Alhassan Suhuyini, the deputy ranking member for the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament, has disclosed that the minority is requesting the contract details between Aynok Services Limited and the Lands Ministry.
The information, he added is being sought, to inform the minority’s next course of action on the alleged use of land guards by the Ministry.
The revelation comes after the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Professor Patrick Agbesinyale, reportedly stated during a meeting with the Committee that the ministry employs the services of a land guard.
Mr Agbesinyale reportedly added that even the police and military engage land guards in reclaiming and protecting government lands for a fee, which contradicts the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act.
The claims have been vehemently refuted by the Lands Ministry, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Police Service in separate statements.
They all assert that they have never enlisted the services of any land guard to protect or reclaim lands in any capacity.
However, the Lands Ministry clarified in their statement that they have engaged the services of “Aynok Holding Limited,” a registered limited liability company, to assist in reclaiming encroached government lands since 2012.
But speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Mr Suhuyini, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, expressed that the committee will request the contract details between the Lands Ministry and Aynok Holding Limited.
“We first want to introduce that contract to the committee and once that contract has been introduced to the committee, we can now invite him as a service provider to the ministry to speak on the contract and that is why we are focussed as a committee on the ministry providing us with that contract.”
