Staff of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, have threatened to lay down their tools if the Governing Council of the institute fails to demolish and reclaim encroached lands belonging to the institute.
According to the workers, acres of lands belonging to the institute have been encroached, and some leased under questionable circumstances.
[contextly_sidebar id=”6JQNa6BTsa1A8XmSLcFI5bJ5TZjDRMnO”]The workers, numbering over 200 today petitioned the Governing Council over their concerns.
Addressing the media the national chairman of the CSIR Local Union John Baffoe stated that some of the encroached lands were located at Airport in Accra, Pokuase, Amasaman, and Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region.
“Workers are aware that several acres of land belonging to the CSIR-ARI have been encroached upon and even though the CSIR have secured a court demolishing order, it is becoming difficult to secure protection from the security agencies to execute the demolishing exercise. There has been massive encroachment on the CSIR-ARI at Kwadaso by private developers,” he said.
He warned that workers of the Council would take drastic measures if lands belonging to the Council are not reclaimed.
“We wish to indicate to Council that much as we depend on their approval on matters regarding the running of the CSIR, we would not hesitate to take drastic measures to ensure that encroachers on CSIR lands are turned away and CSIR properties protected to ensure effective research development and technological programs in promoting science and technology in Ghana which is our foremost priority,” he said.
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By: Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com/Ghana