The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP has clarified comprehensively on the state of public lands, dismissing allegations and misinformation of state-capture, outlining measures being instituted by government to protect public lands, enumerating some steps taken to strengthen and empower the Lands Commission to deliver on its mandate while assuring the public of the absolute commitment by government to protect public lands.

Taking his turn at the Minister's Press Briefing session on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the Minister explained in detail the situation with some state-owned lands which have become topics of public discourse recently, disclosing that most of the agreements predate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led government.

Hon. Jinapor stated that 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.

Touching on the claims made against the government relative to the demolition of the Bulgarian Embassy in Accra, the Minister provided historical context to the issue and stated unequivocally that the government of Ghana only stepped as a mediator and did not pay any money to the Bulgarian government as widely speculated.

"One of such lands is the land which hosted the Bulgarian Embassy. This land forms part of a larger parcel of land acquired by the State in 1920 by a Certificate of Title dated 6th July 1920. The land was however granted to one Theophilus Kofi Leighton as far back as 1977, for a term of 99 years commencing from 1st April 1974. This Lease will expire in the year 2073. Until then, Government has no direct control over the use of the land".

"After building on the land, the said Mr. Leighton entered into a private contract with the Bulgarian Embassy and rented the house to the Embassy for short-term.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah