Dzaasetse and acting Mantse of Weija, Nii Ogbedada Boafo Danyina-Nse I, has debunked media reports regarding the ownership of McCarthy Hill, an Accra suburb, which the Gbawe Kwatei family is claiming ownership of.

The Daily Guide newspaper on the 5th of December, 2014 carried a news item headlined: “Gbawe Kwatei family rejects Nii Asharley Nkpa II as Chief of McCarthy Hill.”

That publication stemmed from the enstoolment of Nii Asharley Nkpa II, known in private life as John Asharley, as the new Chief of McCarthy Hill, few weeks ago.

The Gbawe Kwatei family in a statement signed by its Secretary, Solomon Nii Afutu Quartey, after the installation of Nii Asharley Nkpa II, had indicated that the enstoolment of the new chief was out of place, because the area already had a sitting Chief at Oblogo in the person of Nii Lante Oblogo II, who presided over McCarthy Hill lands. But in a sharp rebuttal, Nii Ogbedada Boafo Danyina-Nse I described the claim as false and further proved with land title and court judgments which clearly spelt out that the chiefs and people of Weija were the owners of McCarty Hill lands. Nii Danyina-Nse I explained that McCarty Hill also known as (Marko) in the Ga dialect was a land under the Nleshie James Town Paramountcy and for that matter was under Weija sub-division stool of which the Ashaley Blafo family of Weija had a court judgment in their favour.

He also quoted extensively from the Public Records and Archives Administration Certificate of Authentication with particular reference to proceedings and judgments with plans dated between 6th May, 1950 and 4th May, 1951 with respect to a civil appeal case in the matter of land acquired for a leper settlement at McCarthy Hill at which Weija was duly represented in court.

“I am therefore debunking all the claims they are making, those lands at Menskrom, Oblogo, McCarthy Hill all belong to the James Town Nleshie Alata Paramount stool and Weija presides over all those lands,” Nii Danyina-Nse I stated.

The acting Manste also disassociated the Ashaley Blafo family of Weija from the enstoolment of Nii Asharley Nkpa II, stressing that if there should be any enstoolment at all it should be from the Weija stool with the consent of James Town Nleshie Alata Paramountcy and not the Kweikuma weku.

Nii Danyinase further disclosed that the Ashaley Blafo family of Weija has sued the Gbawe Kwatei family at the law courts for trespassing on portions of its lands.

He therefore urged all those who were not happy with the above claims to come over and challenge them at the appropriate quarters which is the law court and not in the media.