Dismiss and prosecute officers engaged in illegal land allocation in Northern Region – Minority to lands ministry

The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate dismissal and prosecution of Lands Commission officers involved in the illegal allocation of government lands in the Northern Region.

This demand follows revelations that several plots of land were leased without proper approval, raising concerns about corruption and mismanagement within the Lands Commission.

The Ranking Member on Parliament's Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, made this call during a press briefing on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

He expressed the Minority's outrage over the unlawful activities and emphasized the need for swift and decisive action against those responsible.

According to Suhuyini, the illegal allocation of lands not only undermines public trust but also jeopardises national resources that should benefit all Ghanaians.

The minority further urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to release the full list of lands that were illegally leased, along with the names of the individuals and entities involved.

Suhuyini insisted that transparency in this matter is crucial for recovering the lands and holding those behind the illegal transactions accountable.

He argued that without full disclosure, the public would remain in the dark about the extent of the corruption and who stands to benefit.

In addition to the immediate dismissal of the officers involved, the minority is pushing for their prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others within the Lands Commission and other public institutions.

Suhuyini stated that only through stringent legal action can the government send a strong message that corruption and illegal activities will not be tolerated.

"We therefore demand the swift dismissal and criminal investigation of the officials involved in allocating the said leases without the approval of the President."

"We also request the minister in the interest of transparency and good governance to publish the full report of the three-member committee the ministry set up to investigate the transfer of the public lands in the Northern Region," he demanded.

"Finally, we expect the minister to furnish us, parliament, and the good people of Ghana, with the list of affected Northern Region lands which leases were criminally allocated and which the President has directed be reversed," he demanded.