Widows regain seized assets after 37 years

Three elderly widows who reside at Berekum in the Brong Ahafo region with 19 children and dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren, have finally reclaimed assets they lost 37 years ago after the death of their husband.

The widows, Obaa Payin Akua Addae, Obaa Payin Ama Forda and Obaa Payin Akosua Anane first, second and third wives of the late Opayin Kwaku Taah, a renowned cocoa farmer at Berekum, were ejected from their husband’s houses together with their 19 children (five now deceased) after the death of their husband in 1976 by one Kwame Gyau, a nephew of their late husband.

The widows, who cannot even walk properly together with their children, have suffered economic hardship, as they were not allowed to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

The late Opayin Kwaku Taah left behind several properties including two storey buildings at Berekum, 30 building plots, forest lands, large cocoa farms at Sefwi, Sabronum in Ashanti region and fallow lands at Berekum.

The respondent was said to have offered small portions of the cocoa farms and the fallow lands to some of the children and the widows and took gargantuan portions.

Finally, the widows and their 14 children heaved a sigh of relief when a Sunyani High Court, presided over by Justice Ofosu Quartey on March 25, 2013, gave an order for the family of the late Opayin Kwaku Taah to go back and equitably share all his property among his wives and children.

A motion on notice for Grant De-Bonis Non, an application for an order to administer the assets of the late renowned cocoa farmer, filed by their lawyer Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh and upheld by the court directed the family to ensure the equitable distribution of the estate.

According to the children of the late cocoa farmer, the respondent, Mr. Gyau did not share clothes and cash that belonged to their deceased father but took everything.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that some of the children who earlier pursued the case in court to seek justice for their siblings and mothers, died under mysterious circumstances thereby putting fear into the rest of them.

One of the siblings pursing the matter in court died recently under bizarre circumstances. However, the children vowed to ensure the equitable distribution of their late father’s estate.