The Mankattah family of Pampaso in the Eastern Region has cautioned William Agyekum Acquah Asante of the Oyoko Royal family of Odumase to retract all allegations he had levelled against the Deputy Ambassador to China, Madam Akua Afriyie over the purchase and ownership of portions of land at Pampaso.
The family led by the linguist, Okyeame Otibu of Panpanso Krokese, in a press conference indicated strongly that the Deputy Ambassador to China acquired the land genuinely from the allodia owners, hence all allegations that she had acquired the land illegally were false.
According to him, Mr Kofi Asante Agyekum Acquah and his elders of Nana Amon Kwame and Kwasi Amoani Oyoko Royal families are trying to attack the Deputy Ambassador for no reason.
Okyeame Otibu averred that all the tracks land located at Odumase-Panpanso belongs to the Mankata family and that the Oyoko Royal family has never had a land in the area.
He pointed out that all the people laying claim to lands in the area are “criminals.”
He stressed that Mr Acquah and his people have no land within the enclave of Odumase-Panpanso Mankata.
According to him, the land in possession of the Madam Akua Afriyie was sold to her by Mankata hence all attempts to take the land away from her would not be allowed.
He averred that the family has all documents over the lands, and indicated that records at the Lands Commission are evidence of the fact that the land belong to Mankata and for that matter, he has the right to sell the land.
“Mr Acquah is a criminal I think he took money from someone and promised to sell the land to him so such should take his money back from Acquah since he didn’t have any land at Panpanso belonging to his family,” he stressed.
He also claimed that Mr Kofi Asante Agyekum Acquah himself on several occasions took people to Mankata for documents covering lands they have acquired and that they have all evidence pointing to the fact that Mr Kofi Asante Agyekum Acquah is trying to claim portions of land which do not belong to their family but Mankata family.
“We went to Court on several occasions and it was clear that the land here belong to us. We never begged land from them. We gave them lands to settle and to set records straight, the lands belong to us that is why we gave them portions. Mankata family has authority to sell our land and so whoever we sold land to is genuine.”
“Nobody has the power to stand against Madam Akua Afriyie because she bought the land from us; from the Mankata family,” Okyeame Otibu stated.
However, in response to these claims, Mr Kofi Asante Agyekum Acquah in a separate interview averred that he is not ready to render any apology to the Deputy Ambassador to China because “she acquired the land fraudulently from the Mankata family.”
“I will never retract and apologise today nor tomorrow. I stand on all the Court rulings in our favour that all the 5,068 acres of land belong to us the Oyoko family,” he said.
He stated that apart from the 1915, 1922, 1924 and 1926 judgements which went in favour of the Oyoko family, the Mankata family in 1913 made a document signed by Okyehene I, Apedwahene Nana Koreafa, Yaw Ntikura and all those who bought land from them signed that document and in the document, it was stated that at the expiry date of 99 years the land reverts back to the rightful owners.
“I want to ask, who are the rightful owners?” he asked.
My great grandfather knowing very well that the land belong to him never signed that document and took the case to Court in 1920 and won.
“If Mankata has a land there, I don’t dispute that, but the 5,068 acres belong to us and we are not ready to let go. I will fight till the last drop of my blood to reclaim every single portion that the Makata family took and sold to other people,” he indicated.
Mr William Agyekum Acquah Asante noted that the late Mantaka came to settle on the land at Panpanso and took advantage to fraudulently register the vast lands of Nana Amon Kwame and Kwasi Amoani Oyoko Royal families together with the fourteen (14) acres of land given to him by the late chief of Apedwe Traditional Area, Nana Abrokwa.
“The historical documentary evidence available indicate that the original Mankata was a hunter and that he engaged in trading as well. During that time they were cutting timber for canoes at Odumase and that the original Mankata came to settle at Sansemi doing all these sorts of businesses,” Mr Asante narrated.
According to him, it has emerged that the original Mankata entered into a business with Chief of Apedwe Traditional Area in the person of Nana Abrokwa and that Mr. Asante said during the course of their businesses, it was stated that Nana Abrokwa was indebted to the original Mankata.
He said since Nana Abrokwa could not afford to pay the money, he [Nana Abrokwa] said he would pay his debt with piece of land that he said was located at Panpanso Krokese.
Tendering documentary evidence to support his claims,’ Mr Asante noted: “In fact Nana Abrokwa gave original Mankata fourteen (14) acres of land at Panpanso Krokese and that 14 acres of land don’t share boundary with Nana Amon Kwame and Kwasi Amoani Oyoko Royal families at Odumase /Kojo Fosu.”
He averred that members of Mankata family deceitfully used the said concession site plan that includes the land of Nana Amon Kwame and Kwasi Amoani Oyoko Royal families and fraudulently registered the lands into their name without our knowledge in 1988.
To this, Mr. Asante sent a word of caution to the Deputy Ambassador to China, Madam Akua Afriyie to stay off the land and go for whatever money she took from Mankata in respect of the said land.
