Rawlings responds to allegations on land for Foundation

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has responded to allegations that he used his influence to gain a four-acre land in a prime neighbourhood in Accra.
According to the president, he wrote to the immediate past John Mahama government requesting for a piece of land to be used for a ‘Rawlings Foundation’.

According to a statement released by the office of the former president, the foundation would be dedicated to “humanitarian, educational, population control, HIV AIDS, health related projects, the preservation of nature and the promotion and preservation of cultural values.”

According to the statement, the Lands Commission responded that President Mahama had approved the allocation of a 4.368 acre land on the Sekou Toure Street, Ridge Residential Area, for the foundation.

Earlier, a letter circulating on the internet showed the document from the Lands Commission’s response. The letter said the land was to be given as part of entitlements enjoyed by former presidents. However, what has caused controversy is that the president would have to pay rent of a mere 10 cedis annually for 99 years for the lease.
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Lands Commission responds to Rawlings’ request

Although the former president has not denied the request, he has denied finality on the matter.
“No lease agreement was thus reached with the government,” the statement said.
Ridge Residential Area is among the prime areas in Accra and a plot of land would ordinarily cost in the hundreds of thousands of cedis.