Accra, Ghana – The Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has released new audio in which the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Prof Patrick Agbesinyale, allegedly alleges that a government-associated land guard has connections in the judiciary and media, aiding in his activities.

In the audio, made public on Wednesday, July 19, the Lands Ministry’s Chief Director claims that the supposed land guard, known as Gyato, operates with the support of various government and state institutions, allowing him to evade punishment for his illegal actions.

Prof Patrick Agbesinyale further alleges that the land guard’s formation dates back to 2008 during the presidency of John Kufuor. He claims that when the government faced public backlash for reclaiming encroached land in Weija, a decision was made to establish the individual in question to handle government land reclamation, providing a shield for the government to operate behind.

However, the police, military, and government have denied the claims attributed to the Chief Director, refuting any involvement with land guards.

Prof. Agbesinyale, appearing before the Public Account Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, July 19, denied making statements indicating that the government employs land guards for land reclamation. He expressed his strong objection to the association of land guards with respectable security agencies and emphasized that he never mentioned land guards in his submission to the committee.

The controversy emerged after Minority MPs on the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament accused the government of engaging land guards in the retrieval and protection of government lands. The allegations were based on statements reportedly made by Prof. Agbesinyale during a meeting with the committee. A leaked tape, circulating on social media, allegedly features the Chief Director accusing the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service of collaborating with a specific land guard.

In response to the accusations, Deputy Ranking Member of the Lands and Forestry Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini, expressed concern over the government’s alleged lack of commitment to combating land guard activities, particularly highlighting the claim that the military and police resort to using land guards to protect their lands.

The government and the two state security agencies have denied any involvement with land guards in their efforts to reclaim encroached lands from illegal occupants.

Further updates on the situation are expected as investigations continue into the allegations raised in the audio recording.