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Opinions of Monday, 8 December 2014

Columnist: New Free Press

Mahama’s family members must stop buying state properties

The New Free Press calls on President John Mahama to stop the wanton acquisition of state properties by some of his family members.

We are very much concerned that family members namely his wife Lordina Mahama and his brothers, Alfred Mahama and Peter Mahama are acquiring prime government land in and around the trade fair site despite protests from the lands commission, Mr Oko Vanderpuiye and The Greater Accra Regional Minister

Members of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party were accused of buying state properties by President Mahama when he was in opposition, especially when he was a member of parliament for Bole Bamboi. However, it seems the president’s family members are not grabbing state properties they are eating them up!

Our checks with the Lands Commission through our sources show Mrs Lordina Mahama, the first lady, has bought 20 plots of government land around the trade fair site originally meant for a science technology park for children and Mr Alfred Mahama the brother of the president has bought all (50 plots in total) the Agricultural extension land belonging to the University of Ghana around Amanhia, a surburb of Accra.

The Eredec hotel, which is on the state divestiture list has been earmarked to be sold to Ibrahim Mahama after the President gave instructions for companies on the DIC list to be sold quickly October last year. Ecobank, previously put together a consortium and did put in a bid to purchase, however a letter we have sighted dated 26th of November,2013 and signed by Mr Fiifi Kwetey, Minster of Finance gave instructions for Eredec Hotel not to be sold to Ecobank!

Three weeks later, a bid to purchase was put through by Engineers and Planners owned by Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of the President.

President Mahama must sit up and check the actions of his wife and other family members as it is causing bitterness anger and resentment among Ghanaians.

Alhaji Suraju Musah Mohammed

Managing Editor

New Free Press

Accra