Dr George Akuffo Dampare, IGP
Owners of the Osu Stool and properties have dragged the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey to court over alleged illegal seizure and occupation of their property (the Osu Mantse’s Palace) by the police.
The land owners, in a fundamental right enforcement suit they lodged before a High Court of of general jurisdiction, are demanding a declaration that the forceful, seizure and occupation of Osu Mantse’s Palace by the Police is illegal and unlawful.
Plaintiffs in the suit, the Osu Kinka We Dzaase, the Osu Klottey Wulomo, the Heads of the two Royal ruling houses of the Osu Stool who filed the action on behalf of the Elders, Councilors and Customary Land Secretariat want the court to order the Ghana Police Service to vacate their property and same provide them the (Owners) adequate security to perform their duties in the Palace.
In a 21-paragraphed statement of claim, the plaintiffs told the court that per records of the National Register of Chiefs and gazettes, they are entitled to the use of the Osu Mantse’s Palace that was seized by Police.
According to the plaintiffs, some hoodlums invaded the Osu Mantse Palace in the presence of officers of the Ghana Police Service on guard without any resistance or arrest few weeks to the final funeral rites of the late Paramount Chief of Osu, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI.
They alleged that, the Palace was invaded at the instance of the second defendant, Henry Quartey who is the Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC), on the pretext of taking over the Palace and other properties belonging to the Osu Stool for security reasons.
The plaintiffs contend that the claim of the Chairman of the Regional Security Council is false.
They said, they were forced to seek an order from the High Court to compel the Police to give them protection for the performance of the final funeral rites of the late Chief of Osu, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, at the Palace because of the attitude of the Police and the second defendant.
They told the court, that despite a court order directed at the IGP, the Police were unenthusiastic to give the needed protection for the performance of the funeral celebration of the late Mantse as was ordered by Court in Suit No. GJ/0405/2022. They further told the Court, instead, the Ghana Police Service on the 27th day of February, 2022 before the funeral rites could be completed, unlawfully drove them out from the palace and locked same up.
According to the plaintiffs, they occupied and resided in peace until the Police ejected the applicants and forcefully occupied it on behalf of Regional Security Coordinating Council.
The plaintiffs contend that because of their forceful eviction from the palace, they have been unable to perform their traditional obligations and duties.
The plaintiffs, through their lawyer, Mr. Kwame Fosu-Gyeabour of Kyidom Chambers, maintained that action the defendants, particularly the Ghana Police in locking up the palace has caused and continue to cause so much irreparable and irreversible losses, injuries and damages to the Osu Stool, the Traditional Council and the Customary Land Secretariat.
Aside the IGP, Greater Accra Regional Minister, another defendant in the suit is the Attorney General.
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