Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has alleged that the government is to compensate the Bulgarian government with an amount of GH₵5,383,000 for the demolition of its embassy in 2017.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the compensation figure was determined last year by the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission.
However, he, noted that this amount is likely to increase significantly due to the depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 17, Mr Ablakwa accused the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, of concealing this information.
“Intercepted documents, which are duly attached, reveal that the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission has determined that the Bulgarian government be compensated with a colossal amount of GHS 5,383,000.00,” he stated.
The lawmaker highlighted the broader implications of the issue, pointing out that state capture not only leads to international embarrassment and potential conflict but also results in massive financial loss.
“Imagine how many national challenges we can solve with GH₵ 5.3 million,” he remarked.
Due to the Bulgarian government’s dwindling patience, Mr Ablakwa warned that the Ghanaian government might soon be forced to pay the compensation from taxpayer funds.
This urgency arises because the demolition mastermind, identified by a Sole Inquirer as Albert Jojo Hagan, remains at large.
Mr Hagan is alleged to have sold the land to Dr Yaw Adu Ampomah, a government appointee at the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
This latest revelation comes after Mr Ablakwa responded to a statement from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources refuting his allegations of state capture under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 16, the Ministry denied Mr Ablakwa’s claims that the current government is unfairly selling state lands to its allies.
It asserted that such accusations were unfounded and urged the Ghanaian public to disregard them, attributing any controversial land sales to the previous administration of John Mahama.
However, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 17, Ablakwa reiterated his stance, criticising Mr Abu Jinapor’s statement for overlooking what he perceives as clear instances of state capture.
He emphasised that he has consistently raised these concerns both inside and outside of Parliament.
In 2017, the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra, was demolished under unclear and controversial circumstances, leading to a diplomatic dispute between Ghana and Bulgaria.
The Ghanaian government has claimed that the person responsible for the demolition, identified as Albert Jojo Hagan, is on the run and cannot be located.
This individual allegedly sold the land to Dr Yaw Adu Ampomah, a government appointee, who also claims he cannot find Hagan.
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