A real estate firm, Waterstone Realty Limited, has sued the Lands Commission for unlawfully demolishing its office complex to make way for the construction of the National Cathedral.
According to the company, it was forced to vacate from the multi-purpose building adjacent the Physicians and Surgeons complex at Ridge with a short notice from the the Lands commission
Waterstone Realty Ltd disclosed that in a letter signed by the then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John-Peter Amewu, there was a promise to relocate them after the demolition..
However, after four years since its office complex was razed down, the government has failed to honour its side of the bargain.
Government’s alleged action, according to Waterstone has negatively impacted its business.
Recounting some financial loss the company has had to endure, Waterstone Realty revealed that it had to refund $54,000 to a tenant who had rented the office space for $84,000 per year, due to the demolition exercise.
As a result, the aggrieved real estate company, in its writ of summons, has requested a whopping amount of USD$4,721,000.00 being the market value of the two-storey multipurpose building complex at the time of compulsory possession and demolition by the defendants
It also wants the court to ask “the defendants to pay the plaintiff the sum of USD$995,508.52 being the difference in terms of the established market value of the plaintiff’s property on the land being the sum USD$4,721,000.00 and the actual value of the property as of May 2018 when the defendant repossessed the property being the value of the two-storey multipurpose building”.
The Lands Commission is also to pay the sum of $54,000 for loss of rent, general damages, and costs, including the cost of engaging solicitors.
Finally, Waterstone wants the above listed sums to be paid with interest beginning from the first day of June 2018.
Meanwhile, work on the construction of the national cathedral has been halted due to insufficient funds.
Source: The Independent Ghana