The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has categorically refuted claims that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration is involved in selling state lands to their associates.

In a press briefing held on Wednesday, August 14, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, expressed his surprise at the accusations regarding the disposal of public lands, labeling them as unfounded.

Jinapor addressed specific allegations about land sales, including a parcel at Cantonment and the W.E.B. DuBois Centre. He clarified that these properties were not sold under the current NPP administration.

“There are allegations that this government has sold some bungalows belonging to the Judiciary Service at Cantonment to a private developer. These bungalows in question were sold as far back as July 13, 2015, to a company named Frimps Oil Company Limited following an approval granted by the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, on June 2, 2015.

“Is it therefore not surprising that the very people who supervised the sale of this property to Frimps Oil Company Limited will turn around and accuse the Akufo-Addo government of state capture.

“For the W.E.B. DuBois Centre, as we have explained in our press release of July 16, 2024, the Lands Commission, the manager of Public Lands and Repository of Records of Lands Transactions has no pending application for the transfer of this land and for the avoidance of doubt, the land in question as we speak, remains in the name of the Dubois Centre.”

“The above examples clearly show that allegations of state capture and the narrative that this government is indiscriminately selling public lands are palpably false without merit and obviously actuated by political considerations given the heated political season we find ourselves.

“The Akufo-Addo has been meticulous in protecting public lands in the public interest,” the Lands Minister added.

Jinapor further explained that the W.E.B. DuBois Centre land, as stated in the Ministry’s press release from July 16, 2024, remains registered under the Dubois Centre.

He assured the public that the Akufo-Addo administration is committed to protecting public lands and acting in the public’s interest.

The Lands Commission, which oversees public land transactions, has no current application to transfer this property.