Sino Africa, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, has accused Terraform Development Limited of defying court orders to cease developments on a 29-acre piece of land.
Situated at Borteyman, Nungua, the 29-acre land, being allegedly illegally seized is part of 328 acres of land owned by Sino Africa under the Jospong Group.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 the Director of Operations of the company, Gabriel Forceby, said that despite a directive by the Court of Appeal to refrain from any developments on the land, Terraform did not obey, employing security agents and even allegedly engaging police officers to protect their activities.
According to him, Sino Africa was compelled, based on the actions of Terraform Development Limited, to file a penal notice warning against contempt of court.
He continued that, although the Court of Appeal dismissed Terraform Development Ltd’s application to set aside the penal notice, the company would not renege on developing the land.
BEGINNING
The Director of Operations of Sino Africa, Mr. Froceby, explained that the dispute began when Royal Bell Investments Limited and Terraform Development Limited, allegedly partly owned by a top politician’s son, attempted to seize 29 acres of SINO Africa’s 328-acre land.
Mr. Forceby stated that in August 2010, they entered into two sublease agreements with the Nungua Stool, represented by King Odaifio Welentsi II and the Gborbu Wulomo, for 328 acres of land.
“Sino Africa immediately took possession of the land, marked boundaries with sandcrete structures and constructed a fence wall. In 2011, a one-storey office block was also built on the land, which has since served as the company’s base of operations,” he narrated.
Until 2022, Mr. Forceby said Sino Africa had enjoyed peaceful possession of the land, but he added that in 2022, Royal Bell Investments Limited, a company claiming to enforce a judgement against one Ni Abotsi Borlabi for 29 acres of the land, began demolishing some of Sino Africa’s structures.
This development, he said, became a source of worry for his company, which immediately sought to assert their rights and, therefore, filed an action in the Land Division of the High Court.
“Terraform Development Company Limited and others joined the suit as co-defendants in the course of the trial at the High Court,” he said.
Unfortunately, Mr. Forceby said Sino Africa was unsuccessful at the High Court and subsequently filed an appeal.
According to him, even before the substantive appeal could be heard, the Court of Appeal had granted a stay of execution of the High Court’s decision and ordered that the status quo be maintained.
“As such, both parties were to refrain from altering the character of the land until the appeal had been heard,” he underscored.
Despite the explicit directive of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Forceby stressed that Royal Bell Investments Limited and Terraform Development Limited have persistently engaged in activities that continue to alter the character of the land, including unauthorised developments and the employment of security agents to enforce their presence on the land.
REACTION
In response to these violations, he noted that Sino Africa filed a penal notice to warn the officials of Royal Bell Investments Limited and Terraform Development Ltd against continuing to take actions that amounted to a contempt of court.
“In response, Terraform Development Ltd. filed an application at the Court of Appeal seeking an order to set aside the penal notice, which application was dismissed on the 4th of December, 2024,” stated Mr. Forceby.
Notwithstanding the ruling by the court, the Director of Operations at Sino Africa indicated that Terraform Development Ltd has continued its unauthorised developments on the land, accusing them of engaging some police officers to protect their illegal activities.
“It is evident from their actions that Terraform Development Ltd fully intends on developing the land in the manner they have advertised on their website,” he cautioned.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Forceby appealed to the government to intervene to prevent the issue from escalating.
However, he gave a firm assurance that Sino Africa will utilise every legitimate means to reclaim its 29-acre land, which is being forcibly taken by Royal Bells Investment Limited and Terraform Development Ltd.
Meanwhile, Sino Africa wants the government to help stop Royal Bell Investment Limited and Terraform Development Limited from taking custody of their 29 acres of land.
