Half Assini, Western Region May 5, 2025
The Coalition of Concerned Nzema People (CCNP) has issued a powerful statement opposing what it describes as an unlawful and culturally insensitive move by state authorities to compulsorily acquire over 20,000 acres of ancestral land for Ghana’s Petroleum Hub Development Project.
In an official communiqué released today, the CCNP emphasized that land ownership among the Nzema people is rooted in ancestral family lineage not stool-based chieftaincy structures introduced during colonial rule. The Coalition contends that this distinction, enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and the Land Act of 2020 (Act 1036), has been overlooked in recent government dealings.
“This is not just a legal issue it is a matter of cultural survival,” the statement declared. “Our land, inheritance, and sovereignty are not commodities for sale or political manipulation.”
The CCNP reaffirmed that the recent engagement with the Presidency on March 18 marked a turning point for Nzema landowners. According to the group, the meeting was not an elite negotiation but a collective advocacy moment to safeguard family-held land rights.
One of the communiqué’s major highlights was the ongoing nomination of a liaison to represent ancestral families in further negotiations. The Coalition also lauded Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, for recusing himself from the matter to avoid conflicts of interest.
However, the CCNP expressed concern over recent comments by the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, suggesting they contradict directives from the Presidency. The group urged all stakeholders to adhere to constitutional principles and respect traditional landownership.
The communiqué concluded with a call to all Nzema citizens both in Ghana and the diaspora to unite in defense of their heritage.
“We are not reviving chieftaincy or pursuing partisan goals,” said Engr. Surv. Ndede-Kojo Isaac, President of the CCNP. “We are standing for truth, justice, and the sacred responsibility to protect our ancestral inheritance.”
Contact:
Email: ccnp.nzema@gmail.com
Phone: +233 (0)244 054 086
By Nzematoday TV
