Three appear before Judgement Debt Commission
Two institutions and an individual on Tuesday appeared before the Judgment Debt Commission headed by Mr Justice Yaw Appau, established by the President to hear matters on judgment debt payments and other related matters.
They are KAE Ghana Limited, the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission and Mr John Alex Hammah.
Mr Amadu Kalim, Managing Director of KAE Ghana Limited, told the Commission that in October 1984 they were awarded a contract valued at 12 million old cedis by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council and the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited for the construction of irrigation facilities in the Northern Region.
He said the company after doing part of the work valued at two million old cedis, submitted claims for it, but the then Regional Secretary declined payment and subsequently abrogated the contract.
He said petitions were made to the Minister of Food and Agriculture and the Presidency to no avail leading them to sue the state at the Commercial Court in 2006.
He said at the pre-trial conference all parties involved (the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture) agreed that work was done.
The Managing Director said it was after a pre-trial conference that the court gave a consent judgment in which KAE Ghana Ltd was awarded the sum of GH¢545, 870.00.
Mr Kusi Bentsil-Enstill, Chief Valuer, Lands Valuation Division of the Lands Commission, appeared next in the matter of compensation payment to Dr J. Q. Vander Puji.
He said Dr Vander Puji’s property was affected during the construction of the Tetteh Quarshie – Apenkwa motorway extention, however, when it was due for compensation payment, Dr Vander Puji died and his daughter who was domicile abroad came in his stead.
Chief Land Valuer explained that because the next of kin was now married and was using her husband’s name, they asked her to produce the relevant document to facilitate the payment, but she has since not returned.
Mr Bentsil-Enstill said the compensation was valued at GH¢11, 711.00 and that the cheque has being ready since 2012, adding that the next of kin was yet to come for it.
Mr Dometi Kofi Sokpor, Counsel for the Commission, wanted to know if the late Dr Vander Puji was the only one whose claims were ready but still sitting in government’s coffers.
To this, the Chief Valuer said, in addition to him, there are eight other property owners along the same route whose claims were ready for collection.
The Sole Commissioner said since it was the failure of claimants to come for their cheques, the state would not incur any further debts.
Mr John Alex Hammah petitioned the Commission for the refund of his ¢56,000.00 old cedis confiscated to the state.
He said he was arrested by the leadership of the National Redemption Council government alongside with General R. E. Kotei for plotting to overthrow the then government.
He said the General, who was released, later became a witness for the state and produced the money he had banked with him for cattle business, as evidence for the coup plot.
He was subsequently tried and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment and later a presidential pardon saying he had suffered in prison for five years and in a military detention for seven months.
He said he appeared before the National Reconciliation Commission to make his claims, which recommended that his money with its accrued interest be refunded to him.
He said so far the state had paid him GH¢3,000.00 and GH¢7,000.00, all as part payments of his confiscated money, adding that it was far below the recommended amount from the Bank of Ghana conversion as 2009.
The Commission assured him that they will do due diligence and make the necessary recommendations to government.
Source: GNA