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President Mahama blocks all ongoing sale of state lands; demands report in 14 days

January 12, 2025
Brandy Nana Efia
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Lands Commission to immediately halt all ongoing leases or sales of state and public lands.
The directive, conveyed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Benjamin Arthur, was dated Friday, 10 January 2025.
The letter stated that the directive is part of the President’s efforts to safeguard state lands for the benefit of Ghanaian citizens and future generations.

As such, all ongoing and pending transactions must be halted without delay to facilitate a comprehensive review of the current framework governing the management of such lands.

The presidency further instructed Benjamin Arthur to submit a comprehensive report on all transactions involving state lands within 14 days.

You are further requested to submit a detailed report of all recent and ongoing transactions concerning State and Public Lands to this office within fourteen (14) days of this communication.

In a related development, Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, disclosed that the team successfully blocked an attempted encroachment on state land by a private developer.

In a social media post on Saturday, 11 January, Ablakwa revealed that the team acted on a distress call from staff of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Gender, Children, and Social Protection regarding an attempted demolition of their bungalow located behind the State House, Accra.
According to the lawmaker, the developer who had sent thugs to the location claimed to have purchased the land last year.
Ablakwa further confirmed that the land capture attempt was successfully prevented by the President’s National Security Committee.
Read his Facebook post below.
 

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, John Dumelo, has shared his views on the use of sirens for parliamentary duties, stating that he does not consider them essential.
While acknowledging that sirens can make transportation more convenient, Dumelo asserted that they are unnecessary for him to carry out his role as an MP.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions among MPs regarding the use of sirens. Dumelo noted that while some of his colleagues support the practice, he personally disagrees.
Addressing a recent comment by Kwame Obeng Asare, popularly known as A Plus, who expressed a changed perspective on the necessity of sirens for MPs, Dumelo said:

I was with him in parliament for orientation, but I just left. A Plus says we need sirens, maybe that’s his opinion, but personally, I don’t think I need a siren.

He added:

I know some people do, and it’s a debate that has been ongoing for some time, but personally, I don’t.

Dumelo was elected as the MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon in the 2024 general election under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket.

The use of sirens by government officials, including MPs, has been a contentious issue in the past. A proposed law permitting their use faced widespread public backlash and was eventually shelved.
Dumelo’s comments come in the wake of remarks by Kwame Asare Obeng, known as A Plus, the newly elected MP for Gomoa Central, who has recently shifted his stance on the use of sirens.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews, A Plus recounted his experiences in office, which he said have reshaped his initial opposition to the practice.

I remember that before I entered Parliament, I was complaining about MPs and why they wanted sirens,” he confessed. “I called my friend, who is a dispatch rider. I said, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I am at my place.’ I said, ‘Please, I need you to take me out of this traffic and get me to the constituency now and bring me back to Parliament.’

Reflecting on the demands of his dual responsibilities as a legislator and constituency representative, A Plus admitted that he now understands why MPs advocate for the legal use of sirens.

It is not an easy task at all. Today, for instance, I was with the President in my constituency. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community had their annual convention in Gomoa Pomadze. I had to be at the convention and in Parliament at the same time.

He also highlighted the challenges MPs from distant constituencies face.

Can you imagine someone whose constituency is in, say, Paga, and you have to go there with the President and then return to Parliament on the same day? It’s difficult.

Both MPs’ statements reflect differing perspectives on a long-standing debate about the practicality and necessity of sirens for easing the logistical burdens of parliamentary duties.

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