Leave Kokrobite  Land Businesses  To The Custodial  Owners

He described claims by Nii Ofei III that the Kokrobite lands are Stool lands under the Kokrobite Divisional Stool as “pure falsehood.”

"Nii Ofei III and his Kinsmen should stay away from interfering in dealings of the land businesses and they should leave it for the custodian owners of the lands of Kokrobite, who are members of Nii Arde Nkpa family.”

He was of the view that he is not using his position as the Head of Arde Nkpa Royal family to amass wealth for himself and his family but he was working assiduously with the national security agencies to bring unity, and peace to Kokrobite.

He indicated that it was high time the people of Kokrobite got united to help make the area more attractive for the tourists.

According to Mr. Tagoe, unity is the key through which the area should achieve its development and any internal differences must be forgone to build a strong team in the Kokrobite.

Addressing a press conference in Accra to respond to the outburst of Nii Ofei III, Mr. Tagoe stated that, the long-planned moves by Nii Ofei III and his followers to fight him (Daniel Nii Arde Tagoe) and his elders who are the custodians of the lands of Kokrobite of which Nii Ofei III was installed a caretaker chief, would not help to bring development to Kokrobite and its adjoining communities.

He said it would be proper if the chief of the Kokrobite Divisional Area, Nii Ofei III would rather join the elders of Nii Arde Nkpa Royal family to make Kokrobite a more tourist’s attractive designation.

Daniel Nii Arde Tagoe said they were even thinking that Nii Ofei III and his followers would bury their long differences and join hands with them to bring sustainable growth and development in the area since the law court has already entered judgment in favour of the Nii Arde Nkpa Royal Family as the allodia owners of Kokrobite lands.

Mr. Tagoe indicated that it is now the time for Nii Ofei III and his followers to smoke the peace pipe with members of the Nii Arde Nkpa Royal family and work together to bring peace, unity, and development to the people in Kokrobite.

According to him, he realized that Nii Ofei III would be more empowered and recognized as the caretaker Chief of Kokrobite should he stop his continuous fight against him and his elders because they “cannot eat and leave members of Nii Ofei family since they were our caretakers of the landed properties in Kokrobite enclaves.”

Mr. Tagoe cited an instance in one occasion when Nii Ofei III was advised by the late chief of Sempe Divisional Area in Ga Mashie, Nii Adote Obour II to bury his differences and forget what happened and work together with him and his elders to ensure peace and development in Kokrobite.

According to him, his outfit doesn’t recognize Nii Ofei as the caretaker of Kokrobite because Nii Ofei III is not on good terms with him and some of his elders, saying that, that was the reason why his outfit wanted to come and organize any public event in the area, he doesn’t inform Nii Ofei III him.

But Mr. Tagoe was quick to state that he and his elders are not in contention with Nii Ofei III about the Kokrobite kingship.

He maintained that this year he has different developmental plans for Kokrobite which he thought if Nii Ofei III and his followers should change their previous attitude towards the Nii Arde Nkpa family, they would consider working together with them to develop Kokrobite.

He reiterated that an Accra High Court has entered judgment in favour of the Nii Arde Nkpa Royal Family over the Plerno, Kokrobite, Langma, and Tuba lands.

He asserted that according to the Court, the Nii Arde Nkpa Family is the owner of the Plerno, Kokrobite, Langma, and Tuba lands.

In a suit filed by Nii Adotei Akwei Notes, (deceased) substituted by Nii Saka Akwei II, Nii Adoayi Akwei Plaintiffs against Daniel Arde Tagoe, head of Nii Arde Nkpa family, Nii Quarshie Dzago and Lands Commission as defendants, the plaintiffs in an Amended Statement of Claims, indicated that they are owners of the disputed land and have exercised ownership rights over them for years.

They said that, by a vesting asset executed on August 1, 2003, Nii Adotei Obuor II of Sempe, acting as customary successor and Administrator of Nii Anege Akwei II, the said land was vested in Nii Adote Akwei Notes I, head of the family of Kokrobite Sempe Royal family and Nii Ado-Ayi stool Secretary and acting Woleiatse of Kokrobite.

The Plaintiffs also noted that part of the land had been acquired by the government for farming purposes (Wejia Irrigation Project) whilst the defendants entered the other portions and laid claims to the lands.

They also claim that they had sent several petitions to the Lands Commission but had been ignored.

Meanwhile, in their Affidavit in support of the first motion, Daniel Nii Arde Tagoe said, lands of the Nii Arde Nkpa family comprised all the pieces of land situated at Kokrobite, Langma, and Tuba.

He also stated that sometime in 1979 the government of Ghana by an Executive Instrument acquired a portion of the Kokrobite land belonging to the Nii Arde Nkpa Royal family for irrigation purposes, portions of which had been released to Kokrobite and the said family.

According to him, these facts as pointed out by the plaintiffs constitute clear, express, and unambiguous admission of the fact that the land in dispute and which is the subject matter of compensation belongs to the Nii Arde Nkpa family of Plerno.

The Court presided over by His Lordship Justice Alex Owusu-Ofori, in his ruling stated that “judgment is hereby entered for the applicant Daniel Nii Arde Tagoe on their admission that the disputed land belongs to the Nii Arde Nkpa Royal family of Plerno, Kokrobite, Langma, and Tuba."

Mr. Tagoe said the judgment was good news for the entire Nii Arde Nkpa Family members, adding that, the era where non-family members disposed of the family properties was now over.