers.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor appealed to the country to support UCC in the fight against the encroachment of the university’s lands.
He said the university continues to remain a regional and national asset employing over 5000 staff and graduating countless students to the benefit of society. To this end, he said it is important for the country to assist in ensuring the situation is halted.
“And as we are all aware, the economy of Cape Coast and of course Central Region depends upon the University of Cape Coast. The total workforce is more than 5000 staff and the number of students across the country is around 65,000. So, we need the support of the entire country. The president has spoken about this and he was not happy about the extent of encroachment,” he said.
Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong further stated that the university has no plans to render anyone homeless but added that all who have genuine concerns should use the right avenue to seek redress.
Government in 1969 gave a total of 2,970 acres and added more in 1972 to equal 3,980 acres to the University of Cape Coast. In 1987, government further gave ownership of the lands to the university with a total of 3,690 acres of land to protect and develop the University.
Speaking to ATLFM NEWS, Amankwa Twumasi, who is the Head of the Anti-Land Encroachment Unit at UCC said per their records, out of the 3690 acres of land UCC is managing for the government, about 900 acres of the land have been encroached upon.
Read also: Ghanaian journalists urged to champion Climate Change issues in Ghana
Source: Rosemond Asmah/ATLFMNEWS
