According to Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, is concealing another crucial piece of information from the Ghanaian people regarding the Bulgarian Embassy land.
Hon. Ablakwa pointed out that the Lands Minister failed to disclose the cost of compensation that Bulgaria is seeking from Ghana for the embassy’s destruction in 2017.
“Intercepted documents…reveal that the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission has determined that the Bulgarian Government be compensated with a colossal amount of GH₵ 5, 383,000.00”.
“Insiders tell me that this GHS5.3million figure which was arrived at last year is likely to escalate significantly due to Ghana’s epileptic depreciating currency”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
He added that the Ghanaian Government continues to assert that the person responsible for orchestrating the demolition remains at large and has yet to be apprehended.
According to the North Tongu MP, sources close to the matter have indicated that, due to the Bulgarians’ increasing frustration, the Government of Ghana will soon have no choice but to settle the compensation payment using public funds, effectively burdening the citizens with the cost.
He pointed out that this situation has arisen because the government claims to be unaware of the location of the individual responsible for the demolition, despite the fact that the Sole Inquirer’s report explicitly identified and implicated the individual.
Ablakwa further noted that Dr. Yaw Adu Ampomah, President Akufo-Addo’s appointee at NDPC, who supposedly bought the land from Albert Jojo Hagan, the demolition contractor, is also claiming that he cannot find Jojo Hagan, which Ablakwa finds strange.
The MP’s expression of astonishment was palpable as he remarked that Ghana has transformed into a ‘Republic of Wonders‘ where the government and Dr. Yaw Ampomah’s claims of being unable to find Albert Jojo Hagan defy logic.
Hon. Ablakwa emphasized that State Capture has far-reaching consequences, including not only international humiliation and potential diplomatic conflicts but also significant financial losses.
As such, he appealed to citizens to ponder the various pressing national issues that could have been alleviated with the GH₵ 5.3 million wasted on this diplomatic debacle, highlighting the need for prudent resource management.
Accordingly, Ablakwa asserted with confidence that the forces of State Capture would ultimately be triumphed over, signaling a victory for good governance and accountability.
“Those destructive elements supposedly on the run, can’t run forever — judgment day is coming!” – Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ministry Sets Up Committee To Implement Recommendations
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, following the submission of the First Report of the Sole Inquirer into the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy and the need to find amicable solutions to the Bulgarian Embassy land case, has set up a three-member committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations, as directed by the Hon. Minister.
The Ministry acted on recommendation five (5) by requesting the Land Valuation Division to assess the value of the remaining lease term and related damages for the Bulgarian Embassy, in order to provide compensation for the demolished building.
This valuation will determine the amount owed to the Embassy for the unexpired term and related disturbance of the under lease.
“In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI) is requesting the Embassy to furnish it with details of diplomatic archives, technical [pieces of] equipment, and the Embassy’s vehicle that was on the premises at the time of demolition. The details will be forwarded to you for valuation as soon as they arrive”.
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
Given the sensitive diplomatic nature of the situation, the Minister of Lands, Samuel A. Jinapor directed the Land Valuation Division to prioritize and expedite the valuation process with utmost urgency, ensuring a prompt resolution to the impasse.
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