We are not selling military lands – Prez. Mahama

• Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

PRESIDENT John Mahama has denied rumours making the rounds that military lands are being sold out to private developers.

The President debunked the allegations yesterday, when he inaugurated a new accommodation facility for junior officers of the Ghana Air Force at Takoradi, in the Western Region.

The two-storey complex, named after the Chief of Air Staff, Air-Vice Marshal Samson-Oje, consists of 20 unit-two bedroom-apartments.

Recently allegations were rife that lands belonging to the military were being sold out indiscriminately, including the official residence of the Chief of Defence Staff.

A group calling itself the Alliance for Safeguarding the Integrity of the Security Services also joined the fray.

However, the Military High Command, in a statement denied the allegations, explaining that the lands in question, were instead being used as a joint venture on a value for money basis.

“The venture is aimed at making maximum use and preventing encroachment on military lands,” the statement said.

President Mahama, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), indicated that cabinet had been discussing the idea of using public-private-partnerships (PPPs) in several projects.

He, therefore, advised the GAF to work with the Lands Commission so that they could get value for money under PPP.

He stressed the government’s commitment to meet the accommodation needs of the security agencies, saying that following the botched STX deal, government had allocated some of the affordable housing projects at Borteiman to the security services.

President Mahama disclosed that the government had completed the processes to pave the way for the supply of Z-9 military helicopters, CASA 295 aircraft and other equipment for the GAF.

Air Vice-Marshall Oje, expressed gratitude for the honour done him by naming the complex after him, and urged that the structure be maintained as and when necessary to prolong its life span.

-Ghanaian Times