According to them, the students live in constant fear due to the activities of the squatters, who have taken over sections of the school’s land.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LXoSbqyOZCcoYgmCbTJLNXasP7rSrxnq”]Achimota School has been in an unending struggle with private developers, squatters and the Osu Traditional Council over control of parts of the school’s land.

This has resulted in the school heading to the Supreme Court in an attempt to reinstate an injunction secured on the activities of the encroachers.

But in the meantime, students have had to contend with landguards and squatters who threaten their safety.

In the 2016/2017 academic year, five murders were recorded on the school’s premises, whilst the school’s headmistress, Beatrice Adom, stated at the time that prayer groups and beggars had also encroached on the school’s land

The school had sought to allay some of the fears at the time, stating that officials of the BNI had come to the school to assess the situation.

However, the assistant headteacher of the school, Ken Amankwah, admitted that the current security situation at the school was dire, with the students being exposed to all kinds of dangers.

“The students are not safe. At the moment, the western part is being encroached seriously. Somebody is walling the place and taking some of the buildings. We reported to the Board about those issues and the students’ safety is very bad now,” he said whilst addressing a news conference.

“About two weeks ago, after dining, somebody knocked a student [down] with their car. We had to go to the police station, take the student to the hospital and called the parents to come in. At the moment it’s very serious.“

To the Supreme Court

The long-running dispute with the Osu Traditional Council over the lands began dates back to 2011 when some lands belonging to the school were ‘repossessed.’

The Council had taken possession of the lands arguing that, they were not being used for the purposes they were intended for.

However, the Board of the school, with the support of the school’s Old Students Association, secured the injunction and declared their intention to retain their land through all lawful means.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Achimota School encroachment: Students not safe – Asst. Head appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Achimota secured the injunction to restrain developers from encroaching on the school’s land back in 2016, after an almost six-year legal battle with the Osu Traditional Council.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zwxf3gvy2Tj5PxvzGbLP81iuTzsJh5AD”]The Council had taken possession of the lands arguing that, they were not being used for the purposes they were intended for.

However, the Board of the school, with the support of the school’s Old Students Association, secured the injunction and declared their intention to retain their land through all lawful means.

And following Thursday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal, the school intends to take their case to the apex court in an attempt to get their concerns addressed.

Addressing a press conference attended by some old students of the school, President of the Association and former Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, argued that the Court of Appeal “erred gravely” by not considering their argument on the issue of capacity.

“Our preliminary view is that, the Court of Appeal erred gravely. The court’s decision that the school was aware of Osu’s action against the Lands Commission leading to the 2011 judgement is not supported by the evidence provided in this case. The Court of Appeal was silent on and did not consider our argument regarding when the school became aware of that action.”

“We also disagree with the Court’s position that the school should have sought permission from the parties in the 2010 action, and joined it to accept the school’s right to the 172 acres. The Judicial pronouncements relied on by the Court of Appeal do not include actions based on fraud. We think the court of appeal gravely erred,” he said.

Professor Aryeetey added that, the school would ask the Supreme Court to overturn the  Court of Appeal’s decision and restore the injunction they secured in 2016.

“The School Board with the support of the Old Achimotans Association has decided to refer the case to the Supreme Court and we’ve instructed our solicitors accordingly.

“The School Board is asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling and also reinstate the interlocutory injunction raised on the Osu stool by the High Court in 2016. We are going to the Supreme Court to ensure that yesterday’s ruling is overturned,” he said.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Achimota School heads to Supreme Court over encroachment appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Old students of the school headed to court, seeking to stop the work of developers who had encroached on the school’s lands.

For years, parts of the land belonging to Achimota High School had been invaded by land guards and developers who were said to be putting up structures without permits.

But the Court on Monday ruled that, the lands in question belong to the Achimota School. The school has therefore been given the power to reclaim the lands from encroachers.

The ruling was given by Justice Aduamah Osei, after seven years of litigation.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AkAlKLIQbffkBhdsZ8Ky8lM2KyxOwtf5″]The judge dismissed the claims brought by Netlynk and 66 others against the School, and instead upheld Achimota School’s counterclaims.

The court however held back on judgement on the question of which of the 67 encroachers would be liable to pay damages for the destruction, and to have their property repossessed by the School.

The court thus ordered lawyers to file legal arguments on this question by 4th July 2017, for final orders in that respect to be made on 17th July 2017.

The court also found that:

1.The properties of Netlynk and the others are on the School’s land;

2.The Oku We and the Owoo families had no title to the areas encroached on and had no right to grant leases of land to other people;

3. Netlynk and the others were not “bona fide purchasers” and were reckless in acquiring their respective purported grants from the Oku We and Owoo families;

4. Netlynk and the others have trespassed onto the School’s land; and

5. The School is entitled to repossess its land and to damages for the destruction caused to the School’s properties including the farm and sewage system.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Achimota School to reclaim encroached lands in 7-yr legal battle appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The event took place at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra.

The symposium, which brought hundreds of the Old Achimota students together, had Akora Nana Dr. S.K.B Asante, Akora Dr.Joyce Aryee, Akora Samia Nkrumah, Akora Dr.Kwadwo Afari Djan and Akora George Andah in attendance.

Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Akora Yaw Nsarkoh, who was the keynote speaker, said the supposed development of Ghana is questionable.

In his view, Ghana is still undeveloped since it has been ranked second after Sudan in Africa for open defecation.

This damning statistics, the Unilever Ghana boss indicated as meaning that, three out of every five Ghanaians are subject to this demeaning and insanitary condition.

He quoted the Chief Officer at the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to corroborate his claim.

“WASH estimates that Ghana will take 500 years to eliminate the practice due to the slow pace at which strategies, laws and interventions are being implemented. I am being deliberately provocative; on sanitation as in other matters, we are a people divided,” he stated.

Given this humiliating exposé, Mr. Nsarkoh said it is evident “we are an open defecation country (ODC).

“A pathetic outcome of the first order. I am being deliberately provocative; on sanitation as in other matters, we are a people divided. Some, the few, live in glamour; others, the many in fact, live in squalor” he added. Yaw Nsarkoh called on all key stakeholders especially in the sanitation sector to nib this shameful development in the bud. The monthly symposium is designed to share Achimotan thoughts on various aspects of Ghana’s national discourse. This is guided by the theme of the celebration to several fun and nostalgic activities that will serve as platforms to reunite long-lost peers, friends and family.”

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By: Philip Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Achimota School holds symposium appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

97.3 Citi FM has launched an exciting promotion to get would-be couples the biggest wedding present ever!

Dubbed the Fabolous Wedding Give-away, a lucky couple would get a fully catered for wedding reception and an all expense paid romantic honeymoon getaway. Thus, the ultimate winners will get a fully-paid-for wedding reception, which includes cost of venue, decorations, PA systems, music, wedding cake, MCs and more.

To participate, tune in religiously to 97.3 Citi FM from Monday September 15 to Friday September 26. Listen out for hourly relationship tips and note down the key words daily.

The list of keywords must then be sent to [email protected] after Friday September 26, with details of what makes your relationship unique.

Successful entrants will then be called to participate in the exciting love drill, after which the lucky winners will be chosen.
The Fabolous Wedding Promotion is powered by 97.3 Citi FM and sponsored by Lele, the Royal Senchi Hotel, Casabella Swarovsky Jewellery, Danny’s Decor, Salon Services Hair & Beauty Academy and Sprog Store.

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By: Kojo Akoto Boateng/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Citi FM launches the Fabulous Wedding Promotion! appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.