Lands Ministry to sell more public lands lying idle

Mr Mike Hamah

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Mike Hamah says his ministry is joining forces with the Ministry of Works and Housing to identify state assets lying idle across the country for redevelopment.

A similar initiative, the Accra Re-development policy, has led to the sale of state assets mainly to key political figures.

The policy has been widely criticized in the wake of the Jake Obetsebi Lamptey ridge bungalow controversy.

Mr. Hamah, says the policy will be extended to those in the private sector with the hope of boosting the country's housing stock.

“We would provide accommodation not only for the public and civil servants but also for the private people, I mean the critical mass of investors who are likely to troop into this country as a result of the oil find and some other economic activities that are currently going on,” he said.

Mr Hamah noted the leasing of public lands to private individuals for redevelopment was piloted under the previous NDC government and it worked well.

He said similar provisions will be made elsewhere in the regions, citing Sekondi-Takoradi and Kumasi.

The policy, he stated, optimizes the use of land.
“You have water, you have electricity and you have one bungalow, one bed room sitting on it and there is a prime land that you can sell and get a market price and put up additional bungalows and houses for public servants to keep them close to the ministerial enclave to enhance productivity, you can't have anything better than this,” he maintained.