BOMBSHELL AT JUDGEMENT DEBT HEARING

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

A United States-based Chemical Engineer Dr. Michael Gyamerah is accusing the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission of colluding with some chiefs in the Volta Region to dupe the government of millions of cedis.

Dr. Gyamerah, Associate Professor who gave the mind-blowing testimony yesterday at the Commission of Enquiry investigating the payment of judgement debts said his research has revealed that  a whooping GH¢15million might have been lost in the compensation claim by chiefs in the Volta River flooded areas.

He told Sole-Commissioner Justice Yaw Apau of the Court of Appeal that the chiefs formed an 'Association of VR Flooded Lands Compensation Claimants' chaired by Krachiwura Nana Mprah Besemuna III and through the association, about GH¢9 million had already been disbursed.

He said he sighted a letter written by the chiefs and endorsed by the Land Valuation Division where the commission was to facilitate the release of the funds which came in tranches and in return have the monies slashed.

Dr. Gyamerah said the ‘facilitation’ in the letter to ensure ‘early, expeditious and timely’ release of the funds was a classic case of bribery adding “it was an orchestrated attempt by Land Commission and those involved to defraud the state.”

He said the association was formed ostensibly to serve as a conduit to siphon 15% of over GH¢ 130 million, which is the 'full and final settlement of compensation claims for lands compulsorily acquired and were flooded as a result of the construction of the Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam.'

“The payment made to a 'VL Reimbursable Fund' under the control of the Association of VR Flooded Lands Compensation Claimants chaired by Krachiwura Nana Mprah Besemuna III constituted 15% of compensation money meant for fellow citizens of Ghana impoverished as a result of losing their land and property following the construction of the Akosombo dam.”

The witness said for instance that his research revealed that the chiefs of Pai Traditional Area led by one Nana Diawuo Bediako II who he said is known in private life as Atta Kwasi, reportedly ‘connived’ with a firm called Kwadwo Ababio & Co to submit fake documents to push for the payments.

“Apparently, the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission did not research the Pai Traditional area, and either inadvertently or through gross negligence aided and abetted the payment of large sums of Ghana 's taxpayer's money to the Association of VR Flooded Lands Compensation Claimants.”

He said the recipients of the claims squandered the huge sums even though the Pai tradition clearly indicated that the funds were not for their personal use saying “per our customs and traditions there is no way an individual can claim title to any land not even the chiefs. Everything belongs to the community.”

Dr. Gyamerah said communities including Pai, Apaso, Otiso and Supon deserved compensation saying “they were moved from their own land and settled on their own land.”

In the case of Otiso, he said his research showed that the Lands Valuation Division of the Lands Commission failed to research the tradition of the town and through gross negligence aided and abetted the payment of over GH¢ 280,000.00 of Ghana's taxpayer's money to an Otiso chief who is not entitled to but falsely claimed that stool lands were his personal property.

He added that in the case of Pai, only four people including his own brother called Bob Kwame are claiming compensation for the whole area.

He said there was documentary evidence that 60% of the first tranche compensation payment was paid to the Surveyor (Kwadwo Ababio & Co) as consultation fee although the attached spreadsheet shows that a 10% valuation fee based on the total compensation is to be paid to the Surveyor adding “the Surveyor's fee alone based on the total compensation will amount to GH¢ 13,833,606.80.

He said documents showing signatures of Nana Diawuo Bediako II, representing Pai Traditional area are completely different on the Lands Valuation Board Pay Voucher and the letter from JSA Corporate & Legal Consult to the Executive Secretary of Lands Valuation Board stating that 60% of the first tranche compensation payment be made to the Surveyor.

He said the direct result of these compensation payments claims spearheaded by Krachiwura has increased tensions and litigation in the Pai Traditional area especially Pai and Otiso.

“Was the integrity of these payments as a result compromised? He querried adding “recent developments involving aggrieved persons bringing legal action against government due to questionable actions of public servants should be of concern to all Ghanaians with high ethics with regards to the government compensation payments.”

“It should be obvious that compensation money paid to individuals who lied to the government despite protestations of people of the area affected will eventually end up causing the GoG financial loss when legal action is brought against it. Therefore, the good people of Ghana should demand an investigation of this self-appointed group, and the Lands Valuation Division of the Lands Commission to account for all taxpayer's compensation paid on behalf of GoG to our fellow Ghanaians affected by the construction of the Akosombo dam,” he added.