It has now emerged that the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by then President John Dramani Mahama sold many public lands to individuals and groups.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had alleged that the current government had sold a number of public lands to its cronies, which he described as evidence of “state capture.”
However, in a statement issued yesterday responding to the allegations, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor said all the lands mentioned by Ablakwa were sold under President Mahama.
These include the Parks and Gardens in Accra and Wa, as well as Judicial Service land at Cantonments in Accra among others.
The statement also indicated that ‘The Du Bois Centre’ land has not been sold by the current government contrary to allegations by Okudzeto Ablakwa that it has been given to a private developer.
Parks & Gardens Land
For example, the statement revealed that on 16th August, 2012, the then Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, on behalf of the then Minister, wrote to the then Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission, requesting to sell two acres of this land to enable it raise funding to resource the Department of Parks and Gardens.
The letter stated that the Department was “in dire need of office infrastructure and other working tools’ and the agency wishes to sell two (2) acres of land it is currently occupying at Cantonments … to enable it raise the needed funding to resource itself”.
It further indicated the support of the Ministry of Local Government, noting that “the Ministry has received a number of interests in the land over the years,” and that “proceeds from the sale shall be used to provide Parks and Gardens with a new office, staff bus, some tractors, water tankers and the needed hand tools it is currently in dire need of, to restructure and reposition itself as a viable government agency.”
The statement noted that through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement, dated 23rd July, 2012 between the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development, and Akumbami & Associates, the land was released to the private developer.
“By a letter dated 22nd April, 2013, Akumbami & Associates wrote to the Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer, indicating that Wontirim Company Limited is a subsidiary of Akumbami & Associates, and that the grant of the lands in question should be made to Wontirim Company Limited,” the Lands Minister’s statement explained.
Pursuant to all the paper work and by a lease dated 29th November, 2016, Government granted two acres of the land occupied by Parks and Gardens at Cantonment to Wontirim Company Limited, a subsidiary of Akumbami & Associates, for a term of fifty (50) years.
“The parcel of land, the subject matter of the Hon. MP’s (Ablakwa’s) allegation, was therefore, sold in the year 2016, and certainly not under the current administration,” the statement stressed.
Judicial Service Land
The statement explained that the land around 5th Circular Road, Cantonments and occupied by the Judicial Service, is a public land acquired by the State in 1920 by a Certificate of Title, dated 7th June, 1920 for Government services.
The land, with bungalows thereon, was subsequently allocated to the Judicial Service by the Ministry of Works and Housing.
However, by a letter dated 4th August 2014, Frimps Oil Company Ltd applied for the grant of portions of the land in extent of 0.90 acre situate at Cantonments for a residential building.
The statement pointed out that at the time of the application, the land had bungalows on it occupied by Justices of the Superior Courts.
“The Ministry of Works and Housing, in support of the application stated that the land has been earmarked for redevelopment and may be granted, subject to the payment of the cost of the replacement of the bungalows.
“The Lands Commission, on 8th May, 2015, requested for Ministerial approval to grant the land to Frimps Oil Company Ltd. This was in conformity with an earlier Ministerial Directive that mandated the Commission to seek the written approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources before granting any public land.
“By a letter dated 2nd June, 2015, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Nii Osah Mills, granted approval for the land in question to be granted to Frimps Oil Company Ltd.
“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 statement further disclosed.
Prisons Service Land at Roman Ridge
According to the statement, the land located at Roman Ridge, and occupied by the Prisons Service, forms part of a parcel of land acquired in 1946, by Certificate of Title dated 20th December, 1946 for the University College of Gold Coast, now University of Ghana.
By a Certificate of Allocation dated 28th June, 1950, that portion of the land was allocated to the Director of Prisons.
The statement noted that since the 1960s, portions of the land have been carved out for residential and other purposes.
“Government granted a lease over portions of the land, to one Prof Appiah-Adu in the year 2005. “However, 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.
“Prof Appiah-Adu commenced an action in the High Court against the Prisons Service in Suit No. LD/0706/2021, for recovery of possession for which he obtained judgment on 31st March, 2023.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the lease and/ or sale of the land at Roman Ridge, allocated to the Prison Service, the subject matter of the Member of Parliament’s allegation, was made in the year 2005, and certainly not under the current administration,” excerpts of the statement noted.
