…Minister Warns Encroachers to Halt Developmental Activities on Sports Complex Land
The Minister for Sports, Kofi Adams, has issued a stern warning to private developers encroaching on the Borteyman Sports Complex land, urging them to immediately cease all construction and developmental activities. He cautioned that any investment made on the encroached land will eventually be lost.
The Minister made these remarks during a press briefing when he paid a working visit to the Borteyman Sports Complex, a facility that hosted the 2023 All-African Games.
He emphasized that the Government of Ghana, in a formal agreement with the University of Ghana, acquired 99.5 acres of land specifically for the purpose of developing a world-class sports facility at Borteyman to host national and continental games.
According to the Minister, about 43 acres of the acquired land have already been utilized for the construction of the current sports complex. The remaining portion, which is over 50 acres, has been earmarked for future development, including multipurpose sporting facilities and accommodation blocks to complement existing infrastructure.
“The intention is to make sure that Ghana, as a sports-loving country, continues to develop multipurpose sports facilities and even add accommodation infrastructure to enhance the usability of what has already been built,” Hon. Kofi Adams explained.
However, he expressed deep concern over the rate of encroachment on the remaining land in recent months. “But clearly, you can see, both behind me and in front of me, that encroachers are virtually taking over this space. Just in the last three months, development is happening rapidly. This is not right. This is absolutely wrong,” he said firmly.
Adams sent a strong message to individuals and developers who are purchasing land within the Borteyman enclave, particularly the portion stretching from the facility’s perimeter wall to the boundary marked by a stream.
He reminded them that the area is part of the land legally acquired by the Government of Ghana from the University of Ghana, specifically for the development of sports infrastructure.
“I want to send a message to all those who are either paying for land in this area or have already paid and are in the process of developing: do not continue with your transactions,” he emphasized.
He further advised those currently undertaking construction activities, even those who may have already committed financial resources, to halt immediately to avoid future losses. “For those who are already engaged in construction, and may have paid and are now building, it is better to stop now because any investment made here will be a wasted investment,” the Minister warned.
The Minister also made it clear that the government possesses complete and finalized legal documentation covering the full 99.5 acres of land. He cautioned that any attempts to bypass the law, whether through rushed development at night or over the weekends, will not deter the state from taking action.
“We have every documentation that covers this piece of land I’m referring to, the 99.5 acres. The final legal documentation has been secured. You may try to rush to construct, you may do it in the night or over the weekend, but at the right time, we will bring everything down,” the Minister cautioned.
Kofi Adams reiterated his call for encroachers to reconsider their actions and protect their finances. He urged them to rather pursue refunds from individuals or agents who fraudulently sold them the state-owned land, than to proceed with construction and risk complete demolition.
“It is better for these encroachers not to throw their money away. If they cannot retrieve what they paid to the people who sold the land to them, which is state land, they should at least save themselves further losses. Don’t invest in cement, blocks, or iron rods, because all of that will be erased,” the Minister reiterated.
By Prince Ahenkorah