Odai Ntow Family Accuses Lands C’ssion, Others of Illegality
…But Opponents Threaten Contempt of Court
The Nii Odai Ntow Customary Land Secretariat in Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region has accused the Lands Commission of colluding with its opponents in litigation, the Nii Kofi Apenteng family, to perpetuate alleged illegality and fraud against them.
The unhappy Nii Odai Ntow Customary Land Secretariat said the Lands Commission, represented by one of its directors, together with their opponents, went onto their family land to demarcate the boundaries illegally.
Ata press conference on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at Kwabenya, Nii Ayidzaku Tackie, who spoke on behalf of the Nii Odai Family, said “the Nii Kofi Apenteng family and its cohorts including the Lands Commission represented by one Mr. George Atakora Ayi – (Director of Dispute Survey and Mapping) went onto the Nii Odai Ntow family land to demarcate our boundaries for us albeit, illegally.”
They stated that, “It is to be noted that, this act by the Nii Kofi Apenteng family and its cohorts is not only illegal, but contemptuous and abominable in the face of the ruling on the Certiorari application by the Supreme Court decision dated 24th May, 2023.”
Nii Ayidzaku Tackie said, “Even though the order by His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Amo Yartey dated 23rd December, 2022 had been quashed by the Supreme Court, the Apex Court of the land and for that reason the order of Justice Amo Yartey no longer exist, the Nii Kofi Apenteng family and George Atakora purported to execute a non-existed order.”
They claimed that the total land size of the Nii Odai Ntow family stands at approximately22,000 acres/8,903.08 hectares – per the combined effect of the 1904 and the 1980 judgements.
Contempt Threat
But Mr. Adu Mante Apenteng, the secretary of the Nii Kofi Apenteng family, when contacted for reaction, strongly refuted the Nii Odai Ntow family claims, and threatened to cite them for contempt after two weeks.
According to him, if the Nii Odai Ntow family believes the demarcation order carried out by the Survey and Mapping Division of the Lands Commission, as directed by the court, is indeed illegal, then they should proceed and cite them for contempt.
However, if after two weeks they failed to drag us to court, then the Nii Kofi Apenteng family will proceed to file contempt application against the Nii Odai Ntow family for their action, he added.
Mr. Adu Apenteng told The Anchor that, what the Supreme Court quashed by certiorari was an interpretation by the Hight Court, but not the ruling or judgement in its entirety, adding that the demarcation order carried by the Lands Commission was lawful.
He also challenged the Nii Odai Ntow family to produce evidence of their 22,000 acres/8,903.08 hectares land.
Fraud
Touching on the alleged fraud, the Nii Odai Ntow Secretariat said the Lands Commission and its staff, as well as some unscrupulous persons have been issuing registration certificates on their lands without recourse to the Nii Odai Ntow family.
They said, “Ladies and gentlemen, whilst we want to acknowledge that the Lands Commission and some of its staff are doing a very good job, we must also point out some of the grave disservices and illegalities that are being perpetrated in that institution.”
“The Lands Commission, its staff and some unscrupulous persons have been perpetuating illegalities and fraud by issuing registration certificates on Nii Odai Ntow lands to certain persons without recourse to the Odai Ntow family, who are the rightful owners of those lands.”
They alleged that, in some cases, binding judgements of the courts in favour of the Nii Odai Ntow family that have been plotted have been removed illegally and replaced with declarations by other persons who are not so entitled.
“The Lands Commission has issued a registration certificate on a land that the Nii Odai Ntow family has obtained a judgement from the court and has plotted same (1980 judgement) to the Okaija Gbeke family, without lawful permission,” they further alleged.
According to them, “all attempts to get the Lands Commission to cancel this illegal act have not been heeded.”
The family has, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Police Service to assist them to execute the various court judgements that have come in their favour.
“We are appealing to the Ghana Police Service to assist the Nii Odai Ntow family in executing the various court judgements and others that have come our way,” they stated.
Source: Anchorghana.com
