Justice Apau Urges Gov’t To Settle Outstanding Compensations

The Judgement Debt Commission on Thursday appealed to government to expedite action on the payment of compensation to the owners of the land at La on which the Trade Fair Company is situated.

Appearing before the Commission, Dr. Ebenezer Erasmus Okpoti Kony, Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Fair Company Limited, said landowners who released their lands as far back as 1967 for the construction of the Trade Fair Site have not received compensation due them.

He said the company had been inundated with several requests from the aggrieved landowners seeking what was due them.

He said the initial compensation in 1967 was 4,000 pounds, and after re-evaluation in 2010, it stood at Ghc37 million.

He disclosed that the prolonged delay in compensating the landowners had resulted in the inability of the company to pursue plans to further invest in the development of the land as the head lease for the land had not been developed.

Mr. Justice Yaw Appau, the Sole Commissioner has, therefore, urged government to rectify the anomaly, in order to pave the way for the development of the site.

Mr. Samuel Reinberg Brempong, counsel for Florence Tamakloe, also appeared to clarify issues over payment of compensation made to his client by the state.

He confirmed that the payment of Ghc15, 100 was made as a result of a motor accident in which one Dickson Lumor, lost his life after reckless driving by a Police Officer.

He said Tamakloe was then acting as the administrator of the estate of the late Lumor and he submitted certificate of judgment.

Mr Anthony Kokoroko, a legal officer with the Ghana Police Service, appeared to address the issue of notices of intention to sue the Police Service.

He tendered five notices, two of which, he said, had developed into full cases, while the remaining three are yet to be developed into substantial cases.