The Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has taken decisive steps to stop the sale of Ghana’s properties, including lands in Nigeria.
According to him, the properties in question include Ghana’s Embassy in Nigeria and a piece of land valued at $5.3 million.
He disclosed that the Nigerian property had already been taken over by a buyer who had deposited $1.3 million.
Additionally, a property in Zambia was on the verge of being transferred, but timely intervention by ministry officials prevented the sale.
The minister further revealed that lands near the ministry in Accra, which had been sold to a private developer, have also been reclaimed.
Mr. Ablakwa, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, made these revelations on the floor of Parliament ahead of the approval of GHS1.4 billion for the ministry’s fiscal year.
To prevent similar occurrences in the future, he declared a strict “no-sale” policy on public properties.
Meanwhile, the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, highlighted the absence of Ghanaian embassies in many Latin American countries, which he said negatively impacts the nation’s diplomatic reach.
He also called for an upward review of the ministry’s budget, arguing that the approved amount was insufficient to meet its operational needs.
Mr. Jinapor further urged the government to expedite the process of establishing embassies in Hungary and Mexico.
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