Chief Begs CJ �To Enforce Court Order

The Adam Kwartei Royal Family of the Gbawe Stool has provided land title documents and court rulings declared in their favour over the Akukorfoto land at Dansoman, a suburb of Accra and called on the President and Chief Justice to help enforce the court ruling. The family said they have also secured a Mandamus court order directing the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to demolish illegal structures at the site. Speaking at a press conference at Gbawe in Accra, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Gbawe Customary Land Secretariat, Stephen Kwaku Darku said a High Court Judgment dated July 11, 2006 presided over by Justice Victor Ofoe, ruled against the Sempe Stool and declared that, they, the Adam Kwartei Royal Family are the rightful owners of the Akukorfoto Land. Mr. Darku further explained that after the ruling, their interest in the Land was duly registered at the Lands Commissions. He said �since that time we have subsequently transferred our interest in the Akukorfoto Land to Osamanpa Estate Developers, who in turn leased a portion of the land to Alpha Beta Education Centre, as evidenced by a search report from the Lands Commission.� According to Mr. Darku, although Court judgement went against the Sempe Stool, �fraudsters� claiming to be elders of the Sempe Stool, have gone about claiming ownership of the Land and sold portions to unsuspecting developers. The PRO further said on May 5, 2009, a Court of Appeal presided over by Justice B.T Aryeetey sitting with Justices W.H.K Addoh and K.A Acquaye gave a ruling in favour of the Kwartey family over the same land. But, he noted that developers who got the land from the self-acclaimed elders of the Sempe stool did not check at the Lands Commission to verify the true owners before building their property without title documents and building permits. Mr. Darku further noted that despite a court order directing the AMA to demolish all structures on the land, the Assembly looks on unconcerned while people continue to build unauthorized structures with impunity. They, therefore, called on the Chief Executive of the AMA, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije to carry out the order as granted by the Court immediately to bring sanity to the area and stop the lawlessness that is taking place under their noses. According to them, the legitimate owners of the land have secured registered documents and permits from the AMA and the Town and Country Planning Department for the construction of a school structure and other facilities but have been confronted by Land guards on daily basis. �In addition, legitimate grantees and owners of the said land who were granted interest to the land have secured land title documents and building permits from the AMA and the Town and Country Planning Department,� he said. They noted that the family will implement any strategy necessary to reclaim their land if the authorities fail to ensure that the Mandamus issued by the Court is carried out. �We, members of the Kwatei Family will use all means possible to fight and claim our land,� he warned.