Asaase Broadcasting Company has strongly refuted allegations that its headquarters, located at No. 7 Fifth Circular Road, Cantonments, was unlawfully acquired from state property.
These accusations were made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who cited court documents from the Judicial Service of Ghana.
According to the documents, the sale of the property, which was reportedly last occupied by Justice F.G. Korbie, was deemed unconstitutional and unlawful.
In a statement issued on Monday, 2 September, Asaase Broadcasting Company Ltd labeled Ablakwa’s allegations as “false and misleading,” stressing that the property was lawfully obtained by Lilly Homes Limited through legitimate procedures.
The company further explained that the land was originally purchased by Fosuaba Mensah Banahene in 2006 as an undeveloped plot and was later developed.
“The property was acquired by Fosuaba Mensah Banahene under a lease dated 18 July 2006. The property was bought as bare land and subsequently developed by Banahene,” parts the statement read.
The media house further clarified that Lilly Homes Limited legally acquired the property through an assignment of interest from Banahene, with the required consent from the Lands Commission, dated 15 July 2020.
Asaase emphasized that the property has been lawfully held without any legal issues. The statement also disputed claims that Justice F.G. Korbie or any other public official had ever lived at the address in question.
“The record on the property currently occupied by Asaase does not support Ablakwa’s assertion, which specifically claimed that the building was occupied by Justice Kordieh,” the statement added.
Asaase asserted that the building has never been the residence of a judge or any public official.
The media company clarified that in 2006, a nearby state bungalow was occupied by a senior female civil servant, while the adjacent property, formerly state-owned, was occupied by Rev. Canon Ing. William Hutton-Mensah, a former managing director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
“According to our checks, the only state bungalow that still exists after the refilling and is situated next door to the Asaase building was occupied by a female senior civil servant and not a judge in 2006”.
Asaase Broadcasting Company is calling on public figures, including Ablakwa, to ensure they thoroughly verify their information before making public statements that could unjustly harm the reputations of law-abiding individuals and organizations.
“Public figures like Ablakwa must exercise caution and thoroughly verify information before subjecting law-abiding persons and entities, such as Asaase Radio, to unjustifiable opprobrium,” the statement added.
The company stated that the attack seemed to be aimed at Asaase Radio’s chairman, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, despite the fact that the property in question is leased to a third party with no ties to Otchere-Darko.
“It appears that the target of Ablakwa’s attack is the chairman of Asaase Radio, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, over a property that was leased to a third party who has no relationship with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko over 18 years ago”.
Asaase Broadcasting Company Ltd has consequently requested that the North Tongu MP cease making further unverified and defamatory allegations against the company.
“We entreat Ablakwa to desist from making further unmeritorious defamatory claims against Asaase Radio. His eagerness to rush such unverified claims undermines the principles of truth and integrity”.
*Read Full Statement below:*
