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The Mahama administration, according to documents intercepted by Class FM in May 2016 leased over four acres of “unnamed plots” of prime lands along the Sekou Toure Street, Ridge Residential Area in Accra, to former President Jerry John Rawlings at a yearly irrevocable rent of GHS10 for 99 years renewable for 50 years after expiration, for purposes of establishing the Rawlings Foundation.

Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, who confirmed the transaction to Class News’ Jonas Ofori-Yeboah on Tuesday, 17 January, said the allocation of the property to Mr Rawlings was part of his “entitlement” as a former president.

According to him, similar arrangements were made for former President John Agyekum Kufuor even though he could not confirm how much Mr Kufuor is supposed to pay as rent for the leased property per year.

“Lands have also been allocated to former president Kufuor close by former president Rawlings’ residence, which is the area in question. … That area actually encompasses the residence of former president Rawlings where he is staying currently; a fairly large compound.

“It followed, from what I believe and understand, from the fact that former president Rawlings should be housed.

“This was done on advice of technical people in the Lands Commission, that is, the form of grant, it could not be a freehold, it had to be a lease. It had to do with the need and the requirement for the housing of former president JJ Rawlings, basically that’s what it’s all about because he lives there and then he could use part of it as an office.