Armed Forces deny land selling allegations

The Ghana Armed Forces has denied allegations by the “Alliance for Safeguarding the Integrity of the Security Services” (ASISS), that it was selling its lands to private developers.

A statement signed by the Ghana Armed Forces’ Acting Director of Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Aggrey Quashie said: “The various allegations made by ASISS are either false or half-truths.”

The statement said the Chief of Defence Staff still inhabiting the official residence, Number One Roman Ridge and there were no plans to sell it as was alleged.

The Public Relations Directorate said the Army Mess Project was a Public/ Private Partnership (PPP) in fulfilment of government’s PPP programme and the Ghana Army would make financial gains from the venture, annually.

The project on Drake Avenue in the Airport Residential Area is also a PPP arrangement which would see half the land given to the private partner and the other half used for construction of various officers’ bungalows at the site and at Burma Camp, per the memorandum of understanding.

The land being occupied by the Goil Filling Station was also under a partnership which was signed on December 30, 2011.

The statement said the joint ventures were aimed at making maximum use of the land and preventing encroachment and had been pre-assessed by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, on a value for money basis before being signed.

The agreements with the investors, who are deemed credible, were also made in consultation with the Armed Forces Council and the Lands Commission.

“In entering into these joint ventures, GAF is using its lands as equity while the partners are providing funds to undertake the projects for the benefit of the entire Armed Forces”, the statement said.

The Ghana Armed Forces said it was unfortunate that the signatories of the statement issued by ASISS, mostly retired officers, overlooked the available avenues to make known their worries and to seek clarification.