The Minority in Parliament has unveiled incriminating evidence implicating President Nana Akufo-Addo, his ministers, and the Lands Commission in illegal state land acquisitions.
At a press conference held on August 15, 2024, in Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairman of the Government Assurance Committee, and Alhassan Suhuyini, Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, presented documents they claim expose the involvement of critical officials in these illicit transactions.
Ablakwa criticized the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, led by Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, for alleged failures in managing and safeguarding public lands.
He accused them of needing more transparency and accountability, asserting that the government has been evasive in providing a comprehensive list of public lands despite repeated requests over the past two years.
“The ongoing land grabbing across the country is evident,” Ablakwa stated. “We are here to present documents that confirm these actions.”
The Minority emphasized that, according to Article 257 of the Ghanaian Constitution, public lands are held in trust for the people by the President, and the current administration’s failure to disclose the status of these lands indicates deliberate obfuscation.
Ablakwa accused the government of intentionally avoiding full disclosure to conceal what he described as extensive land grabs and state capture.
“The government’s failure to provide a comprehensive list of public lands over the past two years is unacceptable,” he said. “This lack of transparency suggests complicity and a deliberate effort to evade accountability.”
Ablakwa also referenced findings from the Justice Kwasi Ofori-Atta Commission’s investigation into the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy, which highlighted instances of public lands being registered as private properties without proper procedures.
He expressed concern that this mismanagement is leading to the loss of both land and financial resources, benefiting unscrupulous individuals at the expense of the public.
The Minority has called for the immediate publication of a complete list of public lands and assets by the end of the year. They also advocate for establishing a State Asset Registry to curb further exploitation of state resources.
“We cannot allow this grand conspiracy to continue in the dark,” Ablakwa declared. “The land grab and state capture must come to an end.”
