[ 2012-05-29 ]

Mr Mike Hamah

Lands Ministry to sell more public lands lying idle
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.

Source - Joy News

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