Return Our Properties

The family and descendants of the late Dr Emmanuel Ayeh Kumi have appealed to the Attorney General and the government to expedite action on the release of his confiscated assets to them.

A spokesman for the family, Nana Gyimah Acheampong noted that most of the properties were in a serious state of disrepair and if the release was further delayed, these properties would virtually be destroyed. The late Dr Ayeh Kumi was a close confidant of the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah and a prominent businessman in his own right. In 1979, most of his immovable assets were confiscated by the AFRC regime for reasons obscure. These properties included some 22 buildings at Accra, Takoradi and elsewhere.

With the coming in to force of the 1982 constitution some 10 years ago, these assets were desconfisacated but they were not formally handed over 10-years ago, these assets were desconfisacated but they were not formally handed over to the family. Most of the buildings in Accra are now occupied by civil servants and members of the security services including the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) whilst his most favoured property, the Caprice building at Kpehe houses discos, nightclubs and a restaurant.

Nana Gyimah pointed out that even though they had all legal requirements needed for the handing over of the assets; this had still not been done.

He stated that on August 20, 2002, a high court presided over by Justice J.K. Ebiasah in Accra granted him powers of Attorney and the letters of administration on behalf of the family and all these documents had been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department (AG) and the Confiscated Assets Committee (CAC) for action to be taken. He stated that however, the AG and the CAC had been tossing the family up and down whilst persons unknown continue to collect rent from the properties. He therefore appealed to the concerned authorities to act quickly to save the properties from total collapse.