Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters, already mired in controversies involving corruption and financial crimes, is now facing scrutiny in Ghana over a contentious land deal involving prime airport property. The deal, connected to Peters’ company, Heaven Builders Limited, has raised eyebrows, prompting concerns about the transparency and integrity of high-profile transactions at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra.
Peters, who owns the Aiteo Group of Companies, is no stranger to controversy. His involvement in Ghana was first flagged when Frontier Healthcare Services, another of his companies, secured a contract for COVID-19 testing at KIA. The deal, which saw travelers paying a steep $150 per test, was widely criticized for its lack of transparency. Now, Peters is facing new allegations concerning a land deal with the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), which could see his company taking control of a substantial portion of state-owned land near KIA.
According to reports, Heaven Builders Limited is in negotiations with GACL to lease 62.14 acres of prime airport land for 99 years, a significant increase from the initial 38.41 acres that were valued at $85 million. This offer has been described by many analysts as severely undervalued, with the land’s actual worth, based on assessments by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, far exceeding $139 million.
Critics have voiced concerns that Peters is using his connections to the Akufo-Addo family, particularly the president’s younger brother, Edward Akufo-Addo, known as “Bumpty,” to secure the deal. These ties, critics argue, have allowed Peters to push for more land at a lower price, undermining Ghana’s financial interests.
The dispute has sparked a divide within GACL itself. While the company’s managing director, Pamela Djamson-Tettey, and the workers’ union have voiced strong opposition to the deal, the board of directors, chaired by Paul Adom-Otchere, appears split. Some members reportedly support the deal, while others, backed by GACL management, have raised concerns about the undervaluation of the land and the potential long-term consequences for the state.
The transaction has also attracted the attention of opposition politicians. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament, has been closely monitoring the situation. Ablakwa has pointed out that Heaven Builders Limited lacks a physical office presence at the addresses listed in its official documents. His investigations revealed that one address in Tema was an abandoned residential building, while another in Accra’s Central Business District could not be traced to any legitimate business operations. These revelations have further fueled concerns about the legitimacy of the company and its intentions.
The deal has reignited calls for transparency and accountability in how state assets are managed, particularly in the case of high-value lands like those surrounding Kotoka International Airport. Ghanaians are growing increasingly suspicious of the role foreign businessmen, like Peters, play in the country’s political and economic landscape, especially given his previous run-ins with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over money laundering and corruption charges.
As the controversy continues to unfold, many are demanding an immediate halt to the transaction, along with a thorough investigation into the dealings of Heaven Builders Limited and its connections to high-ranking Ghanaian officials. The unfolding saga has not only raised questions about the integrity of Ghana’s airport land deal but also about the broader issue of foreign influence and the need for greater accountability in public-private partnerships.
