High Court authorises police assistance for Receiver in dispute over Cheddar’s No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel
Ghana's High Court has granted police assistance to the Receiver appointed over No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel in Accra. Here's what the ruling means, why police are involved, and what happens next.
Follow Nukunya
Get the latest breaking news and updates from Nukunya.
A Commercial Division of Ghana’s High Court has authorised police assistance to enable the Receiver appointed by UK-based Cola Holdings Limited to take possession of No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel in Accra. The ruling relates to enforcement of security rights under Ghana’s Borrowers and Lenders Act and does not determine the broader commercial dispute between the parties.
Accra, Ghana – Ghana’s Commercial Division of the High Court has authorised police assistance to enable the Receiver appointed by UK-based Cola Holdings Limited to take possession of No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel in Accra, marking a significant development in one of the country’s most closely watched commercial enforcement disputes.
The order, issued on 21 July 2026, grants the Receiver authority to obtain police support in taking possession of the property under Section 64 of the Borrowers and Lenders Act, 2020 (Act 1052), after the court concluded that the statutory requirements had been met. The ruling forms part of ongoing debt recovery proceedings and should not be interpreted as determining ownership of the hotel or resolving all outstanding legal disputes between the parties.
The respondent in the application is Kensington Residential Partners 1 Limited, whose directors include businessman and former independent presidential candidate Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar. The decision concerns the enforcement of security rights over the luxury hotel, a landmark luxury development in Osu that has become one of Accra’s best-known commercial properties.
What the High Court decided
According to the certified court order, the application was brought jointly by Nii Amanor Dodoo, acting as Receiver and Manager of the luxury hotel, and Cola Holdings Limited.
The applicants sought a warrant directing the Greater Accra Regional Police Command to provide assistance in taking possession of the secured property after encountering resistance in exercising the Receiver’s statutory powers. The High Court heard submissions from lawyers representing both the applicants and Kensington Residential Partners 1 Limited before granting the application. The order specifically authorises police assistance to enable the Receiver to realise the lender’s security rights over the property.
The court order does not state that ownership of the hotel has changed hands. Nor does it determine liability in any broader commercial dispute between the parties. Instead, it concerns a procedural application allowing the Receiver to obtain police assistance in enforcing security rights recognised under Ghanaian law.
Why police assistance was required
Under Ghana’s Borrowers and Lenders Act, secured creditors may appoint a Receiver over charged assets where contractual and statutory conditions are satisfied. However, where peaceful possession cannot readily be obtained, the Receiver may apply to the High Court for police assistance to facilitate enforcement while maintaining public order. Legal practitioners say such applications are not uncommon in commercial enforcement proceedings involving high-value assets. The police do not determine ownership rights. Their role is limited to maintaining peace while giving effect to a lawful court order.
Opposition to the application
Court records show Kensington Residential Partners 1 Limited opposed the application through legal counsel. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the grounds advanced in opposition and granted the Receiver’s request for police assistance. The ruling therefore enables the Receiver to proceed with enforcement of the security interest, subject to the terms of the court order.
Background to the dispute
The proceedings arise from an alleged debt owed to UK-based Cola Holdings Limited. Earlier court proceedings connected to the enforcement of an English judgement resulted in the appointment of a Receiver over the luxury hotel. Graphic Online reported that the Receiver subsequently sought police assistance after being unable to obtain possession without resistance. The publication also reported that Nana Kwame Bediako has previously challenged liability under the underlying judgement and indicated his intention to pursue available legal remedies through the Ghanaian courts. Those challenges are separate from the application decided this week.
Court clarification
What the Ruling Does Not Mean
The High Court’s order should not be interpreted as a final determination of every dispute between the parties.
The decision authorises police assistance for enforcement of the Receiver’s statutory powers. It does not resolve the wider commercial dispute surrounding the property or financing arrangements.
Ownership
The order does not determine ownership of No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel.
Contract disputes
Outstanding contractual or financing disagreements remain capable of separate determination.
Appeals
Existing appeals or future litigation may continue independently.
Final liability
The ruling does not decide wider claims or liabilities between the parties.
Commercial significance
Why the Case Matters
The proceedings demonstrate the growing sophistication of secured lending and commercial enforcement mechanisms in Ghana.
As investment in premium commercial property expands, lenders increasingly rely on statutory enforcement procedures created under the Borrowers and Lenders Act to protect security interests where borrowers default or disputes arise.
The proceedings also highlight the important legal distinction between ownership of an asset, appointment of a Receiver, enforcement of security rights and ultimate determination of commercial liability. Although often reported together, these are legally separate questions.
For lenders, developers and investors, the decision illustrates how Ghana’s Commercial Court continues applying statutory enforcement mechanisms in complex, high-value financing disputes.
Next stage
What Happens Next?
Police assistance
The Receiver may seek operational assistance from the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
Taking possession
Possession may be taken in accordance with the High Court’s order and applicable law.
Separate litigation
Appeals or other legal proceedings concerning the underlying financing dispute may continue independently.
Further court applications
Additional proceedings will depend upon the parties’ respective legal strategies.
Legal explainer
What Is a Receiver?
A Receiver is an independent person appointed by a secured lender to take control of assets pledged as collateral for a loan.
The Receiver’s primary responsibility is to preserve, manage and, where necessary, realise secured assets so that outstanding debt may be recovered in accordance with the law.
In Ghana, appointments and powers of Receivers are principally governed by the Borrowers and Lenders Act, 2020 (Act 1052).
Chronology
Timeline
2024
Financing arrangements giving rise to the security interest become the subject of later enforcement proceedings.
January 2026
Nana Kwame Bediako publicly disputes liability and indicates his intention to challenge enforcement.
21 July 2026
The Commercial Division of the High Court grants police assistance to the Receiver appointed by Cola Holdings Limited.
23 July 2026
The ruling becomes publicly known following publication of the court order and related reporting.
Reader questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ruling decide who owns the hotel?
No. The order concerns enforcement of security rights and does not determine ownership of the property.
Can appeals still continue?
Yes. Existing or future appeals and related commercial proceedings may continue independently.
Why was police assistance granted?
The court authorised police assistance to enable the Receiver to enforce statutory security rights recognised under Ghanaian law.
What does a Receiver do?
A Receiver manages secured assets on behalf of a lender to preserve value and recover money owed under a loan agreement.
Related posts:
Bank of Ghana suspends proposed 0.75% mobile money transfer fee
Bank of Ghana files Supreme Court appeal over GN Savings licence
Ghana Parliament Passes Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
NDC Renames Headquarters ‘Jerry Rawlings House’ on Founder’s 79th Birthday.
Supreme Court Halts Reinstatement of GN Savings Licence Pending Bank of Ghana Appeal
