"The public is advised to ignore the press conference organised by workers of Empire Builders led by their Manager Ian Morris, during which they alleged an unlawful takeover of their land by Top Kings Enterprise Ltd with the assistance of the military and arrogantly issued a 2-week ultimatum to government to intervene in the dispute with Top Kings Enterprise Ltd. failing which it would take the law into its own hands.
"Top Kings was dragged into a protracted litigation by Empire Builders spanning a period of 22 years from the High Court through to the Supreme Court with Empire Builders losing at each stage of the litigation," Dr Danso stressed.
Not satisfied with the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision, Dr Danso noted that Empire Builders Ltd commenced a fresh action at the High Courts at Adenta and Accra against Top Kings Enterprise in 2021, alleging that Top Kings is taking land not covered by the 1998 to 2020 suit which ended at Supreme Court.
The 2021 suits too were dismissed and a further appeal to the Court of Appeal suffered the same fate.
Throughout this lengthy dispute, according to him, the Empire Builders Ltd has engaged all the topmost law firms in Ghana with 3 of the most prestigious law firms representing them at the High Court at the same time.
He pointed out that the Empire Builders Limited still has the financial clout to employ all the top lawyers in the country to seek legal redress in Court for the allegations made at the press conference.
"Why is Empire Builders Ltd not engaging lawyers to bring action against Top Kings Enterprise but rather appealing to the President to intervene?
Responding to the facts from the press statement by Empire Builders, he pointed out that the litigation had always been that the land in question is owned by Teshie and not Nungua.
According to Dr. Danso, the land in dispute at the beginning of the suit was covering over 1800 acres, adding that "It will interest the public to note that all the above were considered at the High Court level through to the Supreme Court, as copies will be made available to the public and press gathered here.
Conflicting to their paragraphs 9 & 10, purporting to leases granted them by government and Nungua Stool, while the same land was being litigated in the Appeals Court and further to the Supreme Court, Dr Danso noted that "we want the public to note that we never pronounced Empire Builders as owners of 402 acres.
"Permit me to read from the last paragraph of page 15 of the Appeals Court judgement as we share copies to the media and general public. It is of great importance for the general public to note that as we share various documents with the press and public gathered here, even after Supreme Court, Empire Builders/ Trassaco filed 2 separate suits, one in the Accra High Court (Land Court 10) and the other at the Adenta High Court.
"After their press conference on 31st January, at about 3.pm on Thursday the 2nd of February 2023, Empire Builders Ltd lead by its manager Ian Morris and his brother, assembled a group of hoodlums and land guards at the Trassaco Estate, armed the thugs with automatic rifles, mobilized a couple of excavators and went on a demolition spree of properties and fence walls built be grantors of Top Kings Enterprise Ltd. on its land at Borteyman/Adjiriganor. This operation was led by one self-styled Dr. Botchway of CPS Security. A case has been lodged at the East Legon police station following the incident. Our lawyers have also been instructed to pursue other appropriate legal remedies for the unlawful conduct by Empire Builders Ltd," he noted.
He asserted that these activities of Empire Builders have been petitioned to the National Security, NIB, Military Intelligence etc.
"We want to waive the fear of all property owners to freely deal with Top Kings Enterprise Ltd and the Nungua Stool as the rightful owners of the land in question. We want all to note that the property is plotted in the name of Top Kings and the Stool.
Dr Danso indicated that the property owners within Trassaco Estate should not fall victim to the palpable lies of Empire Builders, they should take steps to confirm the true ownership of the land on which they have their buildings and take appropriate steps to see the Nungua Stool for regularization.