The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor dismissed allegations of state capture of public lands and described these claims as sheer misinformation.
Speaking at a Minister’s Press Briefing on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, he outlined the government’s measures to protect public lands, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to ensuring these lands remain safe, intact, and secure.
Addressing recent controversies surrounding state-owned lands, Hon. Jinapor clarified that many of the agreements in question predate the current administration.
He said, “The government has remained committed to safeguarding public lands for future use and has not engaged in or entered into agreements with any institution or person for the sale or lease of public lands.”
One issue that has drawn significant public attention is the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra.
Providing historical context, the Minister explained that the land, which hosted the Bulgarian Embassy, forms part of a larger parcel acquired by the State in 1920 but was granted to one Theophilus Kofi Leighton in 1977 for a term of 99 years.
The government of Ghana, he said, only stepped in as a mediator and did not pay any money to the Bulgarian government as widely speculated.
Hon. Jinapor detailed the ongoing litigation concerning the land, noting that the demolition was carried out by an executor of Mr. Leighton’s will, pursuant to a court order.
“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration have engaged the parties involved extensively and have agreed on some compensation for the Bulgarian Embassy, which will be paid by those who undertook the demolishing exercise. For the avoidance of doubt, this compensation will not be paid by the Government of Ghana,” he assured.
The Minister also addressed allegations of state capture concerning other contentious land issues, including lands owned by the Ghana Prisons Service and Ghana Parks and Gardens.
He emphasized that these lease agreements were reached by previous governments, with no involvement from the current administration.
“What is the role of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government in a land granted to a private developer as far back as 2005,” he asked, challenging the basis of the accusations.
The Lands Minister underscored the government’s proactive efforts to recover encroached state lands and prevent unauthorized transactions.
He cited a 2021 policy directive issued by the President, which requires all transactions relating to the grant of any interest in public land to be referred to the Minister for prior approval.
“Any deed executed without the approval of the President through the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources would be deemed void,” he reiterated.
He also mentioned a recent Cabinet directive prohibiting public bodies, institutions, and corporations from leasing, subletting, assigning, transferring, or otherwise creating third-party interests in any public land without prior written approval from the President.
“The days of public institutions entering into public-private partnership agreements with public lands without the approval of the President are over, and any person who enters into any such transaction does so at his/her own risk,” he warned.
Abu Jinapor reassured the public of the government’s diligence in protecting public lands and preventing their misuse.
According to him, the evidence shows that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government has been meticulous in protecting public lands in the public interest and urged the public to have confidence in the measures being implemented to safeguard these national assets.
