Dominase Agbogbloshie Onion Traders Land Saga: Gomoa Akyempim Council Exposed
Mr Arkoh-Korsah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Medium Dwellings Company Limited, a real estate development company, reiterated that “the decision of the Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council was unlawful and could land him in jail.
Joana Somiah 
The claim by the Akyempim Traditional Council in the Central Region that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Medium Dwellings Company Limited, a real estate development company, Mr Josiah Arku-Korsah, has secured a leasehold of 115 acres of land at Gomoa Dominase for thirty-three (33) years and would expire in 2022 has emerged to be false.
This was after legal and genuine documents from the Lands Commission and elders of the Anona Yoko family of Gomoa Dominase, the original owners of the land, established that the said land was indeed leased to Arku-Korsah for 99 years and not 33 years as being alleged.
These land documents sighted by Soireenews from the Land Registry Department of the Lands Commission branch in Cape Coast, Central Region clearly point to the fact that the current land for which some Agbogbloshie onion sellers were plying their trade was legally leased to the company in partnership with the Anona Yoko family of Gomoa Dominase.
In a lease agreement between Mr Arku-Korsah and Mr Felix Ansong on one hand, representing Medium Dwellings Company Limited as the leasees, and Nana Buabeng VII Opanyin Kwaa Ahunaku (lessor) from the Anona Yoko family in Gomoa Dominase on the other hand, it states that there shall be a yearly rent of GH¢500,000.00 payable after four years from the date of this agreement and subject to review every year of the term hereby granted.
According to the documents from the Lands Commission, "At the expiration of the term of ninety-nine years, there shall be a renewal of the said lease for a further term of twenty-five (25) years.
The documents also establish that the said land was legally acquired by Mr Arku-Korsah from the Anona Yoko family on behalf of the Chief (Obanta) of Gomoa Dominase, Nana Buabeng VII, who acted as the Head and lawful representative of Opanyin Kwaa Ahunaku from Anona Yoko family.
And to ensure that the fixed term of ninety-nine (99) years land lease agreement was binding on the two parties, Mr Arku-Korsah through the Lands Commission Secretary in Cape Coast on April 15, 2008, caused for the publication of a grant of the land exceeding 50 acres situated in Gomoa Dominase.
In the wake of that development, the Lands Commission Secretary in Cape Coast officially served the publication in a one-page letter on the grant of the land to the office of the Akyempim Traditional Council headed by Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II and Gomoa East District Assembly.
In the publication on the grant of the land, the Lands Commission Secretary in Cape Coast wrote: "l forward herewith a public notice for posting on your respective notice board for twenty-one (21) days in respect of a leasehold interest (copy of the plan attached) for a term of the ninety-nine (99) years effective from July 21, 2016, and made between Nana Buabeng VII and Mr Arku-Korsah.
"I would appreciate it if you could inform us of any objections or otherwise in respect of the publication on the grant of the land," the document noted.
However, in a response to the corresponding letter dated October 30, 2007, on the letterhead of Akyempim Traditional Council, with reference no GATC.30/Vol.II/6/07, the Council stated that; “We refer to your letter No.G14 dated September 4, 2007, in respect of a leasehold interest for a term of the ninety-nine (99) years between Obaata of Gomoa Dominase, Nana Buabeng VII, and the Chief Executive Officer of Medium Dwellings Company Limited, Mr Arku-Korsah, and wish to inform you that no person or company or group has shown any interest of having any portion of the said land in the publication from September 21, 2007."
Additionally, in a response letter from the Gomoa East District Assembly dated May 16, 2008, signed by its District Chief Executive Officer (DCE), Madam Joyce Aidoo, the Assembly clarified that; "l wish to refer your letter No FAM/DC.214/2007 dated April 2008, on the publication of the grant of land exceeding 50 acres of land at Gomoa Dominase deed of the lease agreement between Nana Buabeng VII and Mr Arku-Korsah.
“I write to inform you that at the end of the statutory 21-day period of publication, no objections in respect of the declarations were received by the Gomoa East District Assembly."
In an interview with Soireenews, the CEO of Medium Dwellings Company Limited, Mr Arkoh-Korsah, stressed: “l will defend my land with my last drop of blood because I genuinely bought it from the landowners and lawfully registered it with the Lands Commission."
According to him, he acquired the said purposely to build a “One-District One-Affordable Housing” project and other industrial businesses which when completed would provide jobs for the teeming youth in the region.
He pointed out that a few days ago, he called on Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II in his palace and used the opportunity to show him together with his elder's projects that he had earmarked to build on the land.
“And after performing the necessary rites, the chief and his elders blessed me,” he recounted.
“So I am completely surprised at the action of Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobia II who has turned back and given out the said land to onion sellers to ply their trade on.”
Mr Arkoh-Korsah reiterated that “the decision of the Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council was unlawful and could land him in jail.”
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Correspondent
