By Agbaxode Emmanuel, GNA
Akatsi (VR), June 26, GNA – The High Court at Sogakope in the Volta Region has ordered the release of a vehicle belonging to the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly after setting aside an earlier execution that led to its seizure.
The motion was upheld on June 17, this year, and the auctioneer was served with the judgment and the necessary documents to facilitate the return of the vehicle.
The order followed an application filed by the Assembly through the Office of the Attorney-General, seeking the release of a Nissan Pickup with registration number GN 8864-18, which had been attached in execution of a judgment debt.
The dispute arose after the vehicle was attached in enforcement of a court judgment debt against the Assembly, prompting the intervention of the Attorney-General’s Department.
According to court documents available to the Ghana News Agency, the vehicle was a public asset acquired by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and assigned to the Assembly to facilitate the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
The documents stated that the vehicle remained the property of the State and was therefore not liable to execution in satisfaction of the judgment debt.
The court held that public assets assigned to state institutions for official functions are generally not subject to attachment in execution of private judgment debts where such seizure would impede the performance of statutory duties.
It further noted that public interest considerations must be balanced with enforcement of judgments, particularly where essential local government functions could be disrupted.
The Attorney-General argued that the seizure of the vehicle was unlawful because it was state property used in the discharge of official duties, including project supervision, monitoring, revenue mobilisation and the implementation of government programmes.
The court documents further indicated that the continued detention of the vehicle was affecting the Assembly’s ability to carry out its statutory mandate and deliver essential services to residents.
The High Court granted the application on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and ordered the immediate release of the seized vehicle to the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly.
The ruling has been welcomed by sections of residents in the municipality, who commended the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Daniel Dagba, for pursuing legal avenues to secure the release of the Assembly’s vehicle.
Mr Dagba confirmed the development to the Ghana News Agency and said the recovery of the vehicle would strengthen the Assembly’s operational capacity by enhancing project supervision, revenue mobilisation, monitoring and the delivery of essential services across the municipality.
Assembly officials also expressed hope that the ruling would help prevent similar disruptions to the operations of local government authorities in future.
Some residents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency described the court’s decision as a significant step towards safeguarding public assets and reaffirming the importance of protecting government property through lawful means.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Agbaxode Emmanuel
[email protected]