National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament(MP) for Twifo Atti Morkwa, David Vondee is worried over the criticisms Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong has faced in the 60% sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) four hotels.

Speaking on Asempa FM Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, Mr Vondee said Mr Acheampong as a businessman may not have committed any crime in investing his money in a profitable business.

Acknowledging he was against the sale of state assets, he however, questioned why the Abetifi lawmaker has become the target and not SSNIT who decided to sell off the shares.

Mr Vondee who indicated Mr Acheampong was a good friend suggested that if possible, the latter should let go off the hotels to settle the dust on the controversy.

Mr Acheampong who owns Rock City Hotel in the past weeks has been making the headlines after North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa exposed an attempt by SSNIT to sell some hotels to him.

The hotels at the center of the controversy include  Labadi Beach Hotel,  La Palm Royal Beach Resort,  Elmina Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, Busua Beach Resort, and Trust Lodge Hotel.

Many groups and individuals, including the Trades Union Congress, have condemned the transaction.

On Tuesday, Mr Ablakwa led a demonstration dubbed Hands off our Hotels, to compel President Akufo-Addo to prevent the sale of these hotels.

Listen to the MP in the video above:

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The structure which according to him included four and five-bedroom houses was demolished due to land litigation.

This he explained was one of many demolitions he has faced over the years as a Real Estate developer.

He, however, did not state the location of the property and when exactly the demolition took place.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Vondee on Asempa FM Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday said despite having all the appropriate documents, another person came to claim ownership.

“I had my land title, permit to build, and everything but someone claimed the land was for him and brought an excavator to demolish the building. I have been in court for six years and recently the judgment was given,” he stated.

The lawmaker shared his experience while commenting on issues regarding land tenure systems in Ghana, including landguard activities and housing projects.

He said the government has not been able to take charge of the land tenure system properly.

“The system is horrible and destroyed. Everybody who wants to fight for a land will become a landguard and acclaim themselves as chiefs. Nobody is guaranteed any security when it comes to housing,” he added.

Mr Vondee proposed government takes charge of land management from the chiefs and families as an assurance to citizens that, there are no issues with the land.

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Listen to the audio attached above:

David Vondee, NDC MP for Twifo Atti Morkwa in the Central Region, is accused of collecting the $2.4 million between August 2015 and July 2016 when his party was in power, allegedly under the guise of selling a tract of land to a private company called REI Ghana Limited.

Particulars of Offence

The particulars of offence signed by Vivian K. Osei Tutu, Senior State Attorney on behalf of the Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, said “David Vondee, between August 2015 and July 2016 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, with intent to defraud obtained the consent of personnel of Africa REI Ltd to part with the sum of two million, four hundred thousand US dollars ($2,400,000) by representing to them that your company owned twenty (20) acres of land located at Frafraha in the Adentan Municipality, free and clear of all encumbrances and that your company had title to sell the land to them, a representation you knew to be false at the time of making it.”

On the money laundering charge, the indictment document said “David Vondee, between August 2015 and July 2016 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, took possession of the sum of two million, four hundred thousand US dollars ($2,400,000) knowing it to be proceeds of crime.”

Case Facts

According to the AG’s Department, the complainant called Kojo Ansah Mensah, “is the Director of Africa REI Ghana Limited, while the accused David Vondee is the Chief Executive Officer and owner of Klenam Construction Limited.”

“In August 2015, the complainant, on behalf of his company, entered into a purchase agreement with Klenam Construction Ltd represented by the accused who is the CEO and owner of the company for twenty (20) acres of land situated at Frafraha in the Adentan Municipality at a cost of two million, four hundred thousand US dollars ($2 400,000 00).

“This was after the accused who represented Klenam Construction Ltd at all material times made representations to officials of Africa REI Ghana Ltd that his company owned the twenty (20) acres of land, free and clear of any encumbrances and that the company had title to sell the land to Africa REI Ghana Ltd,” the document said, adding “based on these representations, African REI Ltd paid a total amount of two million, four hundred thousand US dollars ($2,400,000 00) to the accused between August 2015 and July 2016.”

Original Grantors

The AG’s Department said investigations, however, revealed that “these representations were false and that Klenam Construction Ltd had no title to the said land,” adding “investigations revealed that on May 28, 2015, the accused, through his company Klenam Construction Ltd, sought to purchase about eighty acres of land from his grantors at a total cost of nine million, six hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢9,600,000 00).”

“The terms of the agreement required the accused to make an initial payment of one million, six hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢1,600,000 00) to the grantors and to subsequently pay an amount of one million Ghana Cedis (GH¢1,000,000 00) every three (3) months till the agreed purchase price was fully paid,” the document said, adding “other terms of the agreement provided that the accused’s company shall be entitled to only a portion of land commensurate to the amount of money they had paid at the time should the company fail to pay the full purchase price at the agreed period.”

False Indenture

The AG’s Department said that “knowing that his company had not completed their financial obligations toward their grantors and therefore, had no title to any portion of the land, the accused proceeded to prepare an indenture covering about twenty (20) acres of the land in favour of the complainant’s company,” adding “the accused also presented a land title certificate number GA 44978 to the officials of Africa REI Ghana Ltd as evidence of his company’s ownership of the said land, even though there had been no valid registration of the land.

“Sometime in 2016, after the complainants had lodged a complaint of fraud against the accused to the police, the accused attempted to settle the matter amicably by granting to the complainant ten 10 acres of land as payment of the money taken from the complainant’s company. An official search at the Land’s Commission however, revealed the ten (10) acres of land did not belong to the accused or his company.”

According to the documents, Mr Vondee in his investigative caution statement admitted collecting $2.4 million from the complainant’s company in exchange for 20 acres of land which he has not been able to deliver to the complainant because he did not own the said land and did not have title to the lands he offered.