Officials of the Nungua Stool have affirmed one Theophilus Teiko Tagoe, a Ghanaian businessman as the rightful owner of a disputed parcel of land situated at Adjiringanor in Accra.
The land, measuring about 3.68 acre has come under dispute with various factions laying claim to it.
In a press release issued and signed by Nii Gbosange, the Nungua Stool Secretary, who is known in private life as Rainsford A. Addotey, it said, all persons know and unknown, claiming ownership of the land are not the rightful owners.
Addressing the media at Nungua in Accra, Nii Gbosange said the land under contention was sold to Mr Tagoe in 2007 by Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru, the former Gborbu Wulomo, and Nii Bubui Kakai, the forner Asafoiaste of Nungua, who are both deceased on behalf of the Nungua Stool.
He said, after performing all rites including payment for the land, slaughtering of ram, and having libation poured on the land, Mr Tagoe who decided to fence the land, alerted officials of the Nungua Stool that the land had been encroached on by one Dr. Prempeh (now deceased), and the Nuumo Kofi Anum Family of Teshie, claiming ownership of the land.
He said, following the dispute over the rightful owners of the land, the Nungua Stool, represented by himself and the late Asafoiaste Kakai proceeded to the High court (Land Division), and filed a case with Suit Number IRL/73/2010, where the Nungua Stool was the Plaintiff, with the Nuumo Kofi Anum Family, and Dr Prempeh as the Fisrt and Second Defendants.
According to him, the High Court ruled in favour of the Plaintiff, and restrained the defendants, their agents, assigns, servants or any person of whatever description claiming through or under them from having anything to do with land in dispute.
He said displeased with the decision of the High Court, the defendants appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal, Accra, but a three-member of the court, then presided over by Justice Ackah-Yensu, dismissed the appeal.
Nii Gbosange further noted that, the defendants, not satisfied with the Appeal Court’s decision, went to the Supreme Court, where in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, dismissed the appeal and awarded GH¢20,000 cost against the defendants bringing the total costs, including those awarded by the High Court and the Court of Appeal to GH¢40,000.
He revealed that following the Court’s decision, the Nungua Stool took steps to validate documents covering the land for Mr Tagoe to take possession.
He however alleged that some persons include the current Gborbu Wulomo, Mr Christian Yohonu, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, together with their assigns have encroached on the land and prevented Mr Tagoe from taking possession of the land.
Nii Gbosange said the Nungua Stool by the press release was affirming Theophilus Teiko Tagoe as the rightful owner of the 3.68 acre land, and is calling on the police to enforce the ruling of the Supreme Court.
“We want peace to prevail in Nungua, and we want the right thing to be done,” he said.
Mr Samuel Nii Odai Quaye, a representative of the Nungua Stool is call on the courts to cite the Gborbu Wulomo, Mr Yohonu, as well as their assigns for contempt.
He alleged that armed police officers, as well as land guards stationed on the land were preventing Mr Tagoe from taking possession of the land.
“Sounding a strong warning, Mr Odai Quaye said “we can meet them squarely, but we want the right thing to be done.”
He said the Nungua Stool will be forced to take matters into their own hands if the situation is not remedied as soon as possible.
