Bright Simons of IMANI Africa has disputed Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo’s, Minister-Designate for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, claim during vetting that the Lands Commission grants land to committee members as a token of appreciation.

Simons clarified that the Lands Commission in Ghana does not own land but merely administers public land grants and rights on behalf of the President.

He stressed that any such allocation of land as a gesture of appreciation would raise serious legal and ethical concerns, as the Commission is responsible for managing state lands in the public interest, not distributing them as tokens of gratitude.

“The President himself only manages public lands as a TRUSTEE for the people. So, explain to me how the Lands Commission is able to ‘salute’ members of Parliamentary committees by awarding unsolicited land grants to them.
Bright Simons

According to him, unless the Lands Commission is acting under the explicit policy directives of the President, any allocation of public land to parliamentary leaders without due process is unlawful.

Simons emphasized that the Commission does not have independent authority to distribute state land at its discretion, and any such action, if not backed by a formal presidential policy, constitutes an illegitimate practice.

He highlighted the importance of upholding legal and procedural standards in managing public lands to prevent potential abuse and ensure transparency in land administration.

Bright Simons further elaborated that unless the President has instituted a formal policy permitting specific parliamentary leaders to be granted leasehold interests in state or public land without any prior application, such a practice lacks any legal foundation.

He stressed that the Lands Commission’s role is strictly to administer public land on behalf of the President and not to independently allocate land to individuals based solely on their positions as committee leaders.

Simons underscored that any such arrangement, if it exists, must be backed by a clear legal framework and policy directive to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of state lands.

Concerns Raised Over Ethical and Legal Implications of Public Land Allocations

Furthermore, Bright Simons asserted that if the Lands Commission has indeed been allocating public lands to parliamentary leaders based on explicit policy instructions from the President, such a practice is highly unethical and morally indefensible.

He argued that using state resources as a form of reward or gesture of appreciation for committee members raises serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and good governance.

Simons stressed that public lands are meant to serve the collective interest of all citizens, not to be distributed as favors to a select group of individuals.

He called for greater accountability in land administration to prevent any actions that could undermine public trust in state institutions.

“We thank the incoming Labour Minister for his candor. We have enough info to start digging into the faceless folks at that Commission running this sorry racket”.
Bright Simons

Meanwhile, Dr. Cadman Atta Mills, an economist, also expressed strong disbelief at the Minister-Designate’s assertion, describing it as astonishing and highly questionable.

He emphasized the absurdity of the claim, highlighting that such a practice, if true, raises serious concerns about governance, transparency, and the management of public resources.

“And you wonder why Ghana’s “best and brightest” flocks to politics or seeks ‘appointments’ and not entrepreneurship or productive employment?”
Dr. Cadman Atta Mills

Dr. Mills also questioned the basis upon which the Lands Commission would distribute state lands as a token of appreciation.

The Economist stressed that public lands should be allocated based on clear policies that serve national interests, rather than as informal rewards to individuals in positions of influence.

He urged for greater scrutiny and accountability in the management of public lands to prevent potential abuses of power and to ensure that the country’s resources are rightfully used.