Police Storm Dzorwulu Home

RESIDENTS of Dzorwulu, near the Bethany Methodist School on Thursday morning thought the current exercise being undertaken by the Police cum military to rid the metropolis of criminals had come to their doorstep.

At least 10 policemen armed to the teeth in a Tundra patrol car with registration number GP 1081 accompanied by over 20 well-built men in plain clothes made a stop in front of the premises of a compound house belonging to the late Philip Sarpong.

According to occupants of the house, the police ordered the gates to be opened to enable them enter the compound.

They were led by one Adusei of New Achimota who claimed that he bought the house number C104/4, Dzorwulu and that they were in to effect an injection order.

The men in plain clothes later identified as labourers hired for the exercise forcibly entered all the rooms in the one-storey plus building and extended the operation to the boys' quarters, throwing everything out of the rooms.

The milling crowd looked on as the occupants including a military policewoman run helter-skelter for vehicles to convey their belongings elsewhere.

In separate interviews with this reporter, the tenants and caretakers reported various missing items including monies during the operation.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Dr. K. K. Marfo when reached confirmed that the operation was legal. This was in reaction to a question as to the fact that the sale of that house is pending before a Sekondi High Court.

Dr. Marfo said normally, if people approach the police for assistance to effect an ejection order from a court, the issue is referred first to the Police Legal Department for verification before they move into action.

Further investigations revealed that members of the Striking Force made a move on instructions based on a cover note from the Second in Command of the Greater Accra Regional Police, Mr. Kwakye.

Mr. Philip Sarpong Jnr, son of the late Phillip Sarpong told the Ghanaian Chronicle that after his father who was the Managing Director of Phillip Construction at Takoradi died in 1993, the workers whose salaries were in arrears to the tune of ?20 million including interest resorted to legal action.

A lowloader and tipper truck were seized by the workers as properties of the company that were to be auctioned to pay themselves.

House No. C104/4 at Dzorwulu which is the personal property of Mr. Phillip Sarpong was also attached, the case which is still pending before the Sekondi High Court was adjourned to May 31, 2002.

Sarpong Jnr. viewed the said ejection order as illegal and will, therefore, petition the Chief Justice of the happenings, moreso when the police were also accompanied by bailiffs.

Furious Sarpong Jnr. showed this reporter documents from the Sekondi High Court in which Adu Botwe of H/No.236/18 Abelemkpe and Phillip Sarpong as administrators of the estate of Phillip Sarpong being plaintiffs and the Deputy Sheriff, Community Tribunal, Sekondi and Mr. Essuman, auctioneer, Takoradi as defendants. November 2001 was the last time the case was mentioned at the Sekondi High Court.

On hearing of the Police action, solicitor for the Sarpongs, Stephen Herbert Ocran, of He Lives Chambers, Takoradi has furnished the Registrar, High Court, Accra with documents of proceedings from the Sekondi High Court.

According to the solicitor, on the morning of Thursday when he heard of the ejection taking place, he spoke to the bailiffs on phone and explained to them that the said house belonged to Phillip Sarpong and, therefore, could not be sold.

The bailiffs said that they have no notice of what is pending in the High Court.