State capture: His radio station is on a land that belongs to the local assembly

Deputy National Communication Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Malik Basintale has confronted the Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia over accusations made against former President John Dramani Mahama.

Speaking on live TV on Thursday, July 18, 2024, Basintale accused Chinnia, who is also the Member of Parliament for Sissala East constituency of hypocrisy for falsely accusing former President Mahama of acquiring state lands and properties.

Basintale claimed that Chinnia himself had acquired several state assets for personal use.

"Honourable Chinnia was on Good Morning Ghana two days ago, accusing President Mahama of buying state lands without any proof. Meanwhile, he has been involved in acquiring state property himself," Basintale stated.

The NDC deputy communication officer listed several state lands allegedly acquired by the deputy sanitation minister.

"As we speak now, his radio station is on government land in Tumu that belonged to the local assembly. How did he acquire that land?

“Number two, near the stadium in Tumu, he’s putting up a filling station on government land. How did he acquire that? State land. Yet he falsely accuses President Mahama," Basintale asserted.

He further accused Chinnia of acquiring a residential property in Wa that previously belonged to the state.

"The property you stayed in as deputy minister in Wa, you’ve acquired the land next to it. How did you get it? It’s state property now in your name," he added.

Basintale also alleged that Chinnia has been benefiting from sole-sourced contracts, forming a company with friends and awarding road contracts worth millions to his brother.

"His brother formed a company called Batowese, along with his driver and cousin. As deputy minister, Chinnia awarded a road contract worth 12 million to his own brother. They captured all the projects in Tumu," Basintale claimed.

Reacting to the allegations on GHOne TV, Chinnia argued that acquiring state properties is not a crime if the appropriate processes and procedures are followed.

He disagreed with the notion that public officials should not buy state lands, stressing that no law prohibits them from doing so.

"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," Chinnia clarified.