The legal battle over ownership of Accra’s landmark No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel has taken another dramatic turn, with Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar, explaining why his business partner, Azad Cola, is seeking to take control of the property.
Bediako maintains that Cola’s claim is based on his assertion that he alone repaid an International Finance Corporation (IFC) loan that financed the construction of the luxury hotel near Danquah Circle in Osu.
According to Bediako, the alleged repayment was made without his knowledge or approval. He also questioned the claim, insisting that Cola has never provided evidence to prove the loan was fully settled.
Bediako further argued that his partner had a “fiduciary” duty to inform him before taking such a significant financial step, making the issue one of the key points at the center of their dispute.
That disagreement has already been tested in court. The High Court of England and Wales ruled in favour of Azad Cola, ordering Bediako to pay more than US$14.9 million, together with interest and legal costs, to Cola Holdings Limited, the UK-based company owned by Cola. The ruling was reported by the Daily Graphic on January 22, 2026.
Despite the judgment, the dispute has now shifted to Ghana, where efforts are underway to enforce the ruling.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Azad Cola and Cola Holdings began the process of taking possession of the No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel. Bediako, however, insists the matter is still before the courts and says he has filed an appeal against the decision.
The same day, the Commercial Division of the High Court in Accra granted a warrant authorising Cola and his court-appointed receiver in Ghana, Nii Amanor Dodoo, to obtain police assistance to take possession of the property.
By Thursday, July 23, 2026, the receiver had assumed control of the building, according to photographs and videos that circulated widely on social media.
A message painted in red on the hotel’s walls declared: “Possession Taken by Court Order 23/07/26,” signalling that the takeover had been carried out under judicial authority.
Why Cheddar's partner Azad Cola is seizing No.1 Oxford Street Hotel located at Osu in Accra https://t.co/sQGIML1Orq pic.twitter.com/tPh9vvkvW4
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) July 23, 2026
