Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has fired back at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources following its recent denial of allegations that state lands are being unfairly sold under the current government.
Mr Ablakwa has accused the Ministry of attempting to refute well-documented evidence of what he terms as state capture during the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 16, the Ministry categorically denied Ablakwa’s accusations, labeling them baseless and politically motivated.
The Ministry asserted that no state lands have been sold under the Akufo-Addo-led government, suggesting instead that any controversies over government lands arose during previous administrations.
However, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 17, Mr Ablakwa reaffirmed his position, criticizing the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, for what he called a selective response to the allegations. Ablakwa maintained that he has consistently presented incontrovertible evidence of state capture both inside and outside Parliament.
Mr Ablakwa specifically referenced several cases to substantiate his claims. He highlighted the sale of park and garden lands in Wa and Cantonments, where he accused the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of validating his expose on the unlawful transactions.
He pointed out discrepancies between Minister Jinapor’s statements and those made by other government officials regarding the ownership and status of these lands.
Regarding the E.B. Dubois Centre, Ablakwa cited a 50-year agreement signed in 2023 between the government and the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation.
He questioned the Ministry’s stance on the matter, emphasizing conflicting accounts between different ministries concerning the land’s ownership and proposed developments.
Mr Ablakwa also raised concerns over judicial service lands and the Ghana Prisons Service land at Roman Ridge, where he accused the Ministry of ignoring evidence and failing to acknowledge legal disputes over land ownership.
In conclusion, he criticized what he described as efforts by the Ministry to downplay serious allegations of state capture, insisting that selective responses and partisan comparisons do not alter the reality faced by ordinary Ghanaians affected by these land controversies.