Land dispute at Sowotuom.

There is a land dispute at Sowutuom, near Pentecost University College, Accra, between the families of Ben Tetteh Ocloo and Emmanuel Kingsley Appiah. The piece of building land was acquired by the Tetteh Ocloo family as far back as 1997, but due to financial constraint their application for Land Title Registration could only be effected in 1994. After payment of the prescribed fee, the Yellow Card was issued to them.

Suddenly, one Mr Emmanuel Kingsley Appiah appeared on the scene claiming ownership of the said land. He ordered the Tetteh Ocloo family to vacate the portion of land. The latter had already put up a structure on the land to serve as their residence. Obviously, they resisted every move by Mr Appiah to evict them from what they termed their bona fide property.

Mr Kingsley Appiah sent the case to the Circuit Court at 28th February Road (Cocoa Affairs) Accra. The case was listed under Suit No OCL 111/99 between Emmanuel Kingsley Appiah of H/NO.A354/4 Sakumo Crescent and Linus Ocloo of Plot No.320, West Akweteman, Accra. Mr Appiah stopped appearing in court when he realized that the odds were heavily staked against him. The case has been pending since.

In 2008, MTN built its mask on a portion of the disputed land. Sensing that the Ocloo family would be the beneficiary of the building of the mask by the MTN, Mr Emmanuel Kingsley Appiah resurfaced to once more stake his claim for the land in question. He renewed his litigation by sending the case to the Financial Division of Accra High Court 11. Suit No. IRL/21/08 has Emmanuel Kingsley Appiah as Plaintiff with Scancom, Linus Ocloo and Benjamin Ocloo as 1ST, 2ND 3RD Defendants.

Whilst the case was in motion, Nii Amarkai 111, Dzatsetse and Acting Asere Mantse applied and prayed the Honourable Court for the joinder of the suit as 4th Defender and to testify in court as to which of the parties owns the said land. But that was over-ruled by the Sitting Judge, Justice John Jertina A. Nasam on the grounds that it would delay the court proceedings.

The Ben Tetteh Ocloo family has decided to bring their case to the court of public opinion to intervene and ensure that justice is administered The question is this: Which of these two families, the Emmanuel Kingsley Appiah or Emmanuel Tetteh Ocloo qualifies for the largesse from the MTN? Readers, the ball is your court. What do you say?

Daniel Danquah Damptey (Damptey_daniel@yahoo.com) 0243715297