Many ministers have come and gone at the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning, yet the problem of land grabbing has still not been adequately addressed by any of them.
The Chief Executive Director of Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, Prince Tommy Williams has accused Mohamed Tunde Macarthy of conniving with a licensed surveyor in the Ministry of Lands to falsify land documents to give Tunde Macarthy a claim over land that is owned by Lifeline Nehemiah Projects, a local NGO that operates in education, agriculture and health.
According to Tommy Williams, in his quest to maintain peace and order as a responsible citizen, he has engaged various authorities regarding the actions of Mohamed Tunde Macarthy, which pose a threat to staff and beneficiaries, especially girls and women at the Lifeline Nehemiah project.
He said that since 2020, Tunde Macarthy has been conspiring with some government officials in the Ministry of Lands, and the police to disrupt peace within the Lifeline and by extension the Kuntorlor community.
On several occasions, he said, Mohamed Tunde Macarthy has used police officers to threaten the peace of beneficiaries of the organization, adding that police officers loaded in trucks on three separate occasions went to the facility of the organization to intimidate staff and beneficiaries. “It is now clear that most police officers at the Approved School post and the Kissy Division continue to turn a blind eye to injustices against children and Lifeline staff for selfish gain. Instead of protecting lives and property, some of these police officers have facilitated Mohamed Tunde Macarthy’s land grabbing, which includes land allocated as a playground for school-going children and the youths of the Kuntorloh community,” Mr. Williams said.
He revealed that they are deeply concerned that officers, funded by taxpayers’ money, are working against the very purpose for which they are employed and paid for.
“We feel provoked and we are raising our concerns because we want to remain law-abiding citizens and stand for the underprivileged. We therefore ask for justice and for this matter to be resolved once and for all. We also call for an investigation into the surveyor Mr. Moiba actions.
Mr. Williams ended by commending certain individuals at the ministry, including Ing. Musa and the Communication Officer, Abdul Fonti Kabbia, who value education and are willing to invest in and protect the rights of children, youths and promote justice.
This medium has been following the matter and in September this year, the Deputy Director of Planning at the Ministry of Lands, Ing Musa instructed both parties, Prince Tommy Williams and Mohamed Tunde Macarthy to resurvey the said land. Both parties hired the service of license surveyors at the ministry. The licensed surveyor hired by Mr. Williams has submitted his report which documented discrepancies documents submitted by Mohamed Tunde Macarthy to the ministry.” However, on the side of Mr. Macarthy’s license surveyor, no report has been submitted for the past two months since they were instructed by the deputy director.
Mohamed Tunde Macarthy had earlier denied the allegations, saying that he is a respecter of the law who believes in peace. He said that his claim to the land was legal. He denied using the police to intimidate everyone.
Ing Musa has been quoted as saying that the lands ministry will provide its final report. However, it is now over two months without the release of the ministry’s report, and concerns have been raised by this medium and Lifeline as to why the delay.
The question now is, Lifeline has submitted its report and necessary documents including conveyance to the ministry
To date, LNP has a presence in eight districts across the country providing support to children and their families.