Sir John’s assets frozen as OSP begins investigations into the improper acquisition of state lands
Assets of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John who served as Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission have been frozen by the Office of the Special Prosecutor pending investigation.
The OSP’s action is part of a probe into the acquisition of state lands that were contained in the will of the late CEO.
Sources also indicate that processes are underway to also freeze his assets overseas.
Last week, the Office of the Special Prosecutor started investigations into alleged corruption by Sir John, with regard to his alleged improper acquisition of state lands within the Achimota forest and the Sakumono Ramsar site.
The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry also said it would probe the parts of the will pertaining to the land acquisition.
Other civil society groups had petitioned the Special Prosecutor and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the acquisition of the state lands.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in a statement on May 24, 2022, said there was no land owned at the Achimota Forest or the Sakumono Ramsar Site by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie. That statement was met with public uproar from Ghanaians who felt it was another attempt by the government to clear its party stalwarts.
After the contents of his will was leaked showing that he bequeathed state lands to some relatives, it went viral online and sparked anger among many Ghanaians.
The emergence of the will came after the controversial declassification of parts of the Achimota Forest and return to its allodial owners.
