Buying state land is no crime under the right procedure

The Member of Parliament for Sissala East constituency, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, has asserted that acquiring state properties is not a crime, as long as the appropriate processes and procedures are followed.

According to him, he disagrees with public debate by some persons who argue that public officials should not buy state lands, stressing no law prohibits certain persons, specifically public officials, from buying state lands.

The Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources explained, however, that there is a procedure laid down for individuals who express interest in purchasing state assets.

“It’s not a crime for any Ghanaian to go through the proper process established to buy state land. It has never been the case”, he clarified.

The NPP lawmaker made this known while responding to accusations made against him by the Deputy National Communication Officer for the NDC, Malik Basintale, on GHOne TV’s July 18, edition of the GH Today show.

Malik Basintale on the show, called for the prosecution of Chinnia for allegedly acquiring several state lands as a government appointee.

In response to a question on if it is fair for public officials who have a fair advantage to purchase state assets, the MP said “That is where I have my disagreement, complete disagreement. It cannot be the case that any other Ghanaian can buy a piece of land but whiles you are an appointee, you cannot buy a piece of land. It cannot be the case. There is no law that says that a certain class of Ghanaians can acquire state assets but another sect of Ghanaians cannot acquire state assets.”

The issue of state capture by public officials recently came to the fore when the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, exposed SSNIT’s intended sale of 60% stake in 4 Hotels to Rock City Hotel, belonging to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.

MAG/AE