Nii Tettey Iddrisu Mansro (middle) setting the records straight
The kingmakers of Appolonia and authorities of Sino Africa Development Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Company, have set the records straight on the ongoing dispute between them, people of Gbetsile and two other real estate development firms over a 1,000-acre land at Appolonia.
It would be recalled that some individuals claiming to be from Gbetsile had laid claim to the said land, which was accordingly leased for 75 years to Sino Africa Development Company Limited by the Appolonia Stool in 2010.
The leasing of the 1000-acre land to Sino Africa Development Company Limited was said to have taken place after the Jospong Subsidiary conducted searches at the Lands Commission.
Operations Manager of Sino Africa Development Company Limited, Gabriel Forcby, told the media in an interview on the land on Wednesday that searches conducted by the company in 2010 at the Lands Commission confirmed that the land belonged to the people of Appolonia.
They later proceeded to the kingmakers of Appolonia to acquire the land for residential development.
Sino Africa Development Company, he said, had acquired the land to build residential properties for low and middle-income families.
But the people of Gbetsile, reportedly represented by their chief, one Nii Teye Kojo, and two other real estate firms namely Delismawe Company Limited and Multi City Company Limited, are said to be claiming ownership of the land and have purportedly caused damage to a fence wall constructed by Sino Africa to protect it, Mr. Forcby told the press.
He said there was a lawsuit was pending before a Tema High Court over the issue, adding that the encroachment on the land would cause undue losses for his outfit which intends to implement plans to tackle the housing deficit in the country.
Setting the record straight, one of the kingmakers of Appolonia, the Head of Bediako We, Nii Tettey Iddrisu Mansro contended that “lands of Appolonia belong to the Kpone Stool but are alienated by the heads of the three royal clans and the chief of Appolonia.
“The kingmakers of Appolonia are the heads of the three royal clans. They are: Head of Bediako We, Nii Tettey Iddrisu Mansro, Head of Kojo We, Nii Seth Gbli Nartey and Head of Sanshiee/Sackie We, Nii Seth Affum,” he said.
“These names are easily verifiable at the Lands Commission and is captured in a High Court suit number BMISC407/2013 and as such identified as accredited grantors.
“The area in contention now and prompting series of press conferences falls within the lands of Appolonia and this is an indelible fact, the evidence is at the Lands Commission for further clarification,” he told the media.
He said in 2010, the accredited grantors released some acres of land to Sino Africa.
“Sino Africa entered the lease agreement with us after it had duly conducted search with the relevant bodies and organizations who have jurisdiction over the land matters and were fully convinced without reasonable doubt that they were dealing with the rightful grantors of the said land,” he said.
“The land released to the company does not fall within the jurisdiction of Gbetsile and as such fully falls within the lands of Appolonia, he added.
Historical background
Tracing the history of the dispute between the people of Appolonia and Gbetsile, he said “from time immemorial, the boundaries between Appolonia and Gbetsile have been at a very visible point called Nogotsoato.
“This boundary came about due to a killing incident that happened in that area many years ago and the people of Gbetsile during an interrogation indicated clearly that the land is not the property of Gbetsile but rather that of the people of Appolonia.
“The people of Appolonia however went to court in defence of the subject matter and this history has never changed to date,” according to Nii Tettey Iddrisu Mansro.
By Melvin Tarlue