The National Security Ministry has actually been come by a court order from declaring and developing on a big location of land coming from Cascade Development Company Limited (CDC), the owner of the Kempinski hotel in Accra.
Reports recommend security operatives stormed the website, referred to as the Site for Conference Centre, early on Saturday, April 15, and started constructing a fence wall some 10 acres into the land where Kempinski is positioned.
Lawyers of Cascade, Gabby Otchere-Darko’s Africa Legal Associates (ALA), submitted a writ versus the Government and protected a High Court injunction on Thursday, April 20, in Accra. The injunction looked for to limit the Ministry from establishing, intruding, or handling the disputed land.
Meanwhile, it appears there have actually been restored efforts to return to the land, with more activities spotted in the location on Saturday, April 22, 2 days after the injunction. If real, this is most likely to stimulate concerns about the federal government’s dedication to the guideline of law and the defense of home rights.
What eyewitnesses saw
Witnesses declare that the operatives utilized heavy equipment to grade the land and dig trenches for the fence wall. Efforts by CDC’s executives and security workers to engage the operatives in discussion were not successful.
Additionally, when CDC personnel took pictures and videos of the occurrence, their smart phones were supposedly taken, and their files were apparently erased completely.
Lawyers at ALA, the law practice that represents CDC, might not be grabbed remarks at the time of filing this report.
Background to the conflict
The land in concern was rented to CDC and Gold Coast Resorts (GCR) Limited in 2007, under a sublease contract with the Ghana Tourist Board, and is surrounding to the Accra Conference Centre. It was concurred that the website would be redeveloped to consist of a first-class hotel, shopping center, workplace and property structures.
The Parliament of Ghana consequently authorized a Government Support Agreement covering the deal. The Ministry of National Security conflicts CDC’s claim to the land, specifying that it forms part of “National Security Lands”.
Citi News has actually seen files revealing that a letter from the National Security Council (NSC) in 2009 bought CDC to quit working on a building and construction job being carried out by Zakhem Construction Limited. The NSC declared that the works postured a danger to nationwide security interests and required that all work be stopped while the security risk was analyzed. CDC reacted by offering all paperwork associating with the task, consisting of the evidence of approval by Parliament, its registration files, and all authorizations protected for the building works.
In December 2009, the NSC permitted for deal with the hotel part of the task to resume, resulting in the conclusion of the luxurious erection now called the Kempinski hotel. CDC was to desist from carrying out the building and construction of the other elements of the task, and was asked for to comply with the NSC to demarcate a part of the land which, in the evaluation of the NSC, would serve as a buffer that would guarantee nationwide security interests are sufficiently secured. The demand for separation was fulfilled with objections from CDC who implicated the NSC of illegal expropriation of a personal land.
Citi News comprehends that ALA later on encouraged CDC to look for redress in court, which led in part to the interim injunction released last Friday.
The order, dated 20 th April 2023 and provided under the seal of Justice Kwame Gyamfi Osei, states: “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the Defendants, either on their own, their representatives, privies, particularly the Minister of National Security, beneficiaries, designates, servants, workers, allotees and followers in interest, other alienees and relations whatsoever and howsoever explained are limited from trespassing, establishing, handling or having anything to do with ALL THAT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND referred to as Site for Conference Centre and including an approximate location of 35.16 acres position at Accra Conference Centre in the City of Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana and bounded on the North by Merton Preparatory School on the South by Existing Bungalows and Race Course on the North– West by Osu Cemetery Road and on the North– East by Accra Conference Centre which piece or land is more especially marked on Plan No. LC/GAR.234/ AIR CONDITIONER.8077 TJ for a duration of 10 (10) days unless very same is duplicated on notification to the Defendants.”
When grabbed their remark, an authorities of the National Security Ministry, who spoke with Citi News on condition of privacy, might not state anymore than to show that “the legal department is managing the matter and would react to any concerns that show up”.
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