Residents of Old Estate SSNIT flats in Koforidua and its environs are living in fear.

This is because the area which is one of the communities in New Juaben North Municipality in the Eastern Region has of late been besieged by some persons wielding guns.

These unknown persons are suspected to be illegal private developers on 180- acre land belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

An incident occurred on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2022, at about 11:30 am when a resident heard some sporadic gun shots and had to run for cover in his bedroom suspecting that the gun shots were from armed robbers.

Giving an account to this reporter, the resident said he saw a black Land Cruiser, a white 4×4 and other vehicles at the place but fearing that the occupants might have been armed robbers; he did not come out for fear of his life.

The area in question has been turned into sand winning (business) place while others are also putting up huge mansions. It is believed the encroachers have been wielding guns to prevent people from confronting them on their nefarious activities.

However, if the encroachers are not checked immediately the unexpected may happen.An officer at the Eastern Regional SSNIT Office told this reporter that the land belonged to SSNIT which built 10 blocks containing 160 flats for workers in 1997.

He said the flats were allocated to various organisations to be shared among their workers but in 2005 SSNIT noticed that there were encroachers on some parts of the land and decided to secure it through the Land Commission.

He said, he heard that due to financial constraints SSNIT management decided to give part of the land to interested individuals for orderly development and a well planned suburb of Koforidua.

He noted that over 130 acres of the land were given out, remaining 50 acres for SSNIT. According to him, the remaining 50 acre land had been taken over by encroachers, sand winners and others hence the numerous problems in the area.

He said he had never heard of land guards or gun shots in the area until recently.

He appealed to SSNIT management to sit up before the unexpected happens.

The Eastern Regional SSNIT PRO, Royal Nii Krotey Donkor and the Estate Manager, Mr Denu confirmed SSNIT ownership of the encroached land and said the activities going on there and that management would soon take action. “This is all that we can say for now” they added.

From Samuel Opare Lartey, Koforidua.