The Office of the President has issued an emphatic rejoinder, categorically denying any involvement in an ongoing land dispute regarding a parcel of property owned by the prestigious Ghana International School (GIS) located in Cantonments, Accra.
Mr Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at Jubilee House, the Office of the President, in a statement, distanced the Office of the President from the allegations and described them as completely unfounded.
The statement outlined four key points to clarify the situation. The Office of the President firmly stated that it has “no interest whatsoever” in the GIS land in question, dismissing any possibility of presidential influence or involvement in the dispute.
The statement further clarified that no officer, agent, or representative of the President has been directed to interfere in any way with land matters pertaining to GIS or its property within the Cantonments area.
Mr Eugene Arhin dismissed speculation linking the presidency to the controversy, urging the public to treat the speculation with the contempt it deserves.
Role of Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Opoku
According to the statement, Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Opoku, a member of the VVIP Unit, was inadvertently drawn into the altercation while passing by the Cantonments barrier after work.
The Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Office of the President, Mr Eugene Arhin stated that the Chief Superintendent acted professionally by intervening and handing over alleged encroachers to the Cantonments Police Station, fulfilling his duty as a law enforcement officer.
His actions, the statement emphasized, were in no way part of a coordinated effort by the Office of the President but rather a routine measure to de-escalate the situation.
The Office of the President’s statement also indicated that Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Opoku followed standard police protocol by submitting his credentials at the station, as required during such encounters.
His actions the statement noted are routine, devoid of any hidden motives or affiliation with the land dispute.
Expressing the commitment of the Office of the President to accountability, Mr Eugene Arhin, revealed that the office has taken steps to ensure that the matter is fully investigated.
He stated that a formal complaint has been lodged with the Inspector General of Police, requesting a thorough probe into the incident to establish the facts and lay the controversy to rest.
In a final appeal, the Office of the President urged the public to dismiss any contrary claims or statements circulating in the media or social circles.
“We call on the general public to disregard as false any statements to the contrary,” the statement concluded.
The GIS land dispute, which has captured headlines in recent days, involves allegations of unlawful encroachment and tensions over ownership.
Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, in an earlier statement, lauded the management and staff of Ghana International School (GIS) for their swift action in thwarting what he describes as a “clandestine takeover” attempt on a portion of their land in Cantonments.
He disclosed that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 31, 2024, at approximately 2:00 a.m., decrying the involvement of state actors in illegal land acquisitions.
In a strongly worded statement, Hon. Ablakwa, not only praised GIS for its resolve but also raised serious concerns regarding the alleged role of a senior police officer, Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Opoku.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, Chief Superintendent Opoku, who claims to be an official of the Very Very Important Persons Unit (VVIPU) at the Office of the President, was reportedly present during the attempted encroachment, offering protection to those involved.
He urged the Presidency to release a formal statement addressing the claims surrounding Chief Superintendent Opoku’s actions.
Hon. Ablakwa emphasized that the public deserves to know the truth about the alleged role of a senior police officer acting on behalf of the Office of the President in what he termed a brazen encroachment attempt.
The North Tongu MP warned that this latest incident would be incorporated into a broader investigation being undertaken by the Minority Caucus in Parliament, which has been actively probing numerous cases of alleged State Capture in Ghana.
“We encourage many more Ghanaians to emulate the GIS example and stand up to these unscrupulous marauding land looters,” Hon. Ablakwa stated, assuring the public that those engaged in State Capture would ultimately face justice.
“The day of reckoning is soon approaching — the Ghanaian people shall take back what belongs to all of us,” he concluded, vowing that together, the country would defeat the forces of State Capture.
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