A church building belonging to the Christ Apostolic Church in Akim Akroso, located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, has been demolished following a court ruling in a protracted 17-year land dispute.
The conflict, which dates back nearly two decades, was between the Christ Apostolic Church and the Mpaebo Church, both claiming ownership of the land on which the demolished building was situated.
After years of litigation, the court delivered final judgment in favour of Mpaebo Church, declaring them the rightful owners of the land. The ruling also included an order for the demolition of the Christ Apostolic Church structure.
On Wednesday morning, an excavator was brought in to carry out the court’s directive, reducing the church building to rubble.
The demolition drew emotional reactions from members of the Christ Apostolic Church, many of whom gathered at the scene in disbelief and sorrow. Some wept openly, expressing their frustration with the court’s decision, which they described as “unfair and unjust.”
“The God we are serving knows what is best and allows things to happen. The ways of God are not the ways of man. If it were left to man, the excavator driver would have dropped dead. This judgment is wrong. We bought this land when it was waterlogged and developed it ourselves,” one distraught member said.
Another church member expressed disbelief .
“I feel bad that someone who claims to be a man of God would look on while a church building is demolished. Are we not serving the same God? You call yourself a pastor? God will surely punish him. The church members have sacrificed and contributed over the years to put up this building, only for it to be destroyed in minutes. It is heartbreaking.”
The demolition marks a dramatic end to a long legal dispute that has divided two religious groups in the community.
Source:Mybrytfmonline. com/Obed Ansah
