A shocking revelation has emerged involving Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, MP for Akim Swedru, who acquired prime Cantonments land for an astonishingly low price of GHS42,000.00 (US$2,800.00). This transaction, authorized by President Akufo-Addo in 2021, has sparked public outrage and raised serious concerns about fairness and transparency in the management of state assets.
Documents from the Lands Commission reveal that the MP secured a 99-year lease (January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2120) for the property. Remarkably, the terms required him to pay an annual ground rent of just GHS10,500.00 for the first four years. In stark contrast, market rates at the time demanded between US$700,000.00 and US$800,000.00 as a lump sum payment for similar properties, excluding ground rent.
This sweetheart deal has been labeled as unethical and a betrayal of public trust. Hon. Osei Nyarko, a former Deputy Minister for Agriculture, was expected to protect the land—previously designated for agric mechanization purposes. Instead, he allegedly collaborated with government officials to rezone the land without parliamentary approval, displacing staff and members of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association.
Critics argue that this deal exemplifies the systemic plundering of state assets under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration. Article 257 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution clearly states that public lands belong to all Ghanaians and must be managed in trust by the government. This transaction, however, has been described as a blatant abuse of that mandate.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has intensified its support for President Mahama’s widely celebrated Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative. ORAL is designed to reclaim looted state assets and hold those responsible accountable. Many believe the recent attacks by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) minority on ORAL stem from fears of exposure as more instances of corruption surface.
NDC stalwart Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has championed ORAL while proposing a private members’ bill to prevent politicians and politically exposed persons from acquiring state assets. The bill seeks to mandate parliamentary approval, value-for-money audits, and public disclosure for all transactions involving state properties.
“The current generation of politicians must reflect and acknowledge that if those before us engaged in such unpatriotic conduct, no state asset would have been left for us. What state assets are we leaving behind for future generations?” Ablakwa questioned.
Prominent voices, including Prof. Kwaku Azar, have called for coupling ORAL with Operation Prevent All Loot (OPAL). Together, these initiatives aim to safeguard public resources and ensure accountability in governance.
Public anger continues to grow, and it is clear that Mahama’s anti-corruption drive resonates with citizens’ demands for transparency and justice. Ghanaians are urged to rally behind ORAL and OPAL to protect the nation’s assets and secure a prosperous future for all.
