Dr. Daniel McKorley, the Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, has initiated legal proceedings against the University of Professional Studies-Accra (UPSA) over what he alleges is their unauthorized encroachment onto his property.
The disputed land, spanning approximately 1.34 acres, is located in Mpehuasem within the Adenta Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
In his formal Statement of Claim, Daniel McKorley, the Plaintiff, seeks a range of legal remedies, including a Declaration affirming his rightful ownership and possession of the land, an Order to Recover possession, Damages for trespass, and an Order for the Cancellation of Defendant UPSA’s land certificate numbers GA 60960 and GA 60961, both dated 11/2/2020 and 2/1/2020 respectively.
Furthermore, he is requesting a Perpetual injunction to prohibit UPSA, its officers, assigns, agents, grantees, servants, and workmen from any involvement with the land.
The Plaintiff asserts that he acquired the land from its lawful owners and obtained an indenture in 1995, executed between Nii Torgbor Obodaifio, Head and Lawful Representative of the La-Shanshie family of Mpehuasem, as the vendor, and Michael Amenigye as the purchaser. This indenture was stamped as LVB.16322/1999. Subsequently, a deed of conveyance (Indenture) dated 17th April 2005 was executed between Michael Amenigye as the Vendor and Daniel McKorley as the purchaser, stamped as LVB 9897/2006. This conveyed the parcel of land from Michael Amenigye to Daniel McKorley.
McKorley took effective possession of the land by erecting a protective fence around it and remained uncontested until 2020 when his employees informed him of UPSA’s claim to the land, marked by a signpost reading “Property of UPSA. Keep Off.”
In response, the Plaintiff contacted the Vice Chancellor of UPSA, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, who affirmed UPSA’s ownership, stating it was acquired from the Numo Nmashie family. McKorley upheld his claim and offered an alternative piece of land, but the offer was refused.
Subsequently, the Plaintiff obtained documents, including two certificate numbers (GA 60960 and GA 60961) dated 11/2/2020 and 2/1/2020, linked to UPSA. McKorley’s attempts to develop the land were met with resistance, as UPSA deployed land guards.
Given these developments, the Plaintiff filed a Writ against UPSA, seeking interim relief in the form of an Interlocutory Injunction to halt UPSA’s involvement with the disputed land until the final resolution of the case.
In a subsequent lawsuit filed on August 24, 2023, Dr. McKorley petitioned the court to cite Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, Vice Chancellor of UPSA, and Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright, Registrar of the university, for contempt for their involvement in the land, pending the determination of the injunction application and the core matter.
The Plaintiff contends that the defendants’ actions blatantly defy the court’s orders and hinder the due administration of justice. He implores the court to penalize them, serving as a deterrent “to like-minded individuals who exhibit a lack of respect for the authority of the Honorable Court and its processes.”
