Dozens of private developers lose properties after illegally occupying Kofi Job quarry site at Kona
Dozens of private developers have lost their properties after unlawfully encroaching on Kofi Job Company’s stone quarry sites at Kona in the Ashanti Region.
The affected developers had built uncompleted structures within the protected buffer zone of the quarry, forcing the company to pull them down to secure the area.
Company Holds Valid Mining Licence
During an engagement with the managers of the quarry, they revealed that the company has secured a licence to mine at the site.
The licensing requires a 500 metre buffer zone to prevent blasting from causing harm to residents and nearby properties.
The managers told OTEC News reporter, Kwame Agyenim Boateng, that the company duly paid for the stone and the buffer zone and has been active at the site for decades now.
Quarry Started With No Buildings In Buffer Zone
According to the managers, the quarry operation began with no buildings in the buffer zone.
However, some private developers have begun encroaching on the land, building permanent structures in the buffer zone against the law.
Developers Built Close To Blasting Area
Some have constructed very close to the blasting area, which if allowed to continue, will cause danger to human settlement. The company, upon learning of these developments, issued several warnings calling on the developers to leave the buffer zone.
Warnings Ignored
All the warnings went to deaf ears, forcing the company to act to secure the buffer zone.
The company therefore pulled down uncompleted structures under construction within the restricted area.
Affected Developers Speak
When contacted, the affected victims said they had no lease for the land in question.
They claimed a clan head at Kona sold the lands to them and promised to give them lease and allocation papers later.
They confirmed that the Chief of Kona, the sole authority over the land, had not given them any authority to work on the land.
They added that they were only given an indenture by the clan head
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng
