SOURCE: NEW CRUSADING GUIDE

President John Evans Atta Mills has denied in no uncertain terms claims that he has bought a plot of state land at Tema, as alleged by a Member of Parliament of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

President Mills stated categorically that he was disappointed in persons who were making such allegations since according to him “THERE CANNOT BE ANY TRUTH IN THESE CLAIMS BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY SUCH LAND IN TEMA AND I HAVE NOT MADE ANY PERSONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR A STATE LAND IN THAT JURISDICTION AT ANYTIME IN MY LIFE OR PUBLIC SERVICE”.

President Mills, speaking in a telephone conversation with the Editor-In-Chief of this paper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako yesterday morning, stated that he had no intention to acquire a state land.

“YOUR PUBLICATION TO THE EFFECT THAT I HAD ACQUIRED A PLOT OF LAND BELONGING TO THE STATE AT TEMA IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE CHECK YOUR FACTS AND SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT”, underscored the President in a calm manner.

It would be recalled that after stirring the hornet’s nest with his threat to retrieve all state lands that allegedly were in private hands without legal basis and authorization, the National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Anthony Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (rtd), attracted the wrath of some members of the NPP who argued that the Security Capo’s threat smacked of political witch-hunting and selectivity.

Subsequently, Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, speaking on an Accra based radio station, Citi fm, questioned the basis of Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Larteys’ decision to confiscate state lands he alleged were legally acquired.

His main reason was that, members of the current National Democratic Congress, (NDC), administration including the President, John Evans Atta Mills and the ex-President, Jerry John Rawlings as well as top shots within the party own state lands.

“All these I will claim with all certainty are politics of vindictiveness, politics of envy, politics of hatred, politics of jealousy, politics of small mindedness…when we say those who have taken state property, do you know how many state properties were sold to NDC cronies, 378…Go to North Legon Betty Mould Iddrisu and Co. They have government lands that were given to them. Go to Adjiringano, Prof Twumasi, Seth Kwao, they all have lands there, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings has a house at Adjiringano, it was a government land, he didn’t buy it from any Chief,” a charged Napo chided.

In the specific case of President Mills owning state lands, the MP said, “PRESIDENT MILLS HAS A LAND AT TDC IN TEMA, I CAN TAKE YOU THERE. HE RECENTLY WENT TO WEED THE PLACE BECAUSE IT HAD OVERGROWN.”

The New Crusading GUIDE, in its Monday 20th September, 2010 edition, carried a lead story under the headline, “Fallouts from National Security’s ‘Stolen’ State Lands Hunt, RAWLINGS, MILLS STRIPPED NAKED… They Have ‘Stolen’ State Lands – Napo.” In the said story, the MP disclosed that the government had made it a policy to use state lands to attract investors, reason for which land opposite the beach road near the Castle had been given to investors led by Togbe Afede to develop the World Trade Centre.

The MP alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye was putting up a building although he conceded he was yet to verify his information on that score.

The President, aside refuting the claims and calling it a blatant untruth, also dared anyone with any proof that he had acquired a plot of land at Tema to come out and duly prove his (Mills’) personal involvement in the acquisition of any such plot.

Meanwhile, The New Crusading GUIDE’s checks at Tema TDC, have so far failed to show that President Mills has bought any land belonging to the State in that jurisdiction. Stay tuned…