The Member of Parliament of North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has once again shut down the claims by Land and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor that all state lands are intact.
The Lands Minister at address the press on August 14, 2024 dismissed the allegations and misinformation of state capture citing the MP’s allegations of the sales of state lands.
Mr. Jinapor reiterated his belief that the government has been very meticulous and diligent in protecting public lands and preventing them from being grabbed by undeserving persons and institutions.
He said the government has also been on a journey to recover state lands which have been encroached upon and made major gains in the recovery effort.
“Indeed, the evidence shows that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government has been meticulous in protecting public lands in the public interest.” – he said
On 17th August 2021, with the approval of the President of the Republic, a policy directive was issued to the Lands Commission, pursuant to Article 258(2) of the national Constitution to “refer all transactions relating to the grant of any interest in public land to [the office of the Minister for or prior approval.”
He disclosed that most of the agreements predate Akufo-Addo-led government.
However, Mr. Ablakwa believes otherwise going further to accuse President Akufo Addo of selling some state lands.
According to the MP whiles Ghana was plug with the Covid 19 pandemic, President Akufo-Addo was busily selling lands.
Backing his claims, Mr. Ablakwa share official search report on some land and he alleged:
The search results did not align with assurances that public lands are “safe, intact and secure” — they rather show the following sales:
1) On 3rd September, 2019 — President Akufo-Addo sold portions to Mask Business Consult;
2) On 29th June, 2020 — President Akufo-Addo sold portions to Fulmen Limited;
3) On 1st October, 2020 — President Akufo-Addo sold portions to Amantra Limited. (Amantra subsequently resold portions to B5 Plus Limited and Devnik Ghana Limited on 5th November, 2020; and then sold remaining portions to Unique Development Company Limited on 27th November, 2020).
Read the full post of Mr. Ablakwa as he share on his facebook page:
As the Lands Minister under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government puts out deceptive and dishonest assurances that public lands vested under their care on the people’s behalf are “safe, intact and secure” more and more incontrovertible documents continue to expose government’s duplicity.
Fresh intercepted documents from the Lands Commission confirm that contrary to Minister Abu Jinapor’s assurances two days ago, President Akufo-Addo has been extremely busy selling public lands.
The intercepted documents in my possession are official search certificates on North La lands from the Lands Commission dated 14th August, 2023, addressed to the La Stool and signed by Gordon Ashirifie, Assistant Land Administration Officer. This followed the La Stool’s application on August 7, 2023 seeking to know the status of state lands acquired by government from the La Stool on March 11, 1943.
The search results did not align with assurances that public lands are “safe, intact and secure” — they rather show the following sales:
1) On 3rd September, 2019 — President Akufo-Addo sold portions to Mask Business Consult;
2) On 29th June, 2020 — President Akufo-Addo sold portions to Fulmen Limited;
3) On 1st October, 2020 — President Akufo-Addo sold portions to Amantra Limited. (Amantra subsequently resold portions to B5 Plus Limited and Devnik Ghana Limited on 5th November, 2020; and then sold remaining portions to Unique Development Company Limited on 27th November, 2020).
It’s quite intriguing to discover that not even the profound enormity of COVID-19 in 2020 could compel President Akufo-Addo to suspend his insatiable appetite for selling public lands.
It would be quite interesting to know how much these lands were sold for considering that some buyers appear to be highly connected middlemen who immediately resold the lands to well-established companies with fat turnovers such as B5 Plus and Unique Development. SOA Oversight is still digging.
One also wonders why these sales are done in utmost secrecy and thick darkness without any form of transparency and approval from the people who are the real owners of these state lands.
This latest State Capture exposé, together with all the others, should explain why the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has refused to publish the full list of state lands sold and those remaining, if any, as demanded by the NDC Caucus in Parliament more than two years ago.
I am, however, consoled by incoming President Mahama’s pledge to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and repossess looted state lands.
They can run but they can’t hide.
State Capture shall surely be defeated!
For God and Country.
Ghana First
