News
Revocation of EI 144 key to protecting state lands- Solomon Owusu urges government
Communications Director of the United Party, Solomon Owusu has welcomed cabinet approval to revoke the sale of state lands without an audit.
He stressed that the move will remain incomplete unless Executive Instrument 144 is also revoked.
Speaking in an interview at TV3 , Solomon Owusu, a land economist by profession, argued that EI 144, also known as the Cessation of Forest Act, opened the door for the transfer of protected forest lands to private interests under questionable circumstances.
He explained that the state began acquiring lands in the early post independence period to support national development, including housing for public sector workers such as teachers, nurses and doctors.
According to him, in the past, public servants posted to new areas were assured of accommodation, unlike today when many are left stranded.
Solomon Owusu linked the current housing challenges faced by public workers to the sale of state lands that were originally meant for government estates.
He accused past state actors of greed, noting that lands acquired for public use have been sold off, leaving the government without space to build essential infrastructure.
On the Achimota Forest, Owusu criticised the decision under EI 144 to release portions of the forest, claiming it was done under the false pretext of returning land to original families who had already been compensated.
He insisted that the lands never truly returned to the families but were instead shared among politically connected individuals.
Owusu praised the recent revocation of LI 2462, which allowed mining in forest reserves, describing it as a positive step.
However, he maintained that revoking EI 144 would demonstrate a stronger commitment to environmental protection and national interest.
He warned that the Achimota Forest remains one of the few green spaces providing clean air in the capital and should be fully protected to preserve its flora and fauna.
He raised concerns about the encroachment of prayer camps and other activities within the forest, blaming weak enforcement by the Forestry Commission for driving away wildlife.
He called on President John Mahama to revoke EI 144, arguing that such a decision would resonate strongly with the public and reflect respect for national heritage and future generations.
With Ghana’s population now exceeding 34 million, he stressed that the state needs land more than ever to support housing, public services and large scale investments.
He further alleged that some state lands have been transferred to politically exposed persons and their associates, citing cases involving prime properties previously belonging to state institutions.
Solomon Owusu questioned how comparative land valuations are sometimes ignored to favour individuals, adding that civil servants at the Lands Commission who facilitate such deals must also be held accountable.
He concluded that state lands belong to all citizens and must be preserved and used strictly for national development rather than private gain.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Member of Parliament for Kpandai constituency, Matthew Nyindam, has argued that he would have defeated the National Democratic Congress candidate if a rerun election had been held, insisting that his loss was a battle against the power of the state rather than a fair contest.
Nyindam explained that his legal challenge to the 2024 parliamentary election was based on irregularities in four polling stations.
He noted that his team expected the court to address those specific concerns, not to order a fresh election across the entire constituency.
According to him, the decision to rerun the election confirmed what he described as a long standing pattern of unfair conduct by the NDC in Kpandai.
He added that he anticipated the chance to appeal the ruling but was surprised when Parliament later declared his seat vacant.
Nyindam stressed that the declaration of the seat left him feeling unfairly treated.
He maintained that he won the election clearly and believed the process that followed was aimed at removing him from Parliament prematurely.
He further stated that the situation turned into a contest between himself and the state.
He explained that running against the full weight of government made the election difficult, as ministers, MPs, chief executives and other officials were actively involved in campaigning, with resources flowing into the constituency.
Despite these challenges, Nyindam expressed confidence in his political strength, stating that under normal circumstances he would have beaten his opponent comfortably.
He added that he ultimately left the outcome in the hands of God, believing that destiny would determine whether he returned to Parliament.
Nyindam concluded that although the experience was painful, he believes it will serve a greater purpose in his political journey.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, has admitted that the party did not achieve its desired results in the Ashanti Region during the 2024 general election but maintained that the region remained the party’s strongest support base.
Addressing the media after a post election review, Wontumi said the party quickly set up a regional committee to investigate the reasons for the loss and to propose solutions.
He explained that a subcommittee was tasked to study what went wrong and recommend ways to improve future performance.
According to him, the committee’s report highlighted both the party’s mistakes and areas that need improvement.
He noted that the party has taken lessons from the findings and is ready to make changes.
Wontumi stressed that he learns quickly and is committed to applying the recommendations.
He emphasized that despite not meeting expectations, votes from the Ashanti Region significantly contributed to the party’s overall national performance.
He explained that the region pushed the party to the final figures it recorded in the 2024 election and still produced more votes than any other region.
Wontumi added that a post mortem of the results would show that the Ashanti Region performed better than others, even though the party fell short of its target.
He described the region’s effort as commendable.
He said the party now understands what voters in the Ashanti Region expect and assured them that the NPP will engage them better and work to meet their needs in future elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
