The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has issued an urgent appeal to the government to intervene and safeguard its 100-acre parcel of land situated at Pokuase/Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region from encroachers.
According to the council, the land, originally allocated to the institute over 60 years ago, is facing threats from private developers who are currently clearing the area. This parcel, located near the Amasaman Sports Stadium, was designated for research purposes aimed at developing and transferring technologies related to livestock and poultry production in Ghana.
Michael Amoo-Gyasi, the Union Chairman of CSIR, along with national executives, addressed a news conference last Wednesday, expressing concern over the encroachment issue. Despite efforts by the CSIR’s governing council and management to secure the 100-acre parcel, it has come to their attention that a private developer is clearing the entire 400-plus acres of land, disregarding initial agreements and disrupting ongoing scientific experiments.
Amoo-Gyasi emphasized the detrimental impact of such actions, stating that valuable CSIR research materials, developed over decades on experimental field plots, were being destroyed. This encroachment not only threatens the institute’s research and development efforts but also undermines the cumulative and long-term benefits derived from the national assets.
The council, appealed to the government to intervene and secure the land for its intended purpose. The CSIR, renowned for its contributions to various sectors including agriculture, aquaculture, and food security, continues to face challenges from individuals and entities attempting to take over its lands without regard to the broader societal benefits.
BACKSTORY
In 2019, the government allocated portions of the CSIR land for housing units, triggering efforts by the institute’s management to halt the process until proper engagements were made with relevant ministries. Despite the intervention of an Inter-Ministerial Committee, which recommended that CSIR be apportioned 184 acres of land, the lease for the consolidated area was never issued by the Lands Commission.
Subsequent developments, including a reduction in the apportioned land to 100 acres and the approval of portions for an Affordable Housing Project, have further exacerbated the situation. The CSIR urges the government to uphold the legacy of scientific and technological advancement by preserving the allocated land for research and innovation purposes.
