A Professor at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo has told the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama that he should extend his plan to audit the sale of state lands to what happened since 1992 if he wins the elections to be president.
To him, most political elites are guilty of the issue of the sale and acquisition of state lands.
Mr Mahama had promised his administration would probe and reclaim all state lands that have been taken by officials of the Akufo-Addo government.
He accused the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government of supervising the “unprecedented disposing” of state lands and properties.
Additionally, the leader of the NDC maintained that such actions cannot continue unchecked, stressing his determination to ensure these lands are reclaimed for the state.
In a post on X on Thursday, June 20, the former President bemoaned the rate at which state assets were being disposed to party cronies, vowing full-scale investigations in a bid to reclaim these assets for the state.
The Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government is disposing off state lands and properties at an unprecedented rate. When elected, my administration will prioritise the investigation and re-possession of these lands.
— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 20, 2024
“The Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government is disposing off state lands and properties at an unprecedented rate. When elected, my administration will prioritise the investigation and re-possession of these lands,” Mr Mahama wrote.
But Prof Gyampo told him to expand the investigation.
“I understand that former President Maham wants to investigate the sale of state lands, let it start from 1992 and those who let there be a reversal of such acquisition,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, August 17
He further said the political elites hide behind people who front for them and turn around to sell the properties to themselves.
Professor Gyampo however expressed disappointment over the sale of the lands because he believes that state lands should belong to the state and be used for the purposes that they were designated for.
“All the political elites are guilty of acquisition of state lands, just that there was no Okudzeto Ablakwa to be interested in it,” he said.
He added “I am disappointed the manner I which about the way and manner we are selling, if you have to sell then open to everybody. I believe that the land belongs to the state must belong to the state.”
For his part, North Tongu lawmaker, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, told the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor that the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) governments cannot share in the state capture of resources.
Ablakwa says that the NDC rejects completely the attempt by the Minister to align them with the state capture practices.
He further states that there is a need to be concerned about the loss of state lands even if it started happening during the Rawlings regime.
He was reacting to the Lands Minister who had refuted claims that lands belonging to the judicial service were sold under the Akufo-Addo. Jinapor said that the available facts and data at the Lands Commission pointed out that the lands were sold under the Mahama administration in 2026.
The Minister was reacting to Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa who alleged earlier that lands belonging to key state institutions were sold by the current Akufo-Addo administration amid allegations of state capture.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, August 14, Abu Jinapor said “The allegation was that the judicial service land was sold under this Akufo-Addo government and that is evidence of state capture but when these allegations are made my attitude is very simple, to put together the record, and assemble the facts before we make any decision.
“When the facts were assembled it turned out that the lands were not sold by under President Akufo-Addo. On the contrary, the land was sold under President Mahama in 2026.
Asked whether the government will take the initiative to retrieve the lands, he said
“If they were not granted properly and we think that the grant is fraught with with fraud or impropriety, why not, we will take steps to retrieve them. Always remember that when it comes to land acquisition, when you have a lease or contract and it is governed by law it is not that straightforward to cancel a lease or withdraw a lease but if there is a need for it we will take those steps.
Reacting to him on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, August 17, Ablakwa said “The Minister was disingenuous, dishonest, and sort to create the impression that everything we are talking about happened when NDC was in power.
“Even if we started losing the lands 20 years ago, whether under Rawlings or Kufuor, is the minister saying we shouldn’t be concerned? Let us have a patriotic attitude towards national issues, let’s think about the future of our country.”
He added “we disagree with this attempt to equalize and to align the NDC with the state capture.”
Source: 3news.com
