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The GH�340.000 as part payment of the compensation on the land compulsorily acquired by the State in 1995 for the Kpong Irrigation Project was given to the Dokutse Peteye and Abla families. The land, which was about 395.71 acres, was acquired by Executive Instrument (EI) 24 at Akuse for the Kpong Irrigation Project. This came to light when the Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Seth Mensah Dumoga, was subpoenaed by the Judgment Debt Commission to clear the mystery behind the judgment debt paid to some unidentified persons. Briefing the Commission, Mr. Dumoga said the State acquired the said lands in Akuse and surrounding areas for the irrigation project. He said the Land Valuation Division valued the land and made an offer of 1.5 billion old Cedis to the Chiefs who were the owners of which they accepted on February 26, 2005. He said he believes the compensation had been paid in full but there were no documents to prove the payment from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The Sole Commissioner, Justice Yaw Appau, wondered why the compensation were not paid by the State immediately it acquired the said land to avoid paying ridiculous interest. He said if there were no records of payment the beneficiaries of the compensation could come again for claims and therefore directed MoFA to seek clarification from the LVD and AG whether it had really been paid. In other matters, the Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Seth Mensah Dumoga yesterday told the Judgment Debt Commission that his outfit was not aware of the controversial USD$2.4 million and the USD$240,000 paid to the Carmichael Family in respect of the Aveyime livestock project. According to him, the said Carmichael family had never been before his outfit until his attention was drawn to it based on recent media publications highlighting the money paid to them. He said because of the media publications, the rightful owners of the land have also confronted the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for their compensation. The case for that particular matter has therefore been adjourned to the next two weeks. Also Counsel for Warrant Office (WO) Agyei Boadi also appeared before the Commission to brief it on what transpired between his client and the State and why the compensation had not been paid. According to him, WO Agyei Boadu is currently frail and bed ridden and, therefore, could not appear before the Commission. WO Agyei Boadi had earlier petitioned the Commission on the failure by the State to pay the compensation in the sum of GH�92000.00 due him when the State took over his properties including a house, a dam and a farm in Ekwamkrom. The land which was located at Ekwamkrom, now Budumburam camp, was given to him by one Prophet Ekwam near Kasoa and was taken over by the State for the Refugee Board and the Disaster Management Board to host the Liberian refugees. The said properties were taken over by the State when WO Agyei Boadi was seeking medical attention abroad.