There is simmering tension building up among some disgruntled military officers which could mature into an inferno as sources say a parcel of land belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has “virtually been sold to foreigners for pittance”. Source within the military hierarchy has hinted The New Crusading GUIDE that a parcel of land which belongs to the Military Music Band Training School also known as Butler Lines has been “given away as a gift”, to Max Mart, a Lebanese-owned shopping mall. The land, which measures about 70x100m, is just behind Max Mart and close to “Ofie”, a popular restaurant which is patronized by both the Military and civilians. According to the source, ever since it was announced at a durbar a few weeks ago about the transaction, “the soldiers went crazy with some even threatening to pull the intended building down as soon as it was started”. When the New Crusading Guide reporter visited the parcel of land in question last week, workers of Max Mart were busily digging foundation meant for an imposing building. Some soldiers, who talked to the paper on condition of anonymity due to their Military Code of Ethics, wondered why “a security zone like military barracks could be sold to foreigners for commercial use”. According to the source, the intended “imposing building would make it difficult for officers at Butler Lines to have a clearer view of the other side of the barracks”. Although attempts to elicit clarification from the Military High Command proved difficult, information gathered indicates that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Military and Max Mart was based on the understanding that, Max Mart, after being given the land, would in turn build a music hall for the use of the Music Band School. A source, indeed, has hinted that, the Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Henry Smith, and the Chief Director have both signed on behalf of the Military. The fuming soldiers questioned the rational behind the “unfortunate deal”. “Is the Minister telling us that the government is so broke that it can not build a common Music Band for us (Military)?” they asked. The purported sale of military lands by the previous Kufuor-led administration was a major campaign issue during the 2008 general elections with the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), making capital out of it. The accusations by the NDC were so intense that, a Supreme Court Judge, Justice Kpegah jumped into the fray by sending the then NPP government to court. Justice Kpegah claimed in various media interactions that a plan by the Military High Command to sell all lands and other assets of the Ghana Armed Forces was an act which contravened the Constitution and amounted to disbanding the GAF. Source: Gordon Asare-Bediako/The New Crusading Guide/Ghana