Lands Commission: Speaker’s Residence Not Sold
The Lands Commission has refuted the purported sale of the official residence of the Speaker of Parliament in Cantoments to a private developer.
In a statement released yesterday and signed by the acting Executive Secretary, Benjamin Arthur, the Commission stated emphatically that at no point in time was the said property sold to a private develope.
The statement indicated that records available to the Commission indicate that the land in question was acquired in 1920 by a Certificate of Title, dated 7th June, 1920 for Government services.
The Commission noted that since 2003, the land had always been used as the official residence of the Speaker of Parliament.
It said by an application dated 15th November, 2022, and numbered PS/LS/002/12/22, Parliamentary Service applied for a Certificate of Allocation to regularise their occupation of the land, which measures approximately 1.66 acres.
Clarification
At its 64th Regular Meeting held on 22nd December, 2022, the Regional Lands Commission approved the application, after all statutory processes, including planning approval from the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, had been duly concluded.
It revealed that on 14th February, 2023, the Lands Commission made an offer of allocation to Parliamentary Service. The statement also clarified that Parliamentary Service accepted the offer, and after paying the requisite fees, a Certificate of Allocation, dated 28th April, 2023 was issued to Parliamentary Service.
The statement noted that the Lands Commission is, therefore, unaware of any purported sale of the Speaker of Parliament’s official residence to a private developer.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to the prudent and efficient management of public lands in the national interest, and promote effective land administration that is anchored on the highest standards of integrity, transparency and candour.
