The Lands Commission has denied media reports suggesting that the Speaker of Parliament’s official residence at Cantonments has been sold to a private developer.

The Commission in a statement emphatically said at no point in time was the said property sold to a private developer by the Lands Commission.

Records according to the statement available to the Commission indicates that:

1.   The land in question was acquired in 1920 by a Certificate of Title, dated 7th June, 1920 for Government services.

2.   Since 2003, the land has always been used as the official residence of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament. 

3.   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.

4.   At its sixty-fourth (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.

5.   On 14th February, 2023, the Lands Commission made an offer of allocation to Parliamentary Service.

6.   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 Lands Commission said it 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.