In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court has granted an appeal by Ghana Telecommunications Company in a long-standing land dispute case. The initial ruling by the Swedru High Court in 2017 awarded $16 million in damages to Ogyeedom Obranu Kwasi Atta IV, Chief of Gomoa Afransie. However, the Supreme Court, led by Acting Chief Justice Victor Jones Dotse, unanimously overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision, effectively siding with Ghana Telecom. The detailed reasons for this verdict are set to be disclosed on June 7, 2023.
The case revolves around a contentious land dispute between Ghana Telecomm and Chief Ogyeedom Obranu Kwasi Atta IV, acting on behalf of the Twidan Family of Afransie. The lawsuit, filed in 2015, sought a declaration of title, recovery of possession, and special damages. The High Court initially ruled in favor of the Chief, awarding damages exceeding $16 million. The Court of Appeal in Cape Coast upheld this ruling in 2020 but imposed additional costs on Ghana Telecom.
Ghana Telecom presented evidence that the land in question had been compulsorily acquired in 1969, with proper compensation paid to the Chief’s predecessor. However, the Chief disputed the authenticity of the documents and alleged that the compensation was wrongly attributed. The case gained further controversy when the Chief accused his former lawyer of accepting a $100,000 bribe to influence the Supreme Court judgment.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, the legal landscape of this complex case has been upended, leaving significant implications for all parties involved. The ruling not only overturns the previous judgments but also awards costs of GH¢100,000 to Ghana Telecom. The outcome of this high-profile dispute will undoubtedly reverberate throughout Ghana’s legal community.
