Chiefs and elders of Oblogo Lante, affiliated with the Gbawe Kwetei family in Accra, have affirmed that the land occupied by the Disciples of Christ Ministries (DoCM), led by Apostle Lilian Kumah, widow of the late Deputy Finance Minister and Ejisu Member of Parliament, Dr. John Kumah, was rightfully sold to the church.
In a press conference held at their palace in Gbawe, the chiefs and elders, represented by Alhaji Abdul Karim, the stool secretary, refuted recent allegations made by Prophet Eric Nana Kwesi Amponsah, also known as “Computer Man” and founder of Hope Generation Ministry International in Oblogo, Manchester.
Prophet Amponsah claimed that Dr. John Kumah and his wife unlawfully acquired the land for DoCM. The chiefs and elders denounced these claims as false, misleading, and regrettable.
False claims
Prophet Eric Nana Kwesi Amponsah, in a recent interview on Adepa TV after the death of Dr. John Kumah, alleged that John Kumah and his wife, Apostle Lilian Kumah, acquired the land at Weija junction illegitimately.
He also claimed that the land on which the DoCM church is located was occupied by some mechanics who were forcefully removed from the land to pave the way for the DoCM church auditorium to be constructed.
Rebuttal by Oblogo chiefs
However, in a rebuttal, the chiefs of Oblogo indicated that the late Dr. John Kumah, his wife, Apostle Lilian Kumah, and the leadership of the Disciples of Christ Ministries have had very fruitful relations with the chiefs and people of Oblogo and that they voluntarily sold the land to the church as well as John Kumah and the wife.
“The land in question was sold legitimately to the church by we, the chiefs and land owners, several years ago. The church used to be small and they operated a school as well. When they decided to expand, John Kumah and the leadership of the church approached us to assist them in purchasing the land.
“We accepted their request and we joined forces with them to complete all the necessary paperwork for the purchase of the land. Indeed, there were several people, including mechanics, and tabletop retailers, among others, who were using the land to ply their trade.” Alhaji Abdul Karim, spokesperson for the Oblogo chiefs, stated.
“John Kumah, his wife, Apostle Lilian Kumah, and the church made it a point to pay everyone who was on the land considerable compensation ahead of their possession of the land before they were moved from it to pave the way for the church to begin its expansion works on the land.
“The claims of “Computer Man” can therefore not be true and the same should be disregarded. If there is anyone who has landed at Oblogo illegitimately, it is “Computer Man” (prophet Eric Nana Kwesi Amponsah) and not the late Dr John Kumah or his widow, Apostle Lilian Kumah” the Oblogo stool secretary, Alhaji Karim, added.
Compensation paid
Mavis Ofosu, the spokesperson for the market for women and men at the Weija junction, affirmed that when the church acquired the land at the Oblogo junction, compensation was provided to all affected traders.
She clarified that neither Apostle Lilian Kumah nor the DOCM hindered any traders from conducting business at the Weija junction or at the traffic light in front of the church’s main entrance.
“When the church bought the land, the lady apostle, Lilian Kumah, approached us [the retailers] and negotiated with us on how we could go about our activities without having any negative effects on the church, Miss Mavis Ofosu pointed out.
Good taxi branch relations
During his interview on Adepa TV, Prophet Eric Nana Kwesi Amponsah, also known as “Computer Man,” claimed that the late Dr. John Kumah and the DoCM church forcibly relocated the Weija junction taxi branch from their land.
However, in response to these allegations, Alhaji Mumuni Moro (Papa J), the Vice President of the Weija Junction taxi branch, refuted “Computer Man’s” claims. In an interview with journalists, Papa J stated that the taxi rank remains in its original location and that the relationship between the taxi rank’s leadership, drivers, and Apostle Lilian Kumah and the DoCM is positive and mutually beneficial.
“The shed you see behind me was constructed by Apostle Lilian Kumah and the DoCM church for the taxi rank. As you can see, the taxi rank is currently functional, and we share a wall with the church, how can anyone therefore say that our land has been taken over by the church?” Alhaji Mumuni Moro said.
“If you look at the structure up there, it is an office building equipped with state-of-the-art washrooms, which is currently being constructed by the church for the taxi branch. Why would a church that we are alleged to have problems with be doing such benevolent acts for the very people it is fighting with?” Mumuni Moro was further questioned.