The Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Nmai Dzorn in Ashale Botwe together with some land owners have raised alarm over inordinate attempts by former General Commander of the Ghana?Armed Forces, Lt. General Arnold Quainoo, who they believe is using the National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry?Gbevlo Lartey (rtd) to intimidate them over their landed property.
The 43 acre land situated at Nmai Dzorn in Accra has become a bone of contention between Gen. Arnold Quainoo on one side and the Okpelor Sowahdin Family and developers on the other hand.
It was established that on the eve of Deember 26th 2013, heavy armed Military cum Police personnel led by Gbevlo Lartey invaded the land and demolished structures on the said land without any Court order.
This paper has also gathered that, the caretaker on site during the incident was manhandled and thrown out of the site.
At a press conference to press home their grievances against the tactics of Gen Quanoo, who according to the property owners have, on several; occasions used the security apparatus, including the Millitary and the Police to harass land owners and workers on site, Mr. Joseph Amarquoi, one of the owners of the said land indicated that the former Army General, is laying claim to what does not rightfully belongs to him.
He revealed that, they (current lawful owners of the land) have purchased the said property from the Okpelor Sowah Din Family when in 2014, they begun having confrontations with Gen. Quainoo who took the family to Court but was unfortunately ruled out.
Mr. Joseph Amarquoi also indicated that unfazed about the decision of the Court Ge. Quainoo again filed a writ at the High Court seeking the Court to set aside a writ of possession that was granted the Okpelor Sowah Din Family.
However, the Court Judgement to that effect which is in the possession of this paper has the presiding Judge Justice Enerst Obimpe stating in his ruling that,
?This instant application is a Motion for Stay of Execution and to set aside Writ of Possession. The application sterm from a judgement of the High Court which judgement was delivered in 2000. The judgement was subsequently affirmed on appeal by the Supreme Court??.
???.Writ of possession was subsequently applied for and granted.?
According to the Judge, the High Court has no jurisdiction and competence to entertain the application brought by Gen Quainoo and his people, stressing that ?even if the Court can entertain this application the applicant is clearly out of time and very late in bringing the application? hence it was thrown out.
Cost of GH?300,00 was awarded against the applicants.
In expressing their disappointment in the way and manner Gen. Gbevlo Lartey is using his men to fight a battle for Gen. Quainoo who they knew very well, is unlawfully trying to possess what belongs to others, Mr. Joseph Amarquoi averred that the time has come for the President to call Gen. Quainoo and Gbevlo Lartey to order.
?The President must intervene and call these men to order. They can be infringing on the rights of other innocent citizens as if our laws do not work,? he said.
Making a quick comment in an interview with a Human Rights Lawyer and Counsel for the aggrieved land owners, Lawyer Mary Ohenemaa Afful pointed out that the steps taken by Gen. Arnold Quainoo is contemptuous.
According to her, Gen. Arnold Quainoo and Gbevlo Lartey are behaving as if they are above the law, ?but it is right to inform them that nobody is above the law. What they are doing is trespassing and we are in the process of quantifying all the damages they cause when they demolished structures on the said land and proceed to Court,? she revealed.
She has issued a stern warning to General Quainoo, Gbevlo Lartey and their associates to desist from harassing workers and land owners since the land has been reverted to the rightful owners by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction.
?Look these people have all documents covering the land, and it was in the light of these that the Court ruled in our favour. Gbevlo Lartey must respect himself and not to allow himself to be used by Gen Quainoo,? she said.
She indicated that the litigation is not in any way to discredit General Quainoo or Gbevlo Lartey, but to set the records straight as to who is/are the rightful owners of the land.
Ground investigations have led to the fact that General Arnold Quainoo acquired the said land from people who are believed not to be the rightful owners with the intention to use it for farming purposes.
But, the land had been fallow for the past 21 years without any sign of farming activity, until the rightful land owners took over possession.
It was also established that General Quainoo does fires gun shots ?indiscriminately? to scare people who work on the parcel of land, making their work very difficult.
Speaking to some artisans who are working on the parcel of land, they expressed fear, revealing that the police and military are being used to intimidate them whilst they work.
?We sometimes have to run into the bush for cover from the armed police and military men. You know, recently an incident occurred at ADdenta where one person was killed by the police, so when we see them coming to the site we disperse, and this is slowing down the progress of work,? an artisan stated.
