Members of the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have toured University lands that have been encroached upon by some private developers and individuals.

 

The purpose of the visit was to enable Council members to see at firsthand the level of encroachment on the university lands.

 

The Council has resolved to address the massive land encroachment and has taken lawfully steps to reclaim all encroached lands. 

 

According to management of the University, most of the lands belonging to UCC continued to be encroached upon.

 

Some encroachers had put up permanent structures on portions of the University lands depriving UCC of space for expansion.

 

While some encroachers had reached the roofing levels, others were at the foundation levels, which pose serious threat to the future growth and development of the University.

 

Some of the estate and individual developers had threatened authorities of the University to stay off the lands or face their anger.

 

However, management of the University is engaging  occupants of the Lands to ensure peaceful resolution to the matter. 

 

Members of the University Council, were conducted around the lands by staff of Directorate of Physical Development Estate Management (DPDEM).

 

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, briefing the media after the tour, said UCC was a great asset to Ghana and, therefore, the University authorities would do its level best to protect the lands of the University. 

 

He,therefore, called for the support of the entire country to join forces with the University to reclaim the lands from encroachers for planned developmental projects. 

 

The Head of the Anti-Land Encroachment Unit at DPDEM, Mr. Twumasi Atta Amankwa, in an interview with the press, walked the media through the some of the initiatives by his outfit to stamp out the rising rate of encroachment on university lands.