Tema, Oct. 14, GNA -- A Tema High Court on Monday ruled in favour of Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) that Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) illegally occupied part of its stool lands. The court presided over by Mr Justice Nana Gyamera Tawiah, awarded no cost against the defendants. The Council and Nii Joseph Kwaku Teye, Gbetsile Mantse, last May summoned GAF before the court for illegally occupying portions of Kpone Stool lands, near Michel Camp.

A certified copy of the ruling made available to Ghana News Agency (GNA) said "the application for judgment on admission is in order and is accordingly granted." "This is because all documents filed by defendants showed that plaintiffs were the owners of the land." On the issue of the intention of the state to properly acquire the said land, Justice Tawiah said "he could not comment on the acquisition of land by the state."

The Council said the writ followed failure of GAF to adhere to several warnings to desist from the unlawful trespass. It prayed the court for declaration of title to the land situated at Kpone Gbetsile and bounded on the North by Gbetsile stool land, on the East by Michel Camp land and on the South by Tema Stool land and general damages for trespass. The defendants in a statement on June 20, this year said the Council did not object to the military using the land provided the government would properly acquire it and pay them fair and adequate compensation as stipulated in the 1992 Constitution.