Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency Sam Nartey George has parried the threats by the Executive Council of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) over comments attributed to him on Accra-based Joy FM.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) is reported to have stated that money laundering is happening in the real estate sector in Ghana.
This, apparently, did not go down well with GREDA, which issued a statement to demand a retraction and an apology from the lawmaker.
“We demand an immediate unqualified apology and retraction of this unfortunate statement within 7 days of this press statement,” the Association said on Tuesday, July 25.
“We, however, wish to serve him notice and notice is hereby served that we reserve our right to seek legal redress should he not retract his unfortunate comments and apologise accordingly.”
But in a reply on Wednesday, July 26, Sam George says he is minded, first and foremost, by fidelity to the truth, his conscience and the general well-being of Ghanaians in making such statements.
“These considerations in my opinion supercede the whims of any individual or specific grouping,” he stated.
“It is shocking that an association like GREDA would seek to play the ostrich and display publicly the malaise that bedevils our beautiful Nation – hypocrisy! How GREDA can boldly seek to make the claim that they are unaware of the fact that money laundering is happening in the real estate sector of our Country is shocking and disappointing.
“This phenomenon is not peculiar to Ghana alone and in serious jurisdictions, legitimate industry players work with State authorities to rid their sector of these criminals.”
He also indicated that he will be inviting the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) to get interested in the corruption within the real estate sector.
“I would be inviting the Office of the Special Prosecutor to take a close look at certain developments in the coming days.
“I believe the Special Prosecutor must look at the due diligence processes your members undertake when selling property to prospective buyers, issues of dollar denominated transactions against Bank of Ghana regulations, failure to pay VAT and full tax obligations to the GRA and a number of issues that worry the mind of discerning Ghanaians.”
Find the full reply below:
I have taken note of a statement issued by the Executive Council of GREDA demanding an immediate unqualified apology and retraction of comments I made on the Joy 99.7FM Newsfile edition of Saturday, 22nd July 2023.
Let me start by stating that I have absolutely no intention to render an apology, qualified or not, nor make any retraction. As a public office holder, I am minded first by my fidelity to the truth, my conscience and the general wellbeing of the Ghanaian people. These considerations in my opinion supercede the whims of any individual or specific grouping.
It is shocking that an association like GREDA would seek to play the ostrich and display publicly the malaise that bedevils our beautiful Nation – hypocrisy! How GREDA can boldly seek to make the claim that they are unaware of the fact that money laundering is happening in the real estate sector of our Country is shocking and disappointing. This phenomenon is not peculiar to Ghana alone and in serious jurisdictions, legitimate industry players work with State authorities to rid their sector of these criminals.
Unfortunately, here in Ghana, we are seeing GREDA seek to silence any voice that points out this criminality. In my statement, I said there was money laundering in the real estate sector of Ghana and went ahead to explain what I meant and how it is carried out. I am surprised the GREDA Executive Council is seeking to ascribe the criminal activities to ALL of its members when no such allusion was made by me nor the host who actually introduced the subject of real estate into our conversation. It is akin to me getting offended by the statement that all politicians are thieves when I have never stolen public funds nor have US$1 million stashed in my house or anywhere in the world. That statement cannot apply to me but importantly, it does not make it false as there are some politicians whose wealth cannot be legally explained.
Let me state for the records that I have received messages from hardworking and credible real estate developers who are engaged in honest enterprise commending me for speaking out on an issue that threatens the viability of the sector. The attempt by the Executive Council to paint a picture that all GREDA members are saints and above reproach is one that would leave any discerning mind in stitches. We all remember the case in 2016 of Dr. Alexander Kofi Tweneboah – a former President of GREDA – who was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to 2 years in jail for the criminal enterprise of SIM boxing. Did any of the proceeds of his illegality go into his real estate developments? Was he not the President of GREDA? Did the association report him to EOCO/FIC as your statement sought to claim?
I am fortified in my belief that my position is one that the majority of Ghanaians agree with and believe in. I encourage GREDA to exercise any legal options available to your good selves as you have indicated in your statement. It may open a vista for a wider investigation into a sector that we may not have looked at closely.
I would be inviting the Office of the Special Prosecutor to take a close look at certain developments in the coming days. I believe the Special Prosecutor must look at the due diligence processes your members undertake when selling property to prospective buyers, issues of dollar denominated transactions against Bank of Ghana regulations, failure to pay VAT and full tax obligations to the GRA and a number of issues that worry the mind of discerning Ghanaians.
My office remains available to work with GREDA whenever it is prepared to deal with unscrupulous elements who use the sector to perpetrate illegality.
In service to GOD and Country.