Efua Sutherland Park land belongs to the state, Armah-Kofi Buah tells Parliament

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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reaffirmed that the land on which Efua Sutherland Park is situated remains the property of the state, citing official records dating back to 1959.Responding to a question on the floor of Parliament from the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the minister said documentary evidence confirms that the land was allocated for public use.According to Mr Armah-Kofi Buah, a Certificate of Allocation issued on November 13, 1959, granted the land to the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Housing’s Horticultural Division.He explained that the allocation was specifically intended for the development of public parks and children’s recreational facilities, making it clear that the land was reserved for public benefit rather than private ownership or commercial development.“The allocation was specifically made for the development of public parks and children’s recreational facilities,” the minister told Parliament.Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the official records reinforce the state’s ownership of the land and support ongoing efforts to preserve its intended purpose.His remarks come amid renewed public interest in the ownership and future of Efua Sutherland Park, a landmark recreational space in central Accra that has been the subject of concerns over encroachment and redevelopment.The minister noted that government remains committed to protecting public lands and ensuring they are used in accordance with their designated purpose.The clarification forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to safeguard state-owned lands and prevent their unlawful acquisition or conversion for private use.