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General News of Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Source: The Informer

Commentary: Reverse Sale Of Police Building Now!

Last Friday, we were loud with the message on our frontage, stating our disagreement as regards a very bad decision taken by the Oko Nikoi Dzani-led Greater Accra Lands Commission to sell a property being occupied by the police to Alisa Hotel; and we vow to fight on and do not care who suffers bruises as a result.
In fact, by the above statement, we wish to state emphatically without fear of negation that, we do not care whose ox is gored, because, the decision by the commission and its chairman was abnormal and a great disincentive to government in its efforts to adequately resource the Ghana Police Service.
The facility in question, which subsequently, had been demolished by the supposedly “new owners” (Alisa Hotel) after huge sums of money being spent on its refurbishment by the state to make it better and conducive, happen to accommodate the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS).
Those of us at The Informer have maintained and promise to diligently contribute our quota to ensuring that institutions of state, like the lands commission, function without any political interference or whatsoever, but the conduct of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission in this particular case in point, is appalling to the extent that we have no option than to lock horns with it.
Per Article 200 (3) of the 1992 constitution, it is the duty of government to equip and maintain the police service to perform its traditional role of maintaining law and order; and that exactly was what the state did by providing this police division with an accommodation.
So why should the Greater Accra Lands Commission sell out the property to Alisa Hotel without considering the implication of their action.
If for nothing at all, the Lands commission should have been better informed that without PIPS those of them serving on the commission would have been nowhere, being the body that ensures professionalism in policing in Ghana.
Information picked up has it that Alisa Hotel, the “new owners” of the land has started conveying materials to the site in preparation to put up a structure, since the conscious-less commission led by its chairman has decided to do the unthinkable. But we promise them hell and we will not relent in our efforts until the decision is reversed.
Many have argued that Alisa Hotel must be held liable for causing financial loss to the state, consequential to the quantum of money recently used to make the facility habitable, and we agree. But all The Informer wants for now, is the immediate reversal of the sale for peace to prevail between us, the Lands Commission and Alisa Hotel on the other hand.
Mr. President Atta Mills, Ghanaians will be very much happy if you take action on this matter like you did in the Jake’s case: And on this note, The Informer says Akwaaba!!!