I don’t have to dare him, he is a public officer, he should bring out any evidence of sale of state lands – Abu Jinapor tells Okudzeto Ablakwa

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has urged Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to publicize any evidence in his possession to suggest that state lands are being sold.

Speaking exclusively to TV3’s Eric Mawuena Egbeta prior to the launch of the NPP’s manifesto on Sunday, the Minister said it is duty-bound for Okudzeto Ablakwa as a public officer to bring out any evidence of wrongdoing and not wait to be dared before doing so.

His comment comes after Okudzeto Ablakwa has threatened to publish names of persons involved in the capture of state lands after the Lands Minister held a press conference to debunk claims of capture of state lands.

The Damongo MP noted that he would appreciate if Ablakwa provides his office with document to support his claim.

“Why should I dare him, I don’t have to dare him. He is a Member of Parliament; he is a member of legislature of this country, he is a former Deputy Minister. I presume that he is a responsible public officer, if he has any evidence of wrongdoing, nobody should dare him to put it out, it is his responsibility and duty to put it out.

“It’s all of us our collective responsibility that when there is an issue which is not in the national interest, we expose it. Nobody should dare him before, if he has any document, he should put it out.

“I will be very grateful to him if he furnishes me with such information,” he said.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, August 13, Abu Jinapor asked the people making that allegation to provide evidence to back the claims to enable appropriate actions to be taken.

Answering questions at the event, he said “there is a question about selling public lands to public appointees. The rule of the game is evidence, if anybody has evidence that a public appointee has bought public lands and has done so in a manner that offends the code of ethics of public officers and that the person has put himself in a position of conflict of interest, why not, we will take a look at it.

“For myself, as a general rule, I do not think that public appointees should go anywhere near public lands. I think if you want lands to buy, go and look for lands in the private space not public lands because of the very thing line of conflict of interest, it is very easy for you to cross that line but if you have any evidence that any public officer has bought lands and he has done so inappropriately we will be happy to look into that.”

The Damongo lawmaker further stated that claims that lands belonging to the judicial service were sold under the Akufo-Addo were false.

The post I don’t have to dare him, he is a public officer, he should bring out any evidence of sale of state lands – Abu Jinapor tells Okudzeto Ablakwa first appeared on 3News.

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