North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed disappointment in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to address the state capture of lands by some of his appointees.
Mr. Ablakwa argues that, according to land laws, the President is entrusted with the protection of these lands on behalf of the people and should act to safeguard them at all times.
“I am totally disappointed in the president because he should be accounting for the lands, he is just holding in the trust of the people.
“President Akufo-Addo, why do you sit back while we lose all the lands unless you are complicit., he said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, August 3.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has further accused the Lands Commission of complicity in the sale of state lands.
He claimed that certain unpatriotic members of the Commission are providing evidence against the state in a legal dispute between the Ghana Prison Service and a private developer over the Borstal homelands.
According to Ablakwa, instead of supporting the Ghana Prison Service, the Commission has sided with the private developer, asserting, “Clearly, the Lands Commission is complicit.”
These remarks come despite the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources denying allegations that the current government is selling state lands to cronies.
The Ministry has labeled Ablakwa’s claims as entirely false and urged the public to disregard them.
Ablakwa has been vocal about the sale of various state properties, including those of the Parks and Gardens, the Ghana Prisons Service, and even lands housing judges, which he claims have been sold, forcing the judges to vacate their premises.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, July 16, and signed by Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources asserted that the Akufo-Addo-led government has not sold any state lands.
The statement clarified that the lands currently under public scrutiny were sold during the previous John Mahama administration, of which Mr. Ablakwa was a member.
The Ministry urged Ghanaians to dismiss Mr. Ablakwa’s allegations 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.
