Fresh allegations have surfaced regarding the controversial acquisition of a prime Cantonment property by former National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Director Nana Atobrah Quaicoe.
The land, valued at over $700,000 (approximately GHS 10.5 million), was reportedly purchased for just GHS 160,000.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of President Mahama’s ORAL Committee, disclosed these details on X while presenting documentary evidence to counter Nana Atobrah’s earlier denials of any wrongdoing.
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The controversy first erupted when lawyer Martin Kpebu, a member of ORAL, accused Nana Atobrah of land grabbing.
NIB Director’s denial
Nana Atobrah Quaicoe vehemently denied the allegations and insisted he does not have any illegally acquired government land, as alleged in the media.
His legal counsel, in a statement, demanded an immediate retraction of the claims from Mr. Kpebu.
“We urge the public to disregard these false statements calculated to injure our client’s reputation and call on the private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, to retract the defamatory statements. Failing this, our client may resort to necessary legal action to vindicate his name and rights,” the statement said.
In a detailed Facebook post, however, Ablakwa challenged Nana Atobrah’s claims, highlighting several key points:
Purchase Price: Ablakwa alleged that Nana Atobrah acquired the land for GHS 160,157 (less than $11,000), a fraction of its market value.
Market Value: He stressed that the land’s conservative market value exceeds $700,000.
Parliamentary Approval: Ablakwa criticized the government for failing to seek parliamentary approval for rezoning the land, as required by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925).
Alleged Intermediary: He revealed that an intermediary acting on Nana Atobrah’s behalf had approached him regarding the matter.
“This is why I am even more convinced that my Private Member’s Bill seeking to prohibit political appointees and politically exposed persons from buying state assets must be passed without further delay,” Ablakwa declared.
The accusations have intensified scrutiny of the transaction, with Ablakwa vowing to pursue reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
His revelations have sparked fresh debate over accountability and transparency in the acquisition of state assets.
By Marani Issah/thenewsbulletin24.com
