The Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Nana AttobrahQuaicoe, has been left speechless by official documents provided by Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa, Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team, after a member of the team exposed a controversial land deal in Cantonments.
Reports indicate that Quaicoe purchased a prime land near the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Cantonments, Accra for a baffling amount of GH₵160,157.00, far below its market value of GH₵10.5 million.
The seller of the land was revealed to be none other than the President of Ghana, with Quaicoe as the lessee.
Documents shared by Alex Quaynor detailed the lease agreement, stating that Quaicoe acquired Plot No. 8 for a term of 99 years starting from January 1, 2021, at an annual ground rent of GH₵6,720.00, payable yearly in advance.
This revelation came following a public disclosure by Martin Kpebu, a legal practitioner and ORAL team member, who later backed down from his initial statement.
In response to the public outcry over the land deal, Quaicoe expressed his intention to return the land and disassociate himself from the controversy. His lawyer, Saviour Quarcoo Kudze, refuted claims made by Kpebu as false and defamatory, demanding a retraction and apology.
However, Ablakwa stepped in with official documents from the Lands Commission, highlighting key questions regarding the transaction.
These questions include whether Quaicoe denies the undervalued purchase, the failure to seek parliamentary approval for rezoning, and the involvement of intermediaries in negotiating the land’s return.
Ablakwa labeled the transaction as a classic case of state capture, emphasizing the substantial difference between the purchase price and the land’s actual market value.
The ORAL team’s actions have brought attention to the need for transparency and accountability in state land transactions.
The documents shared by Ablakwa have prompted calls to halt all state land transactions and shed light on the complexities surrounding land acquisitions by government officials.
