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The Director of the National Investigation Bureau (NIB), Nana Attobrah Quaicoe, has taken a significant step towards accountability by voluntarily returning a parcel of state land he unlawfully acquired.
The land, located in the agri-mechanisation area near the El Wak Stadium in Accra, was part of a rezoning exercise carried out under the previous administration, which has been criticised for procedural flaws.
In a telephone interview with Channel One News’ Hanson Agyemang, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu confirmed that Nana Attobrah Quaicoe reached out to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, chairman of the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), to inform him of his decision to relinquish the land.
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Kpebu highlighted that the rezoning process, which involved the illegal acquisition of the land, lacked proper procedures, including parliamentary involvement, making the entire exercise illegitimate.
“The land was rezoned without following due process, which makes the acquisition of it problematic,” Kpebu explained.
He added that the checks at the Town and Country Planning Department revealed that the necessary legal steps, including consultations with Parliament, were not followed, rendering the land acquisition unlawful.
Nana Attobrah Quaicoe’s decision to voluntarily return the land comes as part of ongoing efforts by the government to address corruption and mismanagement of state assets.
In a public statement, Quaicoe expressed his commitment to upholding the law and restoring public trust in the administration’s integrity.
“I recognise the importance of adhering to the rule of law, and it is only right that I return the land to the state. This is a personal decision, but one that I believe reflects my commitment to transparent governance and accountability,” Quaicoe stated.
This action aligns with the mission of ORAL, a body established by President John Dramani Mahama in December 2024, to recover state assets unlawfully taken by individuals, particularly during the previous administration. ORAL, a five-member committee led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been tasked with investigating and recovering properties that were improperly seized and taking action against those involved.
The ORAL team has made significant strides in its mandate, which includes the recovery of stolen or misappropriated state resources.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, while speaking on the development, praised the NIB director for his decision. “This is a step in the right direction,” Ablakwa said. “We hope that this will set a strong precedent for other individuals who might still be in possession of state assets unlawfully acquired.”
The return of the land by the NIB director is seen as a crucial moment in the ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and ensure that state resources are returned to the people. Analysts have lauded this move as a sign of the government’s commitment to restoring trust in the management of public resources and holding individuals accountable for the misappropriation of state assets.
As part of its investigation, ORAL continues to examine other cases of state asset mismanagement and is expected to announce further developments in the coming weeks. The committee remains dedicated to transparency and ensuring that all state resources are recovered and returned to their rightful owners—Ghanaian citizens.
The land in question, which was improperly rezoned under the previous administration, will now be returned to the state for proper management, with the government working to ensure that the proper legal procedures are followed moving forward.
This move comes at a time when the current administration is under increasing pressure to address issues of corruption and mismanagement.
