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White paper issued on the Odugblase limestone deposit
dispute
Koforidua, July 15, Ghanadot/GNA-The Eastern Regional Co-ordinating
Council (RCC), has issued a white paper on the
recommendations of the fact finding committee that enquired
into the dispute over the rightful traditional authority
over the limestone deposit at Odugblase in the Krobo area.
Reading the white paper to members of the Yilo and Manya
Krobo Traditional Councils and the press in Koforidua on
Monday, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram
Asiedu said the RCC uphold the recommendation of the
committee that no exclusive traditional authority could be
established over Odugblase where Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM)
is currently mining the limestone.
This was because the committee established that at one time
or the other, both the Yilo and Manya Traditional Councils
had exercised traditional authority over the Odugblase
lands.
The white paper therefore, uphold the recommendation of the
committee that, the two traditional authorities should
exercise authority at Odugblase, with the Yilo Krobo
Traditional Council controlling the Yilo in the area while
the Manya Krobo Traditional Council also controls the Manya
Krobo settlers in the area.
The white paper also accepted the recommendation of the
committee that since the landlords of the lands, which fall
under the GHACEM concession; includes 33 Manya Krobo
landlords and 15 Yilo Krobo Landlords, royalties accruing
from the concession should be shared proportionally to the
landlords from each traditional area.
That the Manya Krobo Traditional area should be given 68.75
per cent representing the 33 landlords, while Yilo Krobo
Traditional area receive 31.25 per cent representing the 15
Yilo Krobo landlords.
The whitepaper recommended that the joint accounts currently
held at the Koforidua branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank be
accessed and the proceeds shared equally between the two
traditional authorities.
Reacting to the recommendations of the white paper, the Kono
of Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Narh Dawutey Ologo, VI,
said the fact finding committee was established primarily to
establish the traditional authority, which have jurisdiction
over the Odugblase land.
He said the recommendations of the committee indicated that,
the committee had failed to establish the rightful
traditional authority over the area concern.
Nene Ologo said the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council would
consult with their lawyers for them to refer the issue to
the appropriate authority, to establish the rightful
traditional authority over Odugblase and informed the RCC of
their final decision.
He however assured that the Traditional Council would not go
to war with their brothers in Manya Krobo over the issue.
Okpatakpla Sasraku , IV, acting President of the Manya Krobo
Traditional Council said the Council would study the report
carefully before making a statement on it.
In 2005, following the granting of concession to GHACEM for
the mining of limestone at Odugblase in the Krobo area,
there arose a dispute over the rightful traditional council
that has jurisdiction over the area.
The Regional Minister then, Mr Yaw Barimah in consultation
with the RCC set up a fact finding committee to go into the
dispute, to establish the traditional council that has
jurisdiction over the area, determine the formula for the
sharing of land royalties accruing from the concession, and
deal with any other matters that would bring long lasting
peace in the area.
The committee completed its work and submitted the report to
the RCC in 2006, but it was recently that the RCC white
paper on the issue came out.
GNA
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