Lands Minister Denies Ablakwa’s State Capture Claims

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has challenged the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over claims that unprecedented relinquishment of state lands has characterized reign of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In an 11-page press statement, Hon Jinapor tackled six of such lands alleged to have been relinquished to private individuals.

Of the six, he noted that only one was leased out by the current regime with the rest issued under previous governments including John Dramani Mahama administration and John Agyekum Kufuor era.

One other, he denied being sold out or leased.

THE PARKS AND GARDENS LAND AT CANTONMENTS
The statement said processes to grant two (2) acres of land occupied by Parks and Gardens at Cantonment to Wontirim Company Limited, a subsidiary of Akumbami & Associates, for a term of fifty (50) years started in 2012 under Mahama administration and was completed in 2016.

“Wontirim Company Limited, having obtained the above lease, assigned a portion of its interest to Dani Ike Real Estate Developers Company Limited.”

THE JUDICIAL SERVICE LAND
With respect to the land around 5 Circular Road, Cantonments and occupied by the workers of Judicial Service, the Ministry said a company by the name Frimps Oil Company Ltd in August 2014, applied for the grant of portions of the land in extent of 0.90 acre situate at Cantonments for a residential building which was granted by the Minister for Lands at the time, Hon. Nii Osah Mills.

“By a letter dated 3rd June, 2015, the Lands Commission made an offer of the land, measuring approximately 1.39 acres, which includes the 0.90 acres occupied by the Judicial Service to Frimps Oil.

“Frimps Oil, by a letter dated 6th June, 2015 accepted the offer, and on 13th July, 2015, a lease was executed over the land in favour of Frimps Oil Co. Ltd for a term of fifty (50) years. The parcel of land, the subject matter of the Hon. MP’s allegation, was therefore, sold in the year 2015, and certainly not under the current administration.”

PARKS AND GARDENS LAND AT WA
For the land located at Dobile/Kamballpaani Residential Area in the Wa Municipality, the Ministry noted that one Seidu Mohammed Kiram applied for a portion of the land, measuring approximately 0.44 acres, in July, 2019.

It said an application to rezone the area for commercial purposes was forwarded by the Lands Commission to the Wa Municipal Assembly following this.

“On 27% January, 2020, the Lands Commission made an offer to Seidu Mohammed Kiram, which offer was accepted, leading to the execution of a lease dated 1st July, 2020 in favour of Seidu Mohammed Kiram for a term of fifty (50) years.”

The applicant decided to use the land for a filling station.

PRISONS SERVICE LAND AT ROMAN RIDGE
With this land in question, Hon Jinapor said the Kufuor government granted the lease for portions of the land, to one Prof Appiah-Adu in the year 2005.

However, it said, the Prison Service prevented the Lessee from taking possession of the property, leading to a protracted dispute between Prof. Appiah-Adu and the Prison Service with the latter dragging the former to court.

THE DU BOIS CENTRE
On this, he denied selling or leasing it out to anyone.

“For the avoidance doubt the land occupied by the Du Bois Centre, the subject-matter of the Member of Parliament’s allegations, has neither been sold nor leased to any private entity.”

Reaction
Ablakwa has since reacted to the response of the Minister holding on to the entrenched position.

In a post on Facebook, he questioned the Minister’s selectiveness on the issue and question his decision to keep mute on other lands in question.

These lands he said included the Bulgarian Embassy located in East Cantonments, residential properties belonging to the Nigerian High Commission, Labadi Beach Hotel’s beachfront, attempted sale of 62.14 acres of prime land belonging to the Ghana Airports Company Limited to Heaven Builders Limited and portions of Ghana Prisons Service barracks land located near the Danquah Circle roundabout at Osu.

Meanwhile, he contested the assertion that the W. E. B. Dubois Centre was intact.

“Unimpeachable parliamentary oversight led to the discovery of a 50-year agreement with the title: Agreement Between Government of Ghana Represented by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and The W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, Ghana for the Finance, Management and Transfer of the W. E. B. Du Bois Centre.

“The 46-page transfer agreement was signed on the 22nd of September, 2023 by Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney General and Minister for Justice— they both signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana.”

On the Parks and Gradens, he said conflicting accounts are being given by the Lands Minister and Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah on the land.

Source:opemsuo.com