North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has named the Lands Commission as complicit in the sale of government lands to the private individuals.
According to the lawmaker, some persons at the Lands Commission are giving evidence against the state in the matter between the Lands Commission and a private developer over the Borstal Home lands.
The MP says those persons, instead of standing in for the state have rather chosen to support the private developers who are looting the state lands.
“Clearly the Lands Commission is complicit,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, August 3, 2024.
Mr. Ablakwa’s comments come despite the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry refuting claims of the government selling state lands to its apparatchiks.
It wants the public to disregard the allegations and deemed it false.
The North Tongu MP has recently been vocal about the sale of state lands, including properties belonging to the Parks and Gardens, the Ghana Prisons Service, and others.
He also claimed that lands currently housing judges have been sold, forcing the judges to vacate their premises within a specified period.
In a press statement issued Tuesday, July 16, 2024, and signed by the sector Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Ministry asserted that the Akufo-Addo-led government has not sold any state lands.
The statement further clarified that any government lands currently under public scrutiny were sold during the previous administration of John Mahama, of which Mr. Ablakwa was a member.
The Ministry urged Ghanaians to disregard Mr. Ablakwa’s allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
“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.”
“From the foregoing, it is clear that the lands, the subject matter of the Member of Parliament’s allegations, were not sold and/or leased under the current administration, and the allegations of state capture are, therefore, false,” an excerpt of the statement said.
The statement added that President Akufo-Addo is committed to efficient and effective land administration, anchored on the highest standards of integrity.
“President Akufo-Addo is committed to an efficient and effective land administration that is anchored on the highest standards of integrity, transparency and candour, in the public interest. “
“The Ministry will, therefore, continue to work with all stakeholders to deliver an effective, transparent, responsive and orderly land administration which is above board and steeped in integrity,” the statement concluded.
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