Asaase Broadcasting Company has firmly denied allegations that its headquarters at No. 7 Fifth Circular Road, Cantonments, was unlawfully acquired from state property.
The accusations stem from claims made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, who released court documents from the Judicial Service of Ghana.
The documents allege that the sale of the property, which was reportedly last occupied by Justice F.G. Korbie, was unconstitutional and unlawful.
In a statement dated Monday (2 September), Asaase Broadcasting Company Ltd described Ablakwa’s assertions as “false and misleading,” emphasising that the property was lawfully acquired by Lilly Homes Limited through legitimate means.
According to the company, the land was originally purchased by Fosuaba Mensah Banahene in 2006 as bare land and was subsequently developed.
“The property was acquired by Fosuaba Mensah Banahene under a lease dated 18 July 2006. The property was bought as bare land and subsequently developed by Banahene,” the statement read.
The media house further clarified that Lilly Homes Limited legally obtained the property through an assignment of interest from Banahene, with the necessary consent from the Lands Commission dated 15 July 2020.
Asaase maintained that the property has been lawfully held without any legal complications.
The statement also refuted claims that Justice F G Korbie or any other public official had ever resided at the address in question.
“The record on the property currently occupied by Asaase does not support Ablakwa’s assertion, which specifically claimed that the building was occupied by Justice Kordieh,” the statement added.
According to Asaase, the building has never served as the residence of a judge or any public official.
The media company stated that a neighbouring state bungalow was occupied by a senior female civil servant in 2006, while the adjacent property, previously state-owned, was occupied by Rev. Canon Ing. William Hutton-Mensah, a former managing director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
“According to our checks, the only state bungalow that still exists after the refilling and is situated next door to the Asaase building was occupied by a female senior civil servant and not a judge in 2006.”
Asaase Broadcasting Company is urging public figures, including Ablakwa, to verify their information thoroughly before making public statements that could unfairly damage the reputations of law-abiding individuals and entities.
“Public figures like Ablakwa must exercise caution and thoroughly verify information before subjecting law-abiding persons and entities, such as Asaase Radio, to unjustifiable opprobrium,” the statement added.
The company said the attack appeared to target Asaase Radio’s chairman, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, despite the property in question being leased to a third party with no connection to Otchere-Darko.
“It appears that the target of Ablakwa’s attack is the chairman of Asaase Radio, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, over a property that was leased to a third party who has no relationship with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko over 18 years ago.”
Asaase Broadcasting Company Ltd has, therefore, called on the North Tongu MP to desist from making further unverified and defamatory claims against the company.
“We entreat Ablakwa to desist from making further unmeritorious defamatory claims against Asaase Radio. His eagerness to rush such unverified claims undermines the principles of truth and integrity.”
