Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah the Lands and Natural Resources Minister-designate has boldly stated that State lands should not be sold to shortchange Ghanaians.
He asserted that the guidelines for the sale of public lands according to the Lands Commission are that it is valued at 25 percent.
According to him, although state lands should not be sold, if it must be sold it must be done at the current market value and not to shortchange Ghanaians.
Speaking at his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Monday, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah stated, “As we speak, the guidelines for the sale of public lands according to the Lands Commission is that it is valued at 25 percent and the 25 percent of the value is what is sold and the rest is paid through grand rent”.
“That will not happen anymore, and first of all, it should not be sold and if there is a need to sell, it should be done at the current market value so that Ghanaians are not shortchanged”, he added.
On the issue of illegal mining, the Lands Minister-designate stated former president Akufo-Addo started the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) well but ended in failure.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah stated, “It’s true the NPP administration started very well, there was a ban on mining places, it was six months, and it extended to nine months”.
“But at the end of the 8 years, the outcome is what we all know degraded lands, polluted water bodies, and wanton destruction of forest reserves. These are clear facts that indicate that that fight against was a failure”, he stated boldly.
He revealed that under his administration, no license would be issued for mining in forest reserves and also illegal mining in Ghana’s forest reserves would be stopped.
