'Gov’t Flouts Supreme Court Ruling; Takes Back Jake's Bungalow'

The Government of Ghana has rescinded its decision to sell the Ridge property to the National Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, flouting a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday, May 23 in favour of the former minister. According to a statement titled Government Will Not Sell Property To Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and signed by the Minister of Information, Fritz Baffour, government said it has decided not to sell the state property in the interest of the people of Ghana. "In the supreme interest of the people of Ghana, and taking cognizance of the Supreme Court ruling in the matter of Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey's immoral acquisition of a State Property he occupied as a Minister of State, cabinet at its sitting today, Thursday May 24, 2012, has decided not to sell the said property”. The statement adds that "the property in question thus continues to remain the property of the State.” "Cabinet has also decided that no political appointee should ever be allowed to engage in any such unacceptable transaction." The Supreme Court in a 6:3 majority verdict Tuesday dismissed a suit by two deputy ministers, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Dr. Omane Boamah challenging Jake's acquisition of the property situated at No. 2 Mungo Street, Ridge. According to the Supreme Court ruling, the suit against Jake Obetsebi Lamptey does not border on conflict of interest and should have been taken to the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for proper interpretation. The court added that the plaintiffs failed to establish that due process was not followed in the acquisition of the bungalow by Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

Source: peacefmonline.com