The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has denied the allegations that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia led government sells state’s lands to cronies.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, August 14, the minister expressed surprise at the allegations and claims labelled against his ministry, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
He clarified that, some of the disputed properties, such as the parcel of land at Cantonment and the W.E.B. DuBois Centre were lands that were not sold under the current NPP administration.
According to him, it is surprising and contradictory that individuals who previously sold state lands are now turning around and levelling accusations of state capture against President Akufo-Addo, in light of the information given.
“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.”
Mr. Jinapor emphasized that, “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.”
He said “The Akufo-Addo has been meticulous in protecting public lands in the public interest.”
