The Lands Commission has provided clarity that Asaase Broadcasting Company Limited has never owned or occupied the property located at No. 7, 5th Circular Road in Cantonments.

This clarification follows recent accusations from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who alleged that the property had been unlawfully acquired as part of state assets.

In his claims, Mr. Ablakwa insinuated that the property had been wrongfully seized, prompting widespread public discussion.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 10, the Lands Commission dismissed these assertions, stating that Asaase Broadcasting Company Limited has no ties to the property in question.

The Commission also stressed that there is no ongoing legal battle concerning the land currently occupied by Asaase Broadcasting Company.

This statement was made to clear up any misunderstandings about the property's ownership and to ensure transparency on the issue.

“The land described as No. 7, 5th Circular Road, Cantonments, which is the subject matter of Suit No. LD/0526/2023 intituled Judicial Service of Ghana v The Lands Commission, Frimps Oil Company Ltd and the Attorney-General is separate and distinct from the land occupied by Asaase Broadcasting Company Limited at Cantonments. This land has never been owned or occupied by Asaase Broadcasting Company Limited.”

“Following the commencement of the Suit by the Judicial Service of Ghana, the Lands Commission, on 19th July 2023, applied for further and better particulars in respect of all the lands mentioned in the suit, and requested for the site plans of the said lands. This is because the Commission accurately identifies land by the appropriate site plans, and not by house numbers," an excerpt of the statement said.

The Lands Commission went on to explain that site plans submitted by the Judicial Service of Ghana reveal that the property at No. 7, 5th Circular Road, Cantonments, forms part of public land acquired for government purposes. The property was previously occupied by Justice F. G. Korbieh and is documented under a Certificate of Title issued on June 7, 1920.

The Commission stated that the land has been designated for public use since its acquisition in 1920.

“The land was subsequently developed into Government bungalows managed by the Ministry of Works and Housing, and allocated to staff of the public services as and when the need arises. Pursuant to an in-filling scheme undertaken by the Lands Commission, the Ministry of Works and Housing and the then Town and Country Planning Department (now Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority), at Cantonments and North Ridge Residential Areas in the early 2000s, the land which originally had only one bungalow was divided into four (4) parcels of land in order to increase the number of houses on the land.”

“The Commission’s records indicate the following transactions in respect of the four (4) parcels of land: a. Parcel 1: Lease dated 6th August, 2015, between the President of the Republic of Ghana (as Lessor) and Litty Mart Enterprise (as Lessee) for a term of fifty (50) years; b. Parcel 2: Lease dated 17th May, 2011, between the President of the Republic of Ghana (as Lessor) and Kwabena Kuffour (as Lessee) for a term of fifty (50) years. By a Deed of Assignment made on 12th April, 2021, Kwabena Kuffour assigned his unexpired interest to Frederick Hermann Hesse-Tetteh; c. Parcel 3: Lease dated 15th May, 2012, between the President of the Republic of Ghana (as Lessor) and Silvercord Estates Limited (as Lessee) for a term of fifty (50) years. By a Deed of Surrender dated 10th February, 2021, Silvercord Estates Limited surrendered its interest in the land to the Republic and the land was leased to Hercules Capital Limited by a Lease dated 2nd February, 2021; and d. Parcel 4: No recorded transaction,” it further stated.

LANDS COMMISSIONDownload