Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of the NDC’s ORAL team, has raised significant concerns regarding the conduct of Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the MP for Akyem Swedru in the Eastern Region. In a recent statement, Hon. Ablakwa challenged Nyarko to provide justification for his purchase of state lands at an unusually low price, prompting the Akyem Swedru MP to restrict access to his Facebook profile. Ablakwa accused Nyarko of engaging in unethical practices related to the acquisition of state land in Cantonments, characterizing the transaction as a blatant example of “state capture.”
Ablakwa highlighted that Nyarko has recently locked his Facebook profile, presumably to evade mounting criticism and backlash over this controversial land deal. Known for his active engagement on social media, Nyarko’s decision to restrict access comes in the wake of heightened scrutiny from the public and fellow politicians alike.
According to Ablakwa, records from the Lands Commission reveal that Nyarko secured a 99-year lease on the prime land, effective from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2120. The terms of this deal are shocking; Nyarko is reported to be paying an annual ground rent of only GHS10,500 (approximately US$2,800) until 2024, culminating in a total payment of just GHS42,000 for the entire lease period. Ablakwa emphasized that such favorable conditions are starkly disproportionate to the market value of similar properties, which could range between US$700,000 and US$800,000 for ordinary citizens.
The speech also criticized Hon. Nyarko for his past role as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, suggesting that he should have been protecting public lands rather than participating in what the speaker termed a “condemnable rip-off.” The speaker referenced Article 257 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which states that public lands belong to all Ghanaians, asserting that President Akufo-Addo’s administration failed in its duty as caretakers of these assets.
Highlighting the broader implications of such transactions, the speaker questioned what legacy current politicians are leaving for future generations. They warned that rampant looting of state assets undermines national development and called for accountability in the sale and management of public lands
This exposé comes amid calls from the NPP urging its members to disregard any invitations from the Oral Committee, which they have labeled as illegal. Ablakwa condemned this stance, arguing that it reflects an attempt to evade accountability and transparency regarding public resources.
Read Also: All Last-Minute Gov’t Actions Will Be Reversed – NDC Transition Team
Ablakwa’s remarks serve as a clarion call for vigilance against corruption and misuse of state assets. He urged Ghanaians to recognize the gravity of such transactions and their implications for national integrity and development. He reiterated the necessity for stringent measures to prevent politicians and politically exposed individuals from profiting off public lands, advocating for a private members bill that would require parliamentary oversight for all state asset transactions.
In closing, Ablakwa appealed to all Ghanaians to unite against corruption and demand accountability from their leaders, stressing that safeguarding public resources is essential for the prosperity of future generations.
Read Ablakwa’s post below:
Is the NPP Minority in Parliament launching such vicious, vile and baseless attacks at President Mahama’s widely celebrated ORAL anti-corruption initiative because of the fear that soon Ghanaians will come into full knowledge of the atrocities some of their members have committed against the people?
Let’s consider this shocking example of an NPP MP buying our prime Cantonments public land at an extremely ridiculous GHS42,000.00 (US$2,800.00).
Unimpeachable and irrefutable Lands Commission documents reveal that President Akufo-Addo authorized this outrageously unconscionable transaction in 2021. (See attached).
The NPP MP who benefited from this condemnable rip-off is Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, MP for Akim Swedru.
From the Lands Commission’s records, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko now owns the prestigious land in issue for 99 years (from 1st January, 2021 to 31st December, 2120).
The unbelievable terms of this sweetheart deal only required the MP to pay an annual ground rent of a meagre GHS10,500.00 from 1st January, 2021 to 31st December, 2024 amounting to GHS42,000.00 (US$2,800.00) for him to take over the land.
This deal would not even qualify for land in any of my holy villages in North Tongu.
According to the ‘lootocratic’ and exceptionally offensive agreement, the GHS10,500.00 ground rent may be reviewed every five years within the 99 years.
For all other Ghanaians who were not President Akufo-Addo’s anointed cronies, prevailing market rates at the time dictated that one ought to pay between US$700,000.00 and US$800,000.00 as lump sum consideration. After that, one is required to pay ground rent to authorities as well.
Compare US$700,000.00 for every other Ghanaian and US$2,800.00 for a few NPP cronies.
The irony is that this is the Cantonments Agric Mechanization land Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko should have been keen on protecting as a former Deputy Agric Minister. He should not have actively colluded with elements in the former administration to illegally rezone without parliamentary approval, forcefully evict staff of Agric Mechanization and members of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association just because he and a few politically exposed persons covet the choice land.
Article 257 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution is clear that public lands belong to all Ghanaians. President Akufo-Addo was merely a caretaker on our behalf. This is certainly not the kind of trusteeship we expected.
The GHS42,000.00 Cantonments land deal highlights the grave injustice and deep rot associated with how public lands and other state assets were looted under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration.
What is not right is certainly not right.
I know there are many patriotic NPP members who will not support such naked injustice.
Those who have not looted from the Ghanaian people do not attack ORAL — indeed, they boldly support ORAL, as the Constitution demands of all good citizens.
The current generation of politicians must reflect and acknowledge that if those who came before us engaged in such despicable unpatriotic conduct, no state asset would have been left for us.
At this rate, what state assets are we leaving behind for the youth and for subsequent generations?
How can we develop our country if all strategic state assets are looted by a few?
I wholeheartedly agree with Prof. Kwaku Azar that ORAL must go with OPAL (Operation Prevent All Loot) — this is why I am vigorously pursuing my private members bill which seeks to ban politicians and politically exposed persons from purchasing state assets.
My bill also makes it mandatory for all transactions on state assets to receive parliamentary approval. The Ghanaian people must first of all be convinced that there is even justification for selling that state asset.
It is also in the bill that the transactions must go through value for money audits, and the amounts involved and beneficiaries must be published for the Ghanaian people to know.
ORAL is for our collective good as a nation— let us ignore those who seek to reduce this to a pedestrian NDC-NPP banter.
Let’s remain united and focused in stopping the looting brigade.
ORAL has come to stay!
State Capture shall surely be defeated!
The loot shall be recovered!
For God and Country.
Ghana First.
