Politics of Thursday, 31 October 2013

Source: joyonline

Angry NDC youth storm Jake residence to resist handover

Some irate youth of the National Democratic Congress have stormed the Number 2 Mango Street property of NPP chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey at Ridge here in Accra, Thursday morning.

It follows a High Court ruling instructing government to hand over keys to the bungalow to Mr Obetsebi Lamptey.

Current occupant of the house Nii Lantey Vanderpuije is expected to present the keys to the Public Works Department today for onward presentation to Jake, but the youth have vowed to stop the action.

Chief Baba who led the chanting angry youth to the residence told Joy News' Elton John Brobbey they will resist any attempt to hand over the bungalow to Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

The NPP chair bought the bungalow in 2008 after he occupied it for eight years as minister under the erstwhile Kufuor regime.

He bought the bungalow under a redevelopment policy introduced in the 1990s.

When the NPP government lost power in 2008, the Mills administration was reluctant in handing over the bungalow to the new owner. The bungalow was then allocated to Nii Lantey Vanderpuiye who was then an aide to the late President John Mills.

Two members of the NDC Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Omane Boamah later took the matter to the Supreme Court, challenging the propriety of the sale of the bungalow. They accused Jake of dabbling in conflict of interest and abuse of office.

The court ruled in favour of Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. A high court subsequently ordered the release of the bungalow's keys to Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

But the youth claim they will resist any attempt by the Public Works Department to handover the keys to Obetsebi Lamptey.

Chief Baba said said the Jake of 2000 he knew could not have bought this bungalow but only did so because he was minister.

He found it intriguing how Jake bought that bungalow, when ET Mensah, who also occupied that bungalow did not find it prudent to do so.

When he was reminded that the sale of the bungalow was legal, Baba retorted "legal means indeed."

He said they will resist any attempt to handover the keys to Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

Elton John Brobbey said the police are yet to arrive at the venue of the demonstration.