Okwei Ian Tabalor, the Tema Central Constituency Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has refuted the claims made by Courage Makafui Nunekpeku, the Managing Director of Tema Development Company (TDC) Limited, who accused him of illegally selling a public plot of land to his wife for GHS 2,000.
According to Courage Makafui Nunekpeku, the land sold was located behind Tema Secondary School, which has since been retrieved for state development purposes.
Speaking to the media in Accra on Thursday, September 4, the Managing Director of TDC stated, “The NPP Tema Central Constituency Secretary sold that place to his wife at the cost of GHS2000.
The documents are with me, and I can make it available. When I went into the matter, I said no way, I engaged the woman, and I terminated the contract,” he stated.
He added, “…I am not grabbing any land, I am just doing the right thing for the Ghanaian. I terminated that contract, and now the place is for the state to be used as a public toilet.”
Reacting to the accusations, Okwei Ian Tabalor, the NPP Constituency Secretary, detailed that he had no involvement in the land allocation process.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Thursday, September 4, the NPP Constituency Secretary stated, “This is something that my wife drew my attention to — the fact that her brother, who is called Caleb Kisei, who was a former worker of TDC until he travelled out of the country, had a portion of a plot in the same area, which is Community Five”.
“According to her, the brother was the one who made her know that the next plot to his was also a commercial [plot] which she could apply for. According to her, she went through the process and applied… I have no hand in them. I am a protocol officer, not a manager. I am not responsible for land allocation.”
He further added, “The land allocation proposal of the fee that was given to Irene was assigned by Mr Asare Darko, who is the former Estate Manager of TDC. The man is alive. The lady went to the company to pay the said fee. She had even gone ahead to apply for permit for the said plot at TDC, which TDC had given her to develop the plot at GHS4,600.
“She had gone further to obtain ETA permit for the said plot. The said area is Community 5, the commercial enclave. The size of the said plot is 28 by 30 feet, which I have seen on the site plan.”
He further confidently stated that he had no influence on land matters at the TDC.
“My work had been to be in charge of events, be in charge of meetings, be in charge of governmental relationships or institutional relationships, and then sometimes when VIPs are coming into the company, I arrange facility tours and those things.
“So for the Managing Director to accuse me of the one to have sold a portion of the land to my wife, I think it is very unfair, very unfair”, he added.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced he has ordered the Land Ministry to conduct a comprehensive audit of state lands leased or sold between 2017 and 2024.
According to Mahama, the audit will be conducted by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Lands Commission, will cover lands acquired for state purposes.
Speaking at the newly reconstituted National Lands Commission during their inauguration on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, John Mahama stated, “I’ve directed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission to immediately undertake a comprehensive audit of all state lands allocated, leased or sold, particularly between 2017 and 2024”.
“This audit will cover lands acquired for schools, hospitals, and public institutions, forest and ecological zones, and lawfully converted to private use, any transaction tainted by conflict of interest, abuse of power, or political patronage,” he explained.
Mahama warned that any transactions found to have been carried out illegally will be reversed, and the land reclaimed by the state.
President Mahama further dismissed claims that the government is witch-hunting opponents, adding that the process will be conducted fairly and transparently.
John Mahama added, “Where illegality or impropriety is discovered, such transactions will be reversed and the land will be recovered to the government by law. We’re not on a witch hunt. Those who have legally acquired land through proper processes need not fear. This exercise is about fairness and justice”.
President Mahama further revealed that there has been a temporary ban on state land transactions.
“Today, with the inauguration of the new commission and the adoption of robust accountability measures, I am pleased to announce that the ban on land transactions has been lifted”, he said.