An Accra based businessman (name withheld) has denied taking over a land belonging to the Information Services Department (ISD), as reported by a section of the media.
Speaking to The Chronicle, he contended that he has not taken over any ISD land and that the 0.34 acre land, which has become the subject of controversy, used to be a haven for some squatters and a dump site for some residents around the Kanda enclave for several decades, until he rightfully acquired it for development.
According to him, the land is actually located near TV3, at Kanda in Accra and at the tail end or bottom part of the said ISD land.
“It’s unfortunate, however, that for whatever reason or considerations, some faceless people are pushing this vile agenda against me, who is also a Ghanaian like any other person.
“As matter of fact, even the portion which belongs to the ISD has been left unattended to, since as far back as the 1960s when the land was allocated to the ISD and still lies unattended.
“So, one wonders why anybody would really have any qualms with development going on, on the small 0.34acre land just at the side of the ISD land. The levels of self-hate and sabotage between or amongst Ghanaians and the pull him down syndrome must stop! he said.
He showed The Chronicle documents to the effect that the said portion of land was leased to him on April 29, 2022 by the chairperson of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission, acting through the powers bestowed in him.
The said land by certificate of title dated June 11, 1929, was acquired by the government of Ghana for extension to European Residential Area.
However, pursuant to an application for lease by the lessee, the lessor “has agreed to the lease to the lessee the land situated at Kanda subject to the terms and conditions herein contained.”
The Chronicle reported on May 17, 2023 that the Lands Commission was encouraging a private developer to encroach upon a parcel of land allocated to the (ISD).
The report said the parcel of land was being developed despite ministerial orders to stop any further development, pending a decision by the government on the appropriate cause of action to take.
The land near TV3, at Kanda, in Accra, this paper was told, was allocated to the ISD as a duty post for its Directors, with documentation from the same Lands Commission as far back as 2002, a portion of which has been sold out to a businessman by the Lands Commission with document to back the transaction at the expense of a proposed ISD project, The Chronicle had reported.
