The Real Estate Scandal: How the Powerful Steal with Pens Instead of Crowbars

Prof.Kwaku Azar pens a scathing critique of the government’s handling of public land, arguing that buying land at ridiculously low prices is nothing short of theft.

He asserts that when public officials acquire land worth millions for pennies, it’s not a smart deal, but rather a form of grand larceny.

Prof. Kwaku Azar questions the fairness of the DRIP Programme, citing instances where the government paid $84,000 for equipment that cost $40,000.

He argues that if overpaying is considered a crime, underpaying for public land should be treated similarly.

The professor laments the disparity in access to public land, noting that it’s often allocated to the well-connected, including ministers, MPs, and judges, rather than those who need it most.

He argues that this has created a phantom real estate market, where the powerful launder their loot, driving up housing costs for ordinary citizens.

Pro.Kwaku Azar calls for transparency and accountability, demanding that every discounted land sale be investigated and every beneficiary named.

He proposes a simple principle: no public land should be sold or transferred for less than fair market value, as determined by the Lands Valuation Division and publicly disclosed prior to sale.

Pro.Kwaku Azar concludes that theft with a title deed is still theft, and when public land becomes a playground for the powerful, democracy itself becomes the casualty.