The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has rebutted the Minister for Land and Natural Resources, Honorable Samuel Abu Jinapor’s statement that refuted claims of state capture under the New Patriotic Party administration.
In a detailed statement, the National Democratic Congress legislator emphatically denounced the Minister’s defense, citing multiple instances of what he termed “blatant State Capture.”
“My attention has been drawn to a statement from the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources in what appears to be a desperate effort to refute the overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence of state capture by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
“I take judicial notice that Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor’s disingenuously selective statement was totally silent on the following cases of blatant State Capture which I have consistently spoken against in and outside Parliament”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
Key Allegations by Ablakwa
Among several allegations of state capture, Honorabe Ablakwa highlighted the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in East Cantonments on April 26, 2017, under the current government.
He noted that the land was subsequently sold to Dr. Yaw Adu Ampomah, an appointee of President Akufo-Addo at the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), adding that despite a commission of inquiry recommending compensation, the Bulgarians remain uncompensated.
Again, Honorable Ablakwa recounted that on June 19, 2020, properties belonging to the Nigerian High Commission were demolished, further decrying the loss of Labadi Beach Hotel’s beachfront to former NPP National Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay’s sons
“Opaque attempted sale of 62.14 acres of prime land belonging to the Ghana Airports Company Limited to Heaven Builders Limited which was eventually aborted due to my timely exposé on Monday, October 2, 2023.
“Portions of Ghana Prisons Service barracks land located near the Danquah Circle roundabout, Osu which has been handed over to a private developer. The Minister responsible for the Interior, Hon. Henry Quartey has since confirmed this when he appeared in Parliament to respond to my urgent questions on Friday, July 5, 2024”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
Parks and Gardens Land in Wa and Cantonments
Furthermore, Honorable Ablakwa pointed out the contradictory statements from different ministries regarding the Parks and Gardens land in Wa and Cantonment.
He noted that while the Lands and Natural Resources Minister attempted to justify the sale with dubious rezoning claims, the Local Government Minister, Honorable Martin Adjei Mensah-Korsah had assured Parliament that the land would be reclaimed and the illegal fuel station demolished.
Similarly, for the Parks and Gardens land in Cantonments, Honorable Ablakwa pointed out that the Local Government Minister had refuted claims of its sale, promising to remove the containers of the private developer, Dani Ike Real Estate Developers, which he subsequently did.
Honorable Ablakwa argued that the contradictory statement from the Lands Minister’s narrative raised questions about the truth of the matter.
He refuted the Lands Minister’s allegations that the said land was sold by the erstwhile Mahama’s administration, arguing that if the land had been sold in 2016, how come it was available in 2021 for the government to contemplate constructing government offices on that same piece of land.
“Curiously, the Lands Minister’s narrative cleverly omits the 2021 attempt by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to construct a 5-storey office complex for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development on that same piece of land belonging to the Department of Parks and Gardens.
“This decision was vehemently opposed by environmentalists and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUPSA) in a letter dated July 19, 2021, and signed by LUPSA Acting Head, Kwadwo Yeboah”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
Honorable Ablakwa further pointed out that following the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUPSA) letter and considerable public agitation in 2021, the current government abandoned the attempt to construct an office complex for the Local Government Ministry on the Parks and Gardens land in Cantonments.
W.E.B. Du Bois Centre Agreement
Moreover, the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed concerns over the Lands Minister’s failure to respond appropriately to his recently disclosed 50-year agreement transferring the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre to a private foundation.
The agreement, he noted was signed by top government officials, including Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, indicating plans for a sod-cutting ceremony with the President’s participation.
“I am also attaching a letter from the President’s office showing communication between the President and the privately owned Du Bois Foundation at the receiving end of the 50-year transfer.
“Significantly, the letter confirms the President’s participation at an upcoming August 27, 2024 sod cutting ceremony. Additionally, I am publishing a July 8, 2024 letter signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Arts and Culture confirming the existence of the 50-year agreement”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
The North Tongu legislator therefore urged the Lands Minister, Honorable Samuel Abu Jinapor to verify the details with the President and other ministers involved, adding that the Lands Minister would be surprised to know that David Adjaye has already received a US$2.5million payment for redesigning of the centre.
Judicial Service Land
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament also questioned the handling of the Judicial Service land, highlighting inconsistencies in the government’s actions.
He pointed out that despite initial cancellations, certain leases were restored, leading to the demolition of judges’ bungalows under the current administration.
“From the highlighted paragraphs, the Lands Commission on the instruction of President Akufo-Addo on June 27, 2017, withdrew the lease for Frimps Oil and 23 others. Strangely, on December 28, 2017, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government restored the lease for Frimps Oil and 7 others (not the entire 23).
“Granted that the Lands Minister’s strenuous effort to equalize is grounded, the current government had every authority and opportunity not to restore the lease, particularly as they did not restore all the initial 28 leases and restored only 8. It is imperative to note that the demolition of the judge’s bungalows happened under this government”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
Ghana Prisons Service Land at Roman Ridge
In addition, Honorable Ablakwa criticized the Lands Minister for downplaying the role of Prof. Appiah-Adu, a Senior Advisor to Vice President Dr Bawumia, in the acquisition of the Roman Ridge land belonging to the Ghana Prison Service.
He stressed that the Ghana Prisons Service had filed an appeal against the claims, which the Interior Minister supported in Parliament, criticizing Honorable Samuel Abu Jinapor for failing to acknowledge such development in his statement.
Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa concluded his statement by reaffirming his commitment to exposing and combating state capture.
“We see the destructive impact of State Capture all around us daily. Only yesterday, occupants of the Roman Ridge Flats who are all long-serving distinguished public servants were informed at a meeting chaired by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Works and Housing that they have to prepare to move out because their flats have been affected by the ongoing grossly abused Accra redevelopment policy”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
He cited the recent repossession of SSNIT hotels as a victory and pledged to continue the fight to reclaim the “looted state lands”.
He called out the Lands and Natural Resource Minister’s long press statements as futile attempts at partisan equalization and assured the public that the day of reckoning for state capture would come.
READ ALSO: Trump Wins More Friends
