Minority bemoans alleged takeover of 10-acre Parks and Gardens land

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has decried the persistent attempts by some private developers to evict civil servants occupying state lands and bungalows.

According to the lawmaker, a 10-acre parcel of land belonging to the Department of Parks and Gardens has been handed over to a private developer without recourse to the environmental significance of the colonial property.

Expressing his frustration over what he calls organised state capture, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said his side of the House will demand a public hearing that will seek accountability on the use of state lands and assets.

“Our side of parliament has discussed a motion which we will be filing in the next few days demanding a full-scale parliamentary enquiry into the blatant state capture that is ongoing.

“We will hurl everybody who is selling, those who are buying, and those who are fronting for all kinds of characters hiding behind the scene thinking that they will get away with it; all of them will appear before the House and we will demand that it should be a live broadcast, a public hearing so that all Ghanaians will see what is going on.”

Mr Ablakwa stressed that the development was worrying and must be addressed immediately.

“This has to stop. There are some state assets that you just don’t go near. It has been preserved since 1952. Why should we lose Parks and Gardens? Why should we lose our green belts? Why should we lose our horticultural zone, it is the only one left in the capital, why should we lose it?” he quizzed.

Last Month, the Department of Parks and Gardens issued a stern warning to private developers found encroaching on its land.

The department had vowed to take action against any unauthorised structures erected on its property.