Interior Minister Henry Quartey has dismissed allegations that a staff member from the Office of the Vice President used national security operatives to demolish a fence wall on land owned by the Ghana Prisons Service.On June 24, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming that Professor Kwaku Appiah Adu had taken over lands belonging to the Ghana Prisons Service.

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Following opposition from the Prisons Service, Professor Adu took the matter to court, asserting his ownership of the disputed

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land.

Parliament on July 5, Quartey denied any official notice of the alleged demolition, emphasizing

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Professor Adu's distinguished reputation. He stated, "The gentleman in question is a distinguished gentleman, and for the records, when this matter started, he was not working for the Vice President. Mr Speaker, the fact that somebody is working for a politician does not restrict him or her from pursuing his own private business.

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"Mr Quartey further refuted claims of national security involvement, stating, "There isn't anything to substantiate that national security operatives, for that matter, have been assigned or rather approached by the same gentleman to demolish, and thirdly, it has not come to my attention.

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"The Interior Minister highlighted the severe living conditions at the Ghana Prisons Service barracks, where junior officers and their families endure cramped quarters. To address this, the ministry has been reviewing redevelopment proposals.

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"The service has for the last 20 years received proposals from developers for the development of the headquarters and the barracks in order to address accommodation challenges for the officers but has been unsuccessful," Quartey explained.In 2021, the Ghana Prisons Service received a promising proposal from a developer to upgrade the cantonment barracks.

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The plan includes providing accommodations ranging from one to three bedrooms for 440 officers, replacing the current 330 units. It also features a new headquarters building and modern facilities.The proposal has been endorsed by prison officers and the prison council service. However, Okudzeto Ablakwa raised concerns about the developer's intentions.

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"I don’t believe that this is some Father Christmas who has descended upon the prison service to do them a favour. What is he getting in return? Is he getting portions of the land? If he is, what size, what acres? Let’s know what the consideration is."Mr Quartey clarified that the developer would receive land deeds for some portions of the land.

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Ablakwa, however, pointed to a Lands Commission statement indicating the land had been allocated to Professor Adu, questioning the consistency of government positions."So the same government, conflicting status, the Interior minister, and the land minister.

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What are you going to do to really resolve this matter and get the Lands Commission to align with the position of your ministry so that we can protect the Institute lands, which belong to the Ghana Prison Service?" Ablakwa queried.

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He continued, "This gentleman, Professor Kweku Appiah Adu, who is a senior advisor to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, his Excellency, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, according to the Ghana prison service in these documents I have, it has gone to demolish portions of the fence that you have told us about."Ablakwa pressed further, asking, "The fence you are constructing.

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Are you aware that he has allegedly led national security operatives? That is what the Ghana prison service is alleging that they are, national security operatives, and they have demolished portions of their fence, seeking to take over.

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Are you aware of this development, and what are you doing to assist the prison service?"As the debate continues, the government faces pressure to resolve the land dispute and ensure alignment between the Interior Ministry and the Lands Commission to protect the interests of the Ghana Prisons Service.

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