Political pressure is mounting on Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali after Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed called for his immediate resignation over questions surrounding a multi-billion-dollar agricultural estate that has sparked a national debate over transparency, wealth disclosure, and public accountability.
The controversy intensified after President Ali confirmed that he owns the sprawling agricultural property located at Long Creek along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, while firmly rejecting allegations that it was financed through corruption or misuse of state resources.
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Mohamed has alleged that the approximately 150-acre estate, which he estimates is worth more than GY$5 billion, is inconsistent with the president’s earnings as a career public servant. He argued that the scale of the investment raises serious questions about how it was financed and has demanded that Ali step down pending a full investigation.
The Opposition Leader also linked the controversy to proposed legislation expanding benefits for former presidents, claiming the measure could ultimately allow taxpayers to subsidize the maintenance of the estate after Ali leaves office. The government has rejected those assertions.
Adding to the pressure, Transparency International Guyana has called for an independent international investigationinto the president’s ownership of the property, citing concerns over possible conflicts of interest, public integrity, and the use of state resources. The anti-corruption organization said external investigators should lead the inquiry to ensure impartiality, while its local chapter would provide only logistical support and local context.
Responding to the allegations, President Ali insisted that the property is a farm, not a ranch, and said it has been in his possession long before he became president in 2020. He explained that the enterprise—which includes livestock, poultry, aquaculture, orchards, and crop production—was financed through commercial bank loans and private investments, not government funds.
“As required by law, the President has made the appropriate declarations to the Integrity Commission. The acquisition of his assets and the source of the funds used to acquire them are capable of verification through the relevant financial and regulatory records,” Ali said in a public statement.
The president further maintained that every asset and liability associated with the operation has been disclosed to the Integrity Commission and said banking records can independently verify the financing of the farm. However, Guyana’s Integrity Commission Act prohibits the public disclosure of asset declarations, limiting independent verification of those records.
Ali also accused members of the Mohamed family of orchestrating what he described as a politically motivated campaign against him, alleging they had previously attempted to pressure him over unrelated legal matters. The Mohamed family has denied those allegations.
The issue has broadened beyond the immediate dispute between the government and opposition. The People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) has called on President Ali to publicly disclose the financing arrangements for the property, arguing that full transparency is necessary to maintain public confidence in government.
As Guyana prepares for upcoming political contests, the controversy has evolved into one of the country’s most closely watched governance issues, placing renewed attention on public accountability, asset disclosure laws, and the standards expected of senior elected officials.
