Regional News of Thursday, 2 March 2017

Source: Gogo Gorden Amoah

Former Assembly member of Oyarifa Teiman electoral area pleads for mercy

John Okpoti Mensah made this distress call to his colleague residents through the media John Okpoti Mensah made this distress call to his colleague residents through the media

Former Assembly member of Oyarifa Teiman electoral area have called on other residents who have encroached on the land of the former bodyguard of the ex president of the republic of Ghana, Mr. Jerry John Rawlings to make peace and plead for a reasonable negotiations to save the situation.

The former assembly member, John Okpoti Mensah made this distress call to his colleague residents through the media.

According to him, it is very urgent and better for them to strive to reach a compromise with the owner of the land now than to sit down unconcerned for a massive demolition exercise to be carried out when it would be too late to resolve things amicably.

The story has it that, the former bodyguard Mr. Patrick Kontoh, legally purchased 37 acres of land at the Oyarifa Gravel pit area for his project some 10 years back.

Later on, some litigation arouse between the people of Oyarifa and Mr. Kontoh over the said land led by the assemblyman.

The case landed them at the high court of the land where Mr. Kontoh was over the people.

The people out of dissatisfaction sent the case again to appeal court where again judgement was given in favour of Mr. Kontoh.

At this point, the people have now hands off the case and handed the property back to the legitimate owner.

Meanwhile some portions of the land had been developed by some other people, including the assemblyman who claim they also acquired their lands from other people other than Mr. Kontoh.

However, the Assemblyman have now given up on the battle , Mr. Okpoti have advised all the other encroachers to respect the court ruling and rather appeal to the legitimate owner, WO 1 PATRICK KUNTOR for a proper negotiation to pay for the land accordingly to avoid them losing their properties completely through a massive demolition without any compensation.