John Mahama
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has responded to allegations raised by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, regarding purported state capture involving sale of public lands.
A statement signed by the sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, viewed these allegations seriously, and clarified the facts surrounding several key parcels of land cited in the claims.
Clarifications
The statement explained that with regard to Parks and Gardens Land at Cantonments, following a series of administrative allocations and approvals starting from 2012, the lease for two acres of the land was granted to Wontirim Company Limited in 2016. The statement stressed that this transaction predated the current administration, thus refuting claims of recent impropriety.
The statement mentioned that the Judicial Service Land, located on 5th Circular Road, Cantonments, was allocated to the Judicial Service in 1920.
It disclosed that subsequent to a 2015 approval, a fifty-year lease was granted to Frimps Oil Company Ltd. The statement further clarified that this lease was executed in 2015, not under the current administration, and was subsequently reinstated following legal proceedings initiated by Frimps Oil.
According to the statement, the Prisons Service Land at Roman Ridge, originally part of land acquired in 1946 for the University College of Gold Coast, portions were allocated to the Prisons Service. It indicated that a lease over a section of this land was granted to Prof. Appiah-Adu in 2005, with ongoing disputes settled through legal action concluded in 2023.
Transactions
The statement confirmed that this transaction also occurred prior to the current administration.
The statement also cited the Parks and Gardens Land at Wa, noting that the land, vested in the President since 1973 and allocated to Parks and Gardens, was leased to Seidu Mohammed Kiram in 2020 for a fuel filling station, following due process, including rezoning, by the Wa Municipal Assembly.
The statement explained that the Du Bois Centre, established in 1897 for government purposes, currently occupies its land without any pending applications for transfer to private entities.
The Ministry, therefore, stressed that no sale or lease had occurred under the current administration. It described the allegations of state capture regarding the mentioned lands as “baseless and without merit.”
Transparency
The statement reiterated that all transactions involving public lands were conducted transparently and in accordance with constitutional provisions.
It spelt out that a policy directive issued in 2021 mandates prior approval by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources for all such transactions, ensuring accountability and safeguarding public interests.
The statement assured the public of the Ministry’s commitment to upholding integrity and transparency in land administration.
