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28.01.2018 Crime & Punishment

Lands Commission Dragged To Court For Contempt

By GNA
Lands Commission Dragged To Court For Contempt
28.01.2018 LISTEN

A-70-year-old businesswoman has sued the Brong-Ahafo Regional office of the Land Commission for contempt of court.

Mrs Jacinta Soroya Namih, is praying a High Court in Sunyani, to sentence Alhaji Mohammed Habib Alhassan, the Regional Lands Officer, and Mr David Kwame Brefo, Registrar of Deeds, who is also the legal advisor to the Commission, for gross disrespect for law and order.

According to her, in 2009, a High Court in Sunyani presided by Mr Godwin Gabor, granted an interim injunction, restraining the Commission and its workers from entering her 10-acre land or leasing out its building plots, located behind the Sunyani old police barrier on the Sunyani-Abesim road stretch to private developers.

That, notwithstanding the order of the court, the Commission through the conduct of the respondents had been granting leases to individuals and companies.

In an accompanying affidavit filed by Nana Obiri Boahen Counsel for the plaintiff which a copy was made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the 'respondents conduct is a clear manifestation of their gross disrespect for law and order, and there is the need to put the fear of the law into them'.

'The respondents must be put into prison to serve as a lesson for officials of the Lands Commission not to erroneously create the impression that they are untouchable and above the law; such contumacious and gross disrespect towards judicial process must be stopped', it stated.

The affidavit said 'the cumulative effect of the respondents conduct seem to tell the whole world and the judicial process that, to hell with all the court processes and the court orders', and described such conduct as wilfully, calculated, intentional and malicious that sought to undermine the efficacy of the High Court.

'The respondents conduct, directly or indirectly, officially or unofficially has brought a lot of suits against me, resulting in heavy monetary losses, embarrassment and humiliation', the affidavit said.

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