The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has responded to a statement from the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, which he perceives as a desperate attempt to refute compelling evidence of state capture under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources had in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 16, denied allegations by Ablakwa that the current government is unfairly selling state lands to its allies.

The Ministry categorically stated that these accusations are baseless and should be disregarded by the Ghanaian public.

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.

Read also: Lands Ministry denies Ablakwa’s claims, asserts alleged sold state lands were done under Mahama

But in a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 17, Ablakwa reiterated his position, noting that Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor's recent statement ignored instances of clear state capture that he has consistently criticized both inside and outside of Parliament.

He said the Minister was " disingenuously selective" in his response to the various cases he's put forth despite the "incontrovertible overwhelming evidence he has put out.

He went on to chronologically explain each of the allegations he has made so far.

Parks and Gardens Land in Wa

Mr. Ablakwa stated that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has validated his expose on the sale of park and garden land in Wa.

He criticized the minister's attempt to justify the sale with dubious rezoning claims, asserting that such reasoning would not be accepted.

“I commend the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah, who clearly disagrees with the Lands and Natural Resources Minister by his assurance to Parliament on July 4, 2024, when he responded to my urgent questions that he will take active steps to reclaim the land and demolish the illegal fuel station constructed on the Wa Parks and Gardens land.”.

Parks and Gardens Land in Cantonments

Mr. Ablakwa mentioned that the Lands and Natural Resources Minister alleges that the disputed land was sold during the NDC administration.

He pointed out that during a parliamentary session on July 4, 2024, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development stated clearly and without ambiguity that according to ministry records, the Parks and Gardens land in Cantonments remains under their ownership, with no part of it having been sold.

“The Local Government Minister added in Parliament that Dani Ike has not been able to produce a valid title to the land.

Indeed, the Local Government Minister promised Parliament that he would take steps to remove the containers of the private developer, Dani Ike Real Estate Developers, from the Parks and Gardens land; the Minister has since done exactly that, clearly keeping his promise to Parliament.

I issued a statement commending the local government minister after my tour of the parks and gardens confirmed that the minister had removed the containers.

It seems to me that there are two extremely different versions from two Ministers of State on the same piece of land. It is obviously impossible for both ministers to be right.”

Mr. Ablakwa noted that, notably, the Lands Minister's account conveniently overlooks the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government's 2021 initiative to erect a 5-story office building for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development on the same Parks and Gardens land.

The Tongu North MP pointed out that this decision faced strong opposition from environmentalists and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUPSA), as indicated in a letter dated July 19, 2021, signed by LUPSA Acting Head Kwadwo Yeboah (see attached intercepted letter).

He noted that LUPSA, in the letter, declined to approve the request to amend the certificate of allocation from the Municipal Chief Executive of the La-Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly.

Mr. Ablakwa added that due to the LUPSA letter and significant public outcry in 2021, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government abandoned its plans to construct the office complex for the Local Government Ministry on the Parks and Gardens land in Cantonments.

“So the logical question that arises is: if the land had been sold in 2016, how come it was available in 2021 for the government to contemplate constructing government offices on that same piece of land?”

• E. B. Dubois Centre

 Mr. Ablakwa highlighted that his diligent parliamentary oversight uncovered a 50-year agreement titled "Agreement Between the Government of Ghana Represented by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and the W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, Ghana, for the Finance, Management, and Transfer of the W. E. B. Du Bois Centre."

He stated that the 46-page transfer agreement was signed on September 22, 2023, with Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, signing on behalf of the Government of Ghana.

“I am also attaching a letter from the President’s office showing communication between the President and the privately owned Du Bois Foundation at the receiving end of the 50-year transfer. Significantly, the letter confirms the President’s participation at an upcoming August 27, 2024, sod-cutting ceremony.

Additionally, I am publishing a July 8, 2024, letter signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Arts, and Culture confirming the existence of the 50-year agreement.

I will generously advise the Lands Minister to check with the President and his colleague Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General, and Tourism what the new plan for the Du Bois Center is. They may even be kind to add that David Adjaye has already received his US$2.5 million payment for his redesign of the center.”

Judicial Service Land

Mr. Ablakwa pointed out that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources' own account, particularly paragraphs 25 to 27, is highly informative.

“Paragraph 25: In a letter dated June 27, 2017, the Office of the President directed the Lands Commission to withdraw the lease executed in favour of Frimps Oil Co. Ltd., together with twenty-three (23) other leases.

 “Paragraph 26: Subsequently, on September 22, 2017, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. John Peter Amewu, constituted a committee to investigate issues pertaining to the Accra Redevelopment Scheme.

 “Paragraph 27: Following the submission of the Committee's Report, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, by a letter dated December 28, 2017, directed that the lease granted to Frimps Oil Co. Ltd. in the year 2015, together with seven (7) other leases that had been cancelled pursuant to the directive of the Office of the President, be restored, and the lease was accordingly restored.”

The MP for Tongu North noted that according to the highlighted paragraphs, the Lands Commission, acting on President Akufo-Addo's directive on June 27, 2017, revoked the lease for Frimps Oil and 23 others.

He remarked that strangely, on December 28, 2017, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration reinstated the lease for Frimps Oil and seven others, but not all 23.

Mr. Ablakwa emphasised that while the Lands Minister's efforts to justify these actions may be well-founded, the current government had the authority and opportunity to withhold the reinstatement, especially since they chose not to reinstate all 28 leases but only 8.

He added that it is crucial to note that the demolition of the judges' bungalows occurred under this government.

“It is also under this government that the private developers defied a court injunction of November 28, 2023, and proceeded to demolish the final set of bungalows.”

Ghana Prisons Service Land at Roman Ridge

Mr. Ablakwa expressed his concern over the Lands Minister's description of his colleague in government and a senior advisor to Vice President Bawumia as simply 'one Prof. Appiah-Adu.'

He clarified that he has consistently mentioned that Prof. Appiah-Adu asserts he purchased the Roman Ridge land in 2005 during President Kufuor's administration.

The MP emphasized that the timing of the purchase does not justify the bold attempts to encroach upon land that the Ghana Prisons Service leadership strongly asserts belongs to the service.

“Here too, the Minister for the Interior was in Parliament on July 5, 2024, to respond to my urgent questions, where he confirmed my impeccable oversight findings and assured Parliament that his ministry would support the appeal filed by the Ghana Prisons Service as they do not agree with the claims of Bawumia’s senior advisor.

It is quite disappointing that the lands minister failed to acknowledge in his statement that the Ghana Prisons Service has filed an appeal against the earlier decision in favour of Prof. Appiah-Adu.”

Conclusion

The Tongu North MP pointed out the pervasive impact of state capture in our daily lives.

He mentioned that just yesterday, long-serving distinguished public servants residing in Roman Ridge Flats were informed during a meeting chaired by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing that they must prepare to vacate, as their flats are affected by the extensively misused Accra redevelopment policy.

Mr. Ablakwa said that, regrettably for the Minister of Lands, lengthy press statements emphasizing selective issues, ostentatious displays of patriotism, and efforts at partisan comparisons cannot sway the Ghanaian people when they witness blatant state capture unfolding before them.

“I need not remind the Minister of his colleague who willed parts of our treasured Achimota Forest and Ramsar Site to his nephew forever.

We can assure Minister Abu Jinapor that just as we defeated State Capture and took back our SSNIT hotels a few days ago, so shall we defeat State Capture under his watch and repossess all our looted lands on the day of reckoning?”