Residents of Dambai Lakeside, near the Lakeside Basic School in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region, have appealed to the relevant authorities and stakeholders to intervene in access route disputes, to prevent the situation from escalating.
The called on Mr Safo Nketia, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), and Mr Nelson Kofi Djabab, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area to engage the people in settling their misunderstandings and ensure peace.
Mr Wonder Akpaglo, a resident of the area, alleged that some individuals had threatened to demolish his three-bedroom apartment, claiming that the building obstructed an access route to their homes.
He said portions of the property’s fence wall had already been destroyed by these individuals in an attempt to create the alleged access route.
Mr Akpaglo appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene and establish the facts surrounding the disputed access route before further action was taken.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Emmanuel Nyamekor Akpaglo, a family member, said the property had been acquired by their grandparents in 1979 and had remained in the family’s possession and occupancy for more than four decades.
He said the family had documents to support its claim to the property and urged all parties to refrain from taking actions that could worsen the situation.
During the engagement with the GNA, Mr Akpaglo produced an approved building plan, which he said dated back to 1974, to substantiate the family’s claim of legitimate ownership of the property.
The document, a blueprint bearing Building Permit Number BP No. HE/12/7/74, contained official stamps indicating that it had been “Recommended by” and “Approved by” the then Works Department.
The Plan, prepared for the late Mr Samuel K. Akpaglo for construction at Dambai in the former Volta Region, contained architectural drawings, including front, back and side elevations, cross-sections, foundation and floor plans, as well as a site layout.
Mr Akpaglo said the document showed that the family had obtained official authorisation for the development and had occupied the property for several decades.
He said the family decided to make the old document available to the GNA to clarify concerns about the legality of the structure, which some individuals had alleged was obstructing an access route.
Mr Akpaglo said the family was ready to cooperate with the appropriate authorities to establish the boundaries of the property and determine the status of the disputed access route.
He appealed to the Krachi East Municipal Assembly, the MP, traditional authorities, the Physical Planning Department, and relevant land agencies, to intervene and facilitate an amicable resolution of the dispute.
He expressed concern that failure to address the matter promptly could create tension and potentially degenerate into a communal conflict, thereby threatening the peace and security of the area.
Mr Akpaglo urged residents to remain calm and exercise restraint while calling on the Municipal Assembly and the Physical Planning Department to conduct a thorough assessment of the area, establish the status of the access route and ensure a fair and peaceful resolution of the dispute.