Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor claims to have evidence to prove that the sale of government lands occurred under previous administrations, including those of Presidents Kufuor, Mills, and Mahama.
Mr Jinapor made this revelation while addressing concerns over recent land transactions and the current administration’s handling of the issue.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on July 20, 2024, Jinapor emphasized that the problem of state land sales is not unique to the Akufo-Addo government.
He stated, “I have a litany of land sales in Cantonments, Ridge, Roman Ridge, Airport, and Labone, which were sold under President Mahama’s administration, as well as under Presidents Kufuor, Mills, and Rawlings.”
He argued that focusing on which administration sold what land only serves to distract from addressing the systemic issues that have plagued successive governments.
Mr Jinapor criticized the practice of politicizing the sale of state lands, stressing that such debates do not contribute to finding effective solutions.
“We lose the benefit of the discussion if we situate it in a narrow, self-serving political context,” he said. “If we get into a cycle of finger-pointing, we’ll lose the essence of this discussion.”
His comments are a response to ongoing criticisms, particularly from North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who has accused the current administration of engaging in state capture through land sales.
Mr Jinapor refuted these claims, highlighting that the Akufo-Addo government is actively working to resolve the issue rather than exacerbate it.