Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has raised concerns about the loss of 11 acres from the Trade Fair lands, which have reportedly gone missing from the Lands Commission’s records.
The discrepancy was identified following a demarcation process conducted in October 2020, although the responsible individual or institution remains unidentified.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points, Ablakwa criticized the current situation and stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in managing state lands.
He commended his colleagues for pushing for a private member’s bill to combat state capture, which reflected his broader concerns about governance and land management.
In the same discussion, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, also on the panel, called for the resignation of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, attributing the alleged failures in land management and oversight to the minister’s lack of effectiveness.
“The Minister has failed in the two key areas of his ministry; he has to resign. Somebody must be held accountable,” Asamoa asserted, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction and urging labour unions to address land-grabbing issues and state capture in their grievances.
The Trade Fair site, initially acquired in 1967 via Executive Instrument E1.10, spans approximately 236.96 acres.
It is undergoing redevelopment to transform into a state-of-the-art mixed-use commercial estate, including shopping malls, offices, trade villages, leisure centres, hotels, cultural parks, and amusement facilities.
Dr. Agnes Adu, the Trade Fair Centre’s chief executive officer, outlined the ambitious plans for the redevelopment.
The revamped Centre, covering 150 acres, aims to be a hub for domestic, sub-regional, and international trade and commerce.
It will support local technological innovations and high-end manufacturing products, contributing to the government’s industrialization efforts and fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Ablakwa’s revelations about the missing land and Asamoa’s calls for ministerial accountability highlight ongoing concerns about governance and transparency in Ghana’s land management and redevelopment projects.