President Mahama Rejects ‘From Above’ Claims in Land Disputes, Says No Authority Is Above the Law
President John Dramani Mahama has firmly dismissed claims by individuals who justify land acquisition and siting decisions by saying they were “directed from above,” insisting that no such authority exists outside due process and local decision-making.
Speaking during the launch of the Upper West Shea Park Resource Hub in Wa, President Mahama cautioned against the misuse of his name or the presidency to dispossess communities of their land.
“I hear some people say, ‘oh, directly from above,’ and they like doing this ‘from above, from above, from above,’” the President said. “I don’t know who is above there. Somebody goes and wants to take somebody’s land, and they say it’s directed from above. There’s no above anywhere.”
President Mahama was addressing concerns surrounding the siting of public projects, particularly the proposed 24-hour markets across the country, and emphasized that such decisions must be taken transparently and in consultation with local authorities and communities.
He clarified that government policy does not authorize the arbitrary takeover of land, stressing that communities retain the right to determine what best serves their interests.
“The market is yours. You have to decide where you want to site it,” he stated, adding that projects must be located where they deliver the greatest benefit to the people.
The President urged traditional authorities, local government officials, and stakeholders to work together to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than misinformation or intimidation.
President Mahama’s remarks were widely interpreted as a strong warning against abuse of political power and an affirmation of community rights, accountability, and respect for the rule of law in Ghana’s development process.
