The release of more than 400 acres of state lands to Otumfour Osei Tutu II Asantehene within sector 18 in Kumasi did not sit well with a lot of Ghanaians. The said release had come a few days after issues of Achimota forest lands had come under public scrutiny and criticism.
As the public vented its anger in stack opposition to releases of state lands to families and chiefs across the nation, the opposition NDC jumped into the fray to add its voice in support of the public.
Ranking member for Lands and Natural Resources Committee in Parliament Rashid Pelpuo on 3rd June 2022 held a press to state his opposition to the release of the said sector 18 lands. He said in part: “We are all aware of the Achimota Forest land issue. Whilst we are still thinking about it, other issues are coming up about our lands again in Kumasi and other regional capitals.These concerns have gotten to the point that we think we need to talk about them and we need to investigate them”.
But in a rather sharp rebuttal, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has explained that the said lands were forcibly taken by the colonial government which didn’t pay compensation. He noted that efforts to release the said lands had been initiated at the very beginning of the 4th Republic that’s during the days of Jerry John Rawlings was president and that the issue had gone all the way to the Supreme Court.
Samuel Abu Jinapor further stated that the impression being created by some NDC faithful as if the said lands had intentionally been released by this government to Otumfour under some fictitious circumstances was false.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has been summoned to appear before parliament to answer questions with regards to the release of State lands to chiefs and families across the country.
Jeffery Jones
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