…He Must Stop Exploiting My Father’s Death And Our Absence From Ghana To Lay Claim To ‘Ogbojo House’! – Cries Deceased’s Son

The unfolding saga surrounding the alleged purchase of the late Renato Noce’s ‘Ogbojo House’ (No: MIC37/1) by Mr. P.V. Obeng, Chairman of the National Planning Development Commission (NPDC) took a dramatic turn last week when one of the children of the late Renato Noce, Alberto Noretti, a journalist with the State-owned Daily Graphic now based in the United Kingdom, sent an email to The New Crusading GUIDE, in response to Mr. Obeng’s Solicitors’ assertion that though they cannot provide us (The New Crusading GUIDE) with evidence of proof of payment on behalf of their client (Mr. Obeng) that stance should not be construed to mean “our client did not provide any consideration for the acquisition of the said house since the deed of assignment which constitutes the final terms of the sale of the said house contains the purchase price save that the said deed is currently being processed at the Lands Commission”.

Mr. Obeng’s Solicitors, Oseawuo Chambers & Co., also noted that “since as you are aware this was a private transaction between our client and the deceased vendor … any amount paid by our client is deemed to be privileged from disclosure at this stage”.

Mr. Obeng’s Solicitors were responding to a final request from The New Crusading GUIDE for evidence of proof of payment by their client, Mr. P.V. Obeng in the alleged acquisition of the late Renato Noce’s ‘Ogbojo House’. (See December 13, 2010 edition – page 2 of The New Crusading GUIDE for more details).

However, the tone and thrust of the Solicitors’ response appear to have got the goat of Alberto Noretti, son of the late Renato Noce.

In a strongly-worded email correspondence to the Editor-in-Chief of The New Crusading GUIDE, Abdul-Malik Kweku Baako, Alberto Noretti contended that Mr. P.V. Obeng had told “the mother of all lies by saying he bought the house from my father after my father expressed the desire to return to his native Italy”.

“This is utter nonsense because my father had no other home apart from Ghana. He visited Italy for health reasons… He had a villa many years ago but his estranged Italian wife sold it before leaving for the United States. So, he had nothing and had nobody to go to Italy for”, emphasised Alberto.

Alberto recalled that when it became clear that his father (Renato Noce) was dying he confided in him (Alberto) that he (Renato Noce) would actually love to be buried in Ghana and that “in the event of his death he would want me, his mistress and the housemaids to immediately inform the Christ The King Parish in Accra. He also said the housemaids could stay in the Ogbojo House for as long as they wished”.

Alberto had a simple but potent message for Mr. P.V. Obeng: “HE HAS NOT PRODUCED ANY PROOF OF PURCHASE SO HE HAS NO LEGAL BACKING TO HIS CLAIM TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE. SO, WITH ALL RESPECT AND HUMILITY, I AM ADVISING HIM TO KEEP OFF THE HOUSE…”

“HE MUST STOP GOING TO THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE HOUSEMAIDS FEEL INTIMIDATED BY HIS PRESENCE. HE MUST STOP EXPLOITING MY FATHER’S DEATH AND OUR ABSENCE FROM GHANA TO LAY CLAIM TO THE OGBOJO HOUSE. WHY DID HE DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE HOUSE WHEN HE APPEARED BEFORE CHRAJ 14 YEARS AGO AND NOW TURN ROUND SUDDENLY TO SAY HE BOUGHT IT FROM MY FATHER? DOES HE THINK WE ARE STUPID? DOES HE ALSO THINK GHANAIANS ARE SO FORGETFUL?”, queried Alberto.

Alberto also made a humble but passionate appeal to President Mills to immediately intervene in the matter before it gets to the law courts, lamenting however that, “the few NDC/Government functionaries I tried to speak to, about this matter, were not very interested in hearing the details”.