Deal with rightful land owners - James Town paramountcy cautions developer
The James Town Ngleshie Alata Paramount Stool has advised BG International, the US-based company, set to develop a shopping mall at Mallam, to deal with the rightful land owners and not the Gbawe Kwatei Family of Gbawe.
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The Chief Executive Officer of BG International, Mr Irwin Barkan, announced plans of constructing a 23,000-square metre shopping complex when he visited the Gbawe Palace in Accra.
Even before mortar touches the ground, however, there is controversy, as the James Town Ngleshie Paramount Stool is now claiming ownership of the land.
Speaking for the James Town Ngleshie Alata Paramount Stool, Nii Shippi Kwashie Kojo I, said they thought it wise to advise the investors before they sank their money into the project.
He indicated that the stool was prepared to use every legal means to stop BG International from going ahead with the development.
Court case on land pending
According to Nii Shippi Kojo, a court case involving his stool and that of the Gbawe Stool over that piece of land was pending at the Land Division of the High Court.
According to him, ruling on the matter was expected to be delivered yesterday (Wednesday) for an interlocutory judgement but the case was adjourned to April 17, 2014 due to ill-health of the judge on the case, who could not come to court.
“The investors will have problems if they go ahead with the project because we intend to wage a legal battle with whoever steps on the land,” he stated.
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Currently, the James Town Nlegshie Alata Paramount Stool has filed a motion on notice for interlocutory judgement in default of defence at the Accra High Court against the Gbawe Kwatei Family of Gbawe and the Lands Commission.
The motion, filed on behalf of the James Town Ngleshie Alata Stool by Law Associates, an Accra-based legal firm, is praying the court for a declaration of title for all the pieces or parcels of land situated or lying at north-west Accra, where the proposed shopping mall will be sited.
Jurisdiction of James Town Nlegshie Amanfrom
According to Nii Shippi, the James Town Paramount Stool land stretches from the coast of Ngleshie Amanfro through Kokrobite, Langma and several villages, notably Oblogo, McCarthy Hills, Weija, Joma, Aplaku, Tetegu, Mallam Junction, Mendskrom and Panbros, among other areas, as stated in the Gold Coast Gazette of 1874 to 1928 and the Privy Council judgement of 1924.
He said James Town shared boundary with Gbawe on the north-western part of Accra, beyond the McCarthy Hills, and advised BG International to look for the allodial owners of the land for the shopping mall, since they were unable to locate them.