An Accra Circuit Court has heard a case involving a businessman accused of hiring land guards to forcibly displace residents from a disputed territory within the Ga South Municipality. A GhanaWeb report indicates that the accused person allegedly mobilized armed individuals to intimidate and harass various property owners situated in the Tomefa area near the Weija Dam. The prosecution stated that the actions of the group led to significant property damage and the illegal eviction of families from their homes.
Court documents referenced by a Ghana News Agency report specify that the value of the properties and land under dispute is estimated at 2.5 million Ghana Cedis. The prosecution led by the Ghana Police Service alleges that the businessman utilized organized criminal elements to bypass legal land dispute resolution channels. The defense has denied these claims and requested bail for the accused person on the grounds that he has a permanent place of abode and is prepared to stand trial.
A Graphic Online report notes that the presiding judge emphasized the gravity of using land guards which is a criminal offense under the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act of 2019. The court heard testimonies from affected residents who claimed that the suspected land guards used weapons to prevent them from accessing their farmlands and residential structures. These allegations remain unconfirmed as the defense has yet to present its full counter arguments regarding the activities at the site.
The Ghana Police Service has intensified its surveillance in the Ga South Municipality following the reports of land guard intimidation. Official statements from police investigators suggest that more arrests may follow as they seek to identify the intermediaries who allegedly recruited the armed men. The trial is scheduled to continue later this month as the court awaits further evidence regarding the ownership documents and the alleged identities of the hired individuals mentioned in the charge sheet.