The Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, has stressed that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.M.A) would be ready to implement any statutory obligation brought to its attention by any Court of competent jurisdiction in order to maintain law and order in the City of Accra.
Dr Okoe Vanderpuije also pointed out that the Assembly would carry out any of such statutory obligations which will bring sanity to the Metropolis without fear or favor of any individual or organization.
His comments came at the heels of some publications carried out in both THE GHANAIAN OBSERVER and DAILY SEARCHLIGHT on Monday 14th July 2014, under the captions: “Sempe Chiefs Chase Vanderpuije’ and “Sempe Elders warn A.M.A Boss Over Demolition’.
According to the stories published, Elders of the Sempe Stool in the Greater Accra Region have cautioned the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Gbawe Kwartei family over the intended demolition of properties within Akokorfoto enclave of Dansoman, a suburb of Accra.
However, in a press release signed and issued by the Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, he strongly stated that the captions of the said publications were misleading since the contents are conflicting and would like to set the records straight that a Mandamus order was served on the A.M.A to carry out that demolition.
“In support of the publications, the authors stated that Akokorfoto lands have been a subject of protracted litigation between Gbawe Kwartei family and other entities,” the Mayor stated.
The two articles, he said, alleged that while the litigations were ongoing, the Gbawe Kwatei family succeeded in obtaining an order of mandamus from the Accra High Court which was served on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to undertake the demolishing and removal exercise.
In effect, the Mayor pointed out that, “Granted that these were the facts of the case, then I am afraid the captions of the two articles were misleading,” and advised the media houses to retract the stories with immediate effect and render an apology the A.M.A.
Setting the record straight, Dr Vanderpuije indicated that Mandamus is an order of a High Court which compels an individual or institution to perform a statutory duty as required of him and that failure to act in accordance with the order would constitute contempt of that Court.
“This explains why Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.MA) was under obligation to enforce the said Court Order by inviting the police to provide security to the demolition team, which exercise is yet to be carried out,” the Mayor said.
He reiterated that the Assembly has a statutory obligation to maintain law and order around the built city and the Assembly would do so without fear or favor of any individual or organization in the interest of the State and the people of Ghana.
The Mayor also advised the general public that while executing the agenda of the Assembly as mandated by Law, any individual or group of individuals who do anything to obstruct the performance of those statutory duties would be dealt with according to Law.
Meanwhile, the legitimate Chief of Sempe, Nii Adote Obuor II has disassociated himself from the said publication made against the Mayor on the intended Court ordered demolition exercise to be carried at Dansoman-Akokorfoto stating that, “I take this opportunity as Sempe Mantse to sincerely apologize for all publications that have been made against your good office since 2008 in the name of the Sempe Stool. I did not have anything to do with these publications and disassociate myself from them.”
He also questioned the authenticity of the people claiming to be Chiefs and elders of Sempe who are alleged to be behind the said publications against the Mayor.
He further questioned the capacity of Nii Lartey Annum Tetteh, the signatory to the said press release circulated to the media in his capacity as Registrar of Sempe.
Below is the Mayor’s press release:
Our attention has been drawn to a publication at Page Eleven of THE GHANAIAN OBSERVER on Monday 14th July, 2014 captioned, “Sempe Chiefs Chase Vanderpuije’ over a purported demolishing of unauthorized structures and removal of slums and heaps of refuse at Akokorfoto, Dansoman, Accra.
Either by design or coincidence, a similar article, captioned: “Sempe Elders warn A.M.A Boss Over Demolition’ also appeared at Page Two of DAILY SEARCHLIGHT on the same date.
In support of the publications, the authors stated that Akokorfoto lands have been a subject of protracted litigation between Gbawe Kwartei family and other entities.
The two articles alleged that while the litigations were ongoing, the Gbawe Kwatei family succeeded in obtaining an order of mandamus from the Accra High Court which was served on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to undertake the demolishing and removal exercise.
Granted that these were the facts of the case, then I am afraid the captions of the two articles were misleading.
For the benefit of the reading public, we wish to set the records straight as follows: Mandamus is an order of a High Court which compels an individual or institution to perform a statutory duty as required of him. Failure to act in accordance with the order would constitute contempt of that Court.
This explains why Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.MA) was under obligation to enforce the said Court Order by inviting the police to provide security to the demolition team, which exercise is yet to be carried out.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.M.A) would like to reiterate that it has a statutory obligation to maintain law and order around the built city and we would do so without fear or favor of any individual or organization.
We therefore take this opportunity to advise the general public, within the Metropolis, that while executing the agenda of the Assembly as mandated by Law, any individual or group of individuals who do anything to obstruct the performance of those statutory duties would be dealt with according to Law.
Signed
Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije
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