The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has categorically denied accusations that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration is selling state lands to close associates.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, August 14, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, expressed surprise at these allegations, describing them as unfounded.
He specifically addressed concerns about certain properties, including a parcel of land at Cantonments and the W.E.B. DuBois Centre, stating that these lands were not sold under the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Mr. Jinapor also pointed out the irony of individuals who were involved in the sale of state lands now accusing President Akufo-Addo of state capture, given the facts at hand.
“There are allegations that this government has sold some bungalows belonging to the Judiciary Service at Cantonment to a private developer. These bungalows in question were sold as far back as July 13, 2015, to a company named Frimps Oil Company Limited following an approval granted by the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, on June 2, 2015.
“Is it therefore not surprising that the very people who supervised the sale of this property to Frimps Oil Company Limited will turn around and accuse the Akufo-Addo government of state capture.
“For the W.E.B. DuBois Centre, as we have explained in our press release of July 16, 2024, the Lands Commission, the manager of Public Lands and Repository of Records of Lands Transactions has no pending application for the transfer of this land and for the avoidance of doubt, the land in question as we speak, remains in the name of the Dubois Centre.”
“The above examples clearly show that allegations of state capture and the narrative that this government is indiscriminately selling public lands are palpably false without merit and obviously actuated by political considerations given the heated political season we find ourselves.