The debate over whether politically exposed persons (PEPs) should be allowed to acquire state-owned properties has intensified, following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealing some of its lands have been sold to private individuals and politicians under the last administration.
Recent discussions among public figures have reignited concerns about how politicians and their associates gain access to state resources, often through opaque auctions and sales, with legal and governance experts advocating for stricter regulations.
Kofi Bentil, a legal practitioner and governance expert, has proposed that PEPs should be prohibited from purchasing state properties for at least four years after leaving office.
He argued that such a law is necessary to prevent public officials from using their positions to amass wealth at the expense of the state.
He insisted that politicians and their allies manipulate auctions to acquire government assets at unfairly low prices, a practice that undermines public trust and national development.
“In fact, I have an addition to that, that anybody who is politically exposed may not, when they are in office or four years thereafter, purchase any state property and cannot participate in an auction because of the gaming”
Kofi Bentil, Legal Practitioner and Governance Expert
He emphasized that auctions often favor politically connected individuals, making it crucial to introduce legal barriers against their participation.
Bentil revealed that he has already discussed this proposal and intends to formally engage Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs to incorporate it into a private member’s bill.
He remains firm that no PEP should be allowed to participate in state property auctions.
Addressing concerns about loopholes, he acknowledged the possibility of proxies being used to circumvent the rule but expressed confidence that such challenges could be tackled when the legislation is being crafted.
For him, the core issue is the culture of politicians entering office with the intent of accumulating wealth, which he warns could have devastating consequences for national stability.
“We are creating a situation where people get into politics just to amass wealth and create capital. And it is bad for our country because in other places, it has led to civil wars. We should stop it somewhere”
Kofi Bentil, Legal Practitioner and Governance Expert
A Permanent Ban
However, Hon. Thomas Winsum Anabah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Garu, believes that even a four-year restriction is insufficient.
He argued that once a person is politically exposed, they should remain so permanently, effectively barring them from acquiring state properties for life.
He maintained that political influence does not diminish over time and that individuals who once held power retain their networks and influence long after leaving office.
“Even the politically exposed person should continue to be politically exposed till he dies. It shouldn’t be four years. Why? Once you are politically exposed today…
Tell me, are those who worked under Kufuor still not politically exposed? How many years now have they left office? They are still politically exposed”
Hon. Thomas Winsum Anabah, Member of Parliament for Garu
For Anabah, public service should be about genuine national development rather than personal gain.
He believes that individuals seeking wealth should turn to the private sector instead of leveraging state power for personal benefit.
He insisted that politics is about service and that leaders must be prepared to work voluntarily without expecting opportunities to acquire state resources.
Reversing the Sale of MFA Lands
Beyond future acquisitions, concerns have also been raised about past transactions involving state assets.
Dr. Abdul-Kabiru Tiah Mahama, the MP for Walewale, has questioned the selective approach in the recent reversal of sales involving Foreign Affairs Ministry lands.
While he supports the move, he believes that the scope of the order must be clarified to ensure fairness and consistency.
“This order is very good, but the problem that I have with the order is, what is the scope of that order?”
He pointed out that if only specific land sales are being reversed, it could create the impression of political bias.
Instead, he argued that the government should undertake a comprehensive review of all Foreign Affairs Ministry land sales, not just those that occurred under a particular regime.
“If you want to carry the good people of Ghana along, you have to take a definite principle that we are going into the review of the sales of land belonging to the Foreign Ministry. We are reviewing every single allocation and then revoking them if need be”
Dr. Abdul-Kabiru Tiah Mahama, MP for Walewale
Broader Implications
The issue of politically exposed persons acquiring state properties is a reflection of the broader governance challenges facing Ghana.
The concerns raised highlight the urgent need for institutional reforms to prevent the abuse of public office for personal gain.
Proponents of the ban argue that without clear legal restrictions, public officials will continue to exploit state resources, deepening inequality and eroding public trust in governance.
While some argue for a temporary ban, others believe that permanent restrictions are necessary to maintain integrity in public office.
Additionally, the call for a transparent and consistent approach to reversing questionable state property transactions suggests that reforms must be comprehensive rather than selective.
READ MORE: Ghana Needs Economic Shock Absorbers, Not IMF Interventions- Prof. Gatsi
