ECG disconnects Judgement Debt Commission

The new premises of the Judgement Debt Commission, has been disconnected over GH?90,000.00 electricity bill arrears owed the Electricity Company of Ghana.

Mr Justice Yaw Apau, Sole Commissioner of the Judgement Debt Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Commission’s sitting in Accra.

Due to the disconnection, the Commission’s sitting was delayed for almost two hours, to enable them fix the Commission's standby electricity generator.

The Commission’s office is located at Cantonments adjacent to the American Embassy Roundabout.

Mr Justice Apau explained that the Judgement Debt Commission came to meet the electricity debts, and appealed to the Ministry of Finance through Mr Kwadwo Awuah-Peasah, Director External Resource Mobilisation-Bilateral of the Ministry, who was at the Commission’s sitting in the matter of Messr Abu Allegemeine Bau Union GMBH & Co KG, a construction firm.

Mr Awuah-Peasah expressed surprise at the magnitude of the debts and promised to take up the matter.

The Sole Commissioner announced that the Commission had up to the end of October 2014, to bring its sittings to a close.

Mr Awuah-Peasah told the Commission that documents pertaining to the construction firm could not be traced at the Ministry, explaining that since the contract dates back to over 20 years; it was likely that it had been moved to the Public Records and Archives Administration Department for safe keeping.

Also at the Commission on the same subject were Mr Andrews Kingsley Kwadzo Kufe, Deputy Controller and Accountant General in-charge of Treasuries and Mr Joseph Kwasi Ahorlo Tengey, Quantity Surveyor of the Ghana Highway Authority.

They both asked for more time to enable them trace the company’s document.

Madam Vida Hlover of Abor, who had petitioned the Commission for compensation payment from the state on a parcel of land which was acquired by the Keta District Assembly for the expansion of the Abor Senior High School, was at the Commission.

Madam Hlover, due to old age was assisted by her nephew, Mr Eric Nyarho to present her case. He said in 1992, the then District Chief Executive of Keta, the District Education Director and the Headmaster of the School approached his auntie and persuaded her to release the land to the school with the promise that she would be duly compensated by the state, which was never fulfilled.

Mr Kofi Dometi Sokpor, Lead Counsel for the Commission, then asked them to produce the Executive Instrument backing their claims, which they could not do.

Mr Justice Apau told them that from their own petition it was indicated that the said land was given by one Mr John Atieko of the Hlover Family to the school as a donation; stating that the school, the Keta Municipal Assembly and Mr Atieko had come to attest to it before the Commission.

He advised Madam Hlover to seek the help of a lawyer and if possible go to court over the issue of ownership of the land.

He said it is only when the issue of ownership is properly addressed that, she could claim compensation from the state.

Mr Nantogma Adam Wumbei, Acting Chief Director of the Department of Parks and Gardens testified on the divestiture of the State Horticulture Station at Medea in the Greater Accra Region.

He said the 536 hectares land was acquired by the state in 1965 by the Executive Instrument 104, for the purposes of growing food crops such as citreous, and ornamental plants.

He said in 1996, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development placed the station under divestiture, which was bought by a Zimbabwean Company; however, the Company later withdrew.

Mr Wumbei said due to the divestiture, the Department could not go back to take charge of the Station.

He said some parts of the land had been encroached upon by sand winners and estates developers, but he could not say whether compensations had been duly paid to the 10 families who were claiming ownership of the land.

He promised to present a 2004 Ministerial Committee’s report on the Station to the Commission in two weeks.