…Over Land Guard Activities
The Inspector-General of Police, COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has ordered for investigations to be conducted into allegations of land guard activities at Katamanso involving one of his top officers.
The officer, Chief Superintendent Solomon Ayewini Aboyinga’s alleged involvement in the activities in the community came to the attention of the IGP after a member of the Okley Family at Katamanso in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality, Godrich Nii Arday Ankrah, wrote to report the officer.
The petition dated 27th January 2022 is titled “THE UNLAWFUL USE POLICE AUTHORITY BY C/SUPT MR SOLOMON AYEWINI ABOYINGA FOR HIS CONSTANTLY AND PERSISTENT INTERFERENCE IN LAND CASES BEING INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED BY THE KATAMANSO POLICE” reads, “I write for and on behalf of OKLEY FAMILY as they act through myself who is their representative on this matter and my name is Godrich Nii Arday Ankrah, to humbly request the urgent intervention of your good offices to investigate and immediately halt the repeated and illegitimate use of authority C/Supt Mr Solomon Ayewini Aboyinga, in criminal complaint I lodged at the Katamanso Police Station involving the use of armed wielding land guards, in attempts by some faceless developer in continuously committing acts of trespass and attempting to violently take over our family land.
Our family’s land which we have owned and occupied for several decades is evidenced by the Land Certificate No. TD. TD 221 Vol 019 Folio 949.
For the avoidance of doubt, no court in Ghana has set aside our family title in the Land and under Section 119 of Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).
Our interest in the Land remains indefensible against all claims unless set aside specifically by a court and any subsequent judgement affecting our grantors will not affect our grant.
From the foregoing, it is quite clear that our family has the valid title to the Land which has not been set aside by any court and that there is no legal basis for any person whosoever to enter the Land without our consent and furthermore disrupt activities of our grantees in a very callous and violent manner.
The 1992 Constitution also guarantees the non-interference of his land without due process or legal basis.
These encroachers knowing that our family has a stronger claim and title have resulted to using gun wielding land guards to terrorize us instead of resorting to the courts.
These land guards first entered the land earlier last month, December 2021. They have since continued the occupation and have begun pegging the land and have threaten to deal with anyone that comes close to the land and in most instances they fired shots indiscriminately.
As law abiding citizens, we rely on the police to protect us from these criminals and unlawful intruders, especially with the passing of the anti-land guard laws.
As such we lodged a complaint at the Katamanso Police Station and these individuals were arrested with overwhelming evidence of their nefarious activities.
They were then put before the courts, which I must say was very commendable.
However, it is unfortunate that some police officers have an intention to rather insulate and provide protection for these tugs to breach the law.
The accused persons failed to appear before court, bench warrant was issued but the above named senior police officer instructed the Katamanso Police to withdraw the case that was before court of competent jurisdiction and bring it to him at the CID Headquarters.
The said police officer again sent one Inspector Amanor to the Katamanso Police Station to release the exhibit motorbikes that were being used by the vigilantes which had been impounded by the police.
These tugs have become emboldened and brag about that even the IGP cannot stop them and that we are at their mercy.
To this end, your timely intervention to put to an end this attempt to intimidate, extort and ultimately take over our land is greatly appreciated. We are available to provide any additional information required in your investigation and action”.
In a sharp action, the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare on February 02, 2022, in a correspondence to the petitioner reassured him of a probe into the allegation and appropriate measures taken.
Signed by the Chief of Staff, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Alex Kwame Sarfo-Adu, the official response states that, Receipt is hereby acknowledged to your letter dated 27th January 2022 in respect of the above subject matter addressed to the Inspector General of Police with copies to the Director General /Legal and the Criminal Investigation Department.
I am directed by the Inspector General of Police to inform you that your petition is under investigation and the outcome will be communicated to you in due course.
In a related development, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has caused a Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt) to make undertaking never to set foot again on the said track of land, failure which would lead to legal or disciplinary action against him.
S/Sgt Kwakye Bernard was spotted on the land and alleged to be securing the ground for whoever engaged him.
The undertaking dated March 31, 2022, was signed at the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Ghana Military Police.
Land guards whose activities are presently outlawed by the state have rendered security challenges to all fabrics of society. The Ghana Police Service is not spared in their nefarious dealings.
The sad killings of Policemen, Constables Kwaku Sekyere (Ninja) and Hope Sewornu at Ablekuma by land guards is still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians.
The Katamanso and Amrahia general area is the latest adoption for these elements who are recruited from Ashaiman, Nima, Madina, Fadama, Kasoa, among other places at a phone call.
Though the Police Operation CalmLife patrols are visible from time to time, there is a strong suggestion for the creation of a permanent Police Post in the enclave at ICT Center to ward off criminals.
