NDC Promises Investigations into Questionable Sale, State Lands

The Ranking Member on Lands and Natural Resources has pledged that the upcoming NDC government will thoroughly investigate what he describes as the questionable sale and acquisition of state lands during the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.

He noted that Former President Mahama has already expressed that under his leadership, the NDC will implement Operation Recover “All Loot,” which aims to reclaim all assets that have been misappropriated from the nation.

During a press conference in Parliament on September 3, 2024, Ranking Member and North Alhassan MP Suhuyini emphasized that this commitment is prominently featured in the NDC manifesto, and they are determined to pursue it diligently to recover the misappropriated state lands from the Nana-Bawumia era and to hold accountable those involved in illegal mining activities.

Recently, in June 2024 Former President John Mahama accused the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government of selling off state lands and properties at an unprecedented rate.

Mahama took to his Facebook wall on June 20, 2024, to express his concerns about the government’s management of questionable sale and acquisition of state lands, and promised to address these problems if elected president in the upcoming polls in December 2024.

He promised to launch a thorough investigation into the government’s handling of state lands and properties.

“The Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government is disposing of state lands and properties at an unprecedented rate. When elected, my administration will prioritize the investigation and re-possession of these lands,” Mahama said.

His allegations come at a time when concerns about transparency in the management of state assets are becoming too many.

“We will reclaim all our stolen state lands and eradicate the mining criminals from our forest reserves,” he asserted. “One of his top priorities would be to launch thorough investigations into the disposal of state lands and properties by the current government.”

Mr. Suhuyini elaborated that state capture represents a type of corruption where private interests heavily sway a state’s decision-making processes for their benefit. Essentially, it happens when influential individuals, corporations, or groups exploit political and legal systems to gain substantial resources or control over public institutions.

He charged the sector Minister with prioritizing personal gain over public welfare, suggesting that his actions reflect greater concern for advancing the interests of a select few and certain businesses rather than protecting the community’s assets which are state lands and well-being.

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While it’s understandable that serving as a minister in the Nana-Bawumia administration poses challenges—given that many appointees act merely as mouthpieces for the President’s overarching strategy to seize vital state resources for private benefit—the minister’s tendency to resort to partisanship when faced with legitimate inquiries about the ministry is truly disappointing.

“We in the NDC have consistently aimed to prioritize public welfare in all our actions and decisions, whether in power or abroad (as evidenced by the new foreign affairs building and its location), and we will persist in this mission. We will continue to shine a light on the disgraceful efforts of the current administration to appropriate state assets (state lands), making it a costly endeavour for them to pursue their corrupt objectives.”