Greater Accra Lands Commission Boss Denies Abusing His Office

Lawyers for Oko Nikoi Dzani, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission, have debunked allegations that their client abused his position by circumventing the process and benefitting from the sale of the state lands. The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) last week accused the Regional Chairman of not following due process in acquiring the state lands and urged the Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to launch investigations into the issue. But in a statement issued on the subject, his lawyers, Peasah-Boadu and Co, claim Oko Nikoi Dzani acquired the property in 2008, long before he was made chairman of the Commission. Outlining the processes for the acquisition the lawyers explained that in December 2006, NDK Financial Services Ltd, of which Mr Nikoi Dzani is Executive Chairman, paid 500 Ghana cedis and applied to participate in a bidding process for the sale of plots of land under the phase 2 of the Development of Government Residential Properties. Read below the full statement NDK Financial Services Land situated at Cantonments Residential Area, Accra. We act and write on the instructions of NDK Financial Services� Limited, (our client) in respect of the above-mentioned party. Our client�s attention has been drawn to recent publications, both in the electronic and print media, which purport to create the impression that our client acquired the above-named property after 2009, when its Chief Executive Officer, Oko Nikoi Dzani was appointed Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission. The true facts are as follows: In accordance with the Development of Government Residential Properties-Sale of Plots Phase ll, the Government, in or about December, 2006 issued a Public Invitation for bidding and interview processes for sale of plots under phase ll of the scheme. Our client purchased application forms at the cost ofGH�500.00 and was issued a receipt No. 0061506 dated 27th December, 2006 by the Lands Commission. Our client subsequently attended interview at the Ministry of Works & Housing together with other applicants, in 2007. By a letter dated October 6, 2008, ref. no. SCR/KS-173/207/01E, the Minister of Works & Housing informed Lands Commission that our client�s bid was �adjudged successful by the Technical Committee at the PI (Public Invitation) bidding and interview process�. By an offer letter dated November 18, 2008, ref. no.AC/10747/3, under the heading Allocation of Plot no. 48A Cantonments Residential Area for Development, Lands Commission duly allocated to our client, Plot no. 48A, Cantonments Residential Area, at the price of GH�167,000.00 subject to the terms and conditions of the offer letter. Our client duly accepted the offer, by a letter dated 25th November, 2008. By receipt no. 0001671 dated 10th December, 2008, issued by Lands Commission, our client fully paid for the cost of the plot allocated to it. It is clear from available, documentary evidence, that our client acquired Plot No. 48A, Cantonments, Accra, through due process, consummated at the time when its Chief Executive, was not the Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission. Our client wishes to point out, however, that, though a formal lease for the property was executed by National Chairman of the Lands Commission on 24th March, 2011, the property was allocated to it long before its Chief Executive assumed office as Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission. The law is settled that in agreement for a lease is as good as a lease. The true facts of the acquisition of the property by our client show clearly that the impression sought to be created by recent publication in both electronic and print media, that our client improperly acquired the property, is not borne out by the records. Signed Lawyers for NDK Financial Services LTD Peasah-Boadu and Co