Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul says a statement he made about former president John Mahama’s property sited close to Burma Camp, was an advise to the ex-president to vacate the military territory.
According to him, the continuous stay of the former president in a house he acquired from an estate developer, could give a further “impetus” for people to continue to encroach on the military property.
Dominic Nitiwul at a news conference last Thursday, December 7, fumed over what he described as the indiscriminate sale of military lands by public officers in collusion with officers of the Lands Commission.
The Defense Minister named ex-president John Mahama whom he accused of being a beneficiary of the military lands sold indiscriminately in the last couple of years.
But Mr. Mahama’s office in a strong-worded statement described as "irresponsible" and "reckless", the Defense Minister's claims.
“We presume that the Minister’s irresponsible claim is in respect of the current residence of the former first family. President Mahama has not appropriated or acquired any land or property belonging to the military and which he is currently occupying.”
“President Mahama has not appropriated or acquired any land or property belonging to the military and which he is currently occupying”, his Aide, Joyce Mogtari said in the statement.
On Tuesday, East Dadekotopon Development Trust (EDDT), a claimant to the ownership of the land, corroborated the position of the ex-president. Secretary to the Trust, Nii Yemoh at a news conference also described, the claim by the Defense Minister is false and misleading.
It rather turned out that the Mr. Mahama acquired the property very close to the Burma Camp, an area the government is said to have earmarked for acquisition due to its proximity to the military installation.
Clarifying his position Wednesday in a telephone interview from Nigeria, where he is for an official assignment, the Defense Minister said the statement he made was rather to advise the former president who is also a former Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to consider relocating.
“That because, he [Mahama] as former Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, is giving people the impetus to encroach…that is giving me sleepless nights [and] it is giving the military sleepless nights as well,” explained on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM.
He ruled out any intent of politicising the issue by naming the ex-president as a beneficiary of the sale of military lands.
Despite the backlash that greeted Mr. Nitiwul’s comments, the Defense Minister is contented at the discussions generated over the matter.
“…my aim was to make sure that people do not make reference to the former president living there and using it as an impetus.
“Anybody who wants to build there will think twice; anybody who wants to acquire land there will think twice [and] I think I have achieved that aim,” the Minister told Kojo Yankson, host of the show.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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When you lie your way to power you would need thousands of lies to keep you there for a while but nemesis is catching up on this irresponsible loose talking government. Their leader talks without checking his facts and it has transcended into all his aids so immature Nitiwul would pretend to be fumed and lie to the Ghanaian public when he knew the truth. IT has been their agenda to paint the EX President black so Ghanainas would not accept him but its all failing like a pack of playing cards. God is watching.
Misplaced position brews nothing dislocation of ideas and terrible waste of potential.
see this tw3rp!!! what sense do u have to try advising someone???
Elsewhere, the minister of Defense position is given to accomplished men (mostly) who are level-headed, non-overly partisan and above all intelligent. If you compare, the likes of Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor and Brigadier Smith to Nitiwul it is clear that President Akuffo Addo erred in this appointment. This is not a ministry for noise makers; it's a serious part of governance and it makes me wonder if the brain drain in Ghana has become that bad.
This Minister of Defence is the most use - less* Minister I have ever seen.
YOU MEAN ADVICE? LOCAL LANGUAGE AFUTUO. DID LISTEN TO THE TAPE WELL WELL. HMMMMMM
That's a childish talk, Mr. Minister. Shame on you for disrespecting the Former President. The moment I heard your nomination to head the Defense Ministry, I cringed because I knew you would messed up and truly you have done it big time. It will be better for you to apologize to Mr. Mahama to save your image.
+non+sense advice. go n give this advice to ur parents at the north to take their bath
are you talking? please you better keep mute like a corpse. is Mahama the only one residing on the Military land? you guys for learn, you are not on political platforms again to tell lies. the propaganda must cease forthwith.
***barred word*** GO AND ADVISE YOUR FATHER DRUNKARD