Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has clashed with the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini Sayyibu, over the sale of Tamale Aboabo Timber Market to a private developer.
The Minister was in Parliament to respond to a Parliamentary question that stood in the name of the Tamale North MP on that public land.
Mr. Jinapor indicated the land has been earmarked for redevelopment by the Government’s Urban Redevelopment Scheme to redevelop underutilized public lands to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country and give a facelift to the cities.
He stated that as part of the redevelopment scheme, by a lease dated ’15th December 2020 but taking effect from 29th August 2020,’ a portion of the land measuring 1.38 acres has been granted to Fatuh-Kareeban Company for a term of 50 years.
The lessee, he said, is expected to develop the land for commercial purposes only, for the benefit of the people of Tamale and its environs.
He said, “To be able to commence with the redevelopment, the lessee must be granted vacant possession of the portion of the land granted. This will require the removal of some structures within the area.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is, however, important to add that this is not a demolishing exercise, as there are no permanent structures on the land. Several kiosks or containers may be affected by this exercise. The Lands Commission and the lessee will work with those to be affected to ensure the exercise is undertaken smoothly,” he stated.
Mr. Jinapor explained that redevelopment is necessary to ensure the efficient use of public lands for the benefit of the people of Ghana, while at the same time beautifying Ghana’s cities.
Similar exercises, he said, are being undertaken in Accra, at the Aviation City, as well as Kumasi, Cape Coast, and Takoradi.
Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini was, however, not satisfied with the Minister’s response and argued there have been consistent denials of the sale of that public land by the Lands Commission since 2021.
The MP also raised a pertinent concern about the dates on which the lease is said to have been granted and the date it was to take effect.
He pointed out that while the lease date stated by the Minister was December 2020, the date it was supposed to have taken effect was August of the same year, four months before the lease was even signed.
The Timber Market, the MP said, hosts a lot of traders in timber products and has been a place where these people earn their livelihoods and take care of their families for over 40 years.
He argued the welfare of these traders must be secured before a private developer is allowed to enter the place to demolish their structures and accused the government of being insensitive to the wellbeing of occupants of the land.
He demanded the details of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the terms of the agreements between the private developer and the Ministry of Lands be made public, and how the government intends to address the fate of the traders.