K�dua Poly Loses GH�293, 000 To Land Claimants

THE JUDGMENT Debt Commissioner, Justice Yaw Apau has advised authorities of the Koforidua Polytechnic to as a matter of urgency take appropriate steps to identify the rightful owners of the remaining 50.36 acres of land in its possession to avoid future compensation payments. Justice Apau made this call after the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Renus Okai appeared and told the commission that out of the total land of 78 acres acquired under EI 54 2008 Act 125, five claimants have come out to claim ownership of 28.049 acres leaving the remaining 50.36 to be identified. According to the Rector, so far two out of the five who came out have been paid their compensation but the rest are yet to be settled. He told the commission when asked by Counsel Kofi Dometi Sokpor if he had identified the owners of the remaining 50.361 acres of land which forms the greatest portion of the land, Prof. Okai stated that the land is divided into two. And that out of the total 78 acres, 38 belonged to the New Juabeng Traditional Area while the remaining 39 acres belonged to the Akuapem North District. He told the commission that in December 2010, the school received a letter from the Land Valuation Division, listing the names of five claimants of the land, and an amount of GH�293, 000.00 was paid to two of the five; with the rest of the claims still being processed. He further stated that the polytechnic has utilized virtually all the land and when asked if there were encroachers, he said only one person has encroached on the land, but indicated that measures are being taken to get him ejected. When asked of the names of the five claimants listed to him, Prof. Okai gave the names as Madam Akua Odeibea, (Comfort Aboagye), Ama Tiah, R. O. Appiah, Ben Gyampo family and J. W. Ofori-Addo respectively. It was, however, discovered on documents available to the commission that Madam Akua Odeibea swore an affidavit and claimed the compensation with the name, Comfort Aboagye. When the commissioner asked if he was aware Property Lamed Limited conducted some valuations for claimants for compensation, he said he had no knowledge of that. Mr. Okai also said letters have been written to the New Juabeng Municipality to exempt them from the payment of the compensation to claimants of those of the Akuapem North District, since after six months the EI 54 2008 Act 125 states that no one has the right to put in any claim. But, he was told by the commissioner, Justice Apau that many of such things have happened to the state and the state ended up paying such compensations to claimants and further urged him to settle the scores with the owners as soon as possible. He tendered in documents pertaining to the claimants and payments made. The commission�s sitting continues today.