Lands Commission and Minister Complicit in State Land Grab – Minority
The Minority in Parliament has revealed damning evidence of the Lands Commission’s involvement in the widespread grabbing of state lands by President Akufo-Addo, his ministers, and their associates in the private sector.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, announced at a press briefing on Wednesday, August 14, that the government is working on compiling and publishing the list of public lands to promote transparency and accountability in managing national assets.
But at a media briefing in parliament on Thursday, August 15, 2024, the Chairman of Government Assurance Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, alongside with the Ranking member of Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu, provided documents that they claim expose the complicity of the Lands Commission, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in facilitating these illegal land transactions.
The Minority alleges that the Ministry and the Lands Commission have failed in their constitutional duties to manage and protect public lands, citing the lack of transparency and accountability.
They criticized Minister Jinapor’s recent press conference as an attempt to obscure the truth, noting that the claims he made were largely responses to issues first raised by Okudzeto Ablakwa in the media.
Ablakwa stressed the importance of proactive action, stating, “The reckless land grab happening across the country is evident, and we are here to provide the documents that confirm this.”
The Minority condemned the government’s inability to produce a comprehensive list of public lands, despite repeated requests over the past two years. According to them, public lands belong to the citizens of Ghana, as stipulated under Article 257 of the Constitution, which mandates the President to hold these lands in trust for the people.
Ablakwa emphasized that it is the right of Ghanaians to know the status of these lands, especially regarding sales, the transparency of the transactions, and the amount of public land remaining. He noted that the government’s continued refusal to disclose this information raises suspicions of deliberate concealment.
“This government’s refusal to disclose the status of public lands and the full list is a grave matter. The Lands Commission has not only derelict its constitutional mandate but is clearly complicit in this scheme,” Ablakwa stated.
He referenced the Justice Kwasi Ofori-Atta Commission’s inquiry into the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy, which revealed alarming details about the sale of public lands as private property.
Per the report, government lands are frequently registered as private properties, with certificates issued without following due process. Ablakwa expressed concerns that this mismanagement of land is leading to the loss of both the lands and their proceeds, with unscrupulous individuals pocketing funds that should benefit the public.
The Minority reiterated their demand for the government to publish a full list of public lands and assets by the end of the year, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability. They also called for the establishment of a State Asset Registry to prevent further exploitation of state resources.
Ablakwa criticized the recent directive from the President instructing that no public lands should be sold without his knowledge, describing it as an admission that illegal land sales have been taking place.
He noted that the directive offers no real solution, especially given that the government has already claimed not to have a comprehensive list of public lands.
In view of that, the Minority is pushing for legislation through a private members’ bill to prohibit politically exposed persons from purchasing state assets. The proposed bill also calls for the creation of a State Asset Registry to keep accurate records of all public properties, including lands and government bungalows, which the Minority claims the government currently lacks.
“We cannot continue to allow this grand conspiracy to operate in darkness. The land grab and state capture must end,” Ablakwa added, before turning to specific instances of land issues across the country.
The Minority highlighted the urgent need for greater scrutiny and action in the management of public lands, stressing that transparency is key to preventing the continued exploitation of national resources.
For more news stories and articles, contact EXPRESSNEWSGHANA via email at expressnewsgh@gmail.com or WhatsApp at +233 0543 900 732.
Source: Felix Nyaaba // expressnewsghana.com
About Author
