Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the return of all properties acquired by Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) before its cessation from the Assemblies of God Church (AG) in 1992 to the Church.
The properties include an old chapel building, offices, auditorium and plot number 12 located in Kumasi.
The Court made the orders after it had affirmed the decision of the Appeals Court which ordered Reverend Ransford Obeng, Head Pastor of CCC, to hand over "all his credentials" to the Church.
Dismissing the appeal filed by Reverend Obeng and four others, the Court also upheld the decision of the High Court in its entirety.
However, no cost was awarded by the five-member panel made up of Professor Justice Date-Bah, Ms. Justice Rose Owusu, Mrs. Justice Sophia Adinyira, Mr. Justice Jones Victor Dotse and Mr. Justice Anin Yeboah.
In a unanimous decision, the panel registered its sadness over the 17-year- old litigation by the CCC adding the litigation "saddened Christendom."
It ruled that CCC was a local chapter of the Assemblies of God Church and after announcing their cessation from the AG, they continued to manifestly use its logo on baptismal and other documents of the church.
The court described as fraud when Rev. Obeng purportedly attempted to change documents covering AG's parcel of land.
The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that all properties of CCC, including the old chapel building and the new auditorium as well as pews, vehicles, musical instruments, electrical appliances and others, belonged to the AG.
It further ordered Rev. Obeng to render accounts to the AG and vacate all properties within three months from the date of judgment.
This was an outcome of an appeal filed by Rev. Obeng against a Kumasi High Court ruling that declared the AG, owner of CCC, situated near the Airport roundabout in Kumasi.
The saga was between the church and Rev. Obeng and four others who were all members of the Board of CCC but decided to secede from the AG in 1992 through a letter.
A legal tussle ensued between the AG and CCC, when CCC decided to take over the parcel of land and looted properties of the AG.
As a result, the AG issued a writ at the High Court claiming its properties from CCC and won.
Rev. Obeng and the others, Rev. Joseph Opoku, Rev. C.K Acolatse, Rev R.K. Opoku and C.O. Kpodo appealed against the decision of the Kumasi High Court.
GNA
