An Accra Circuit Court has issued bench warrants for the arrest of two persons, Stephen Okutu Kofi and Benjamin Djanker, believed to have been providing land guard services for an estate developer.

The warrant for their arrest was issued on January 17, 2023, by an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah.

The runaways, if arrested, would stand trial with James Okine, an estate developer and owner of a construction firm.

Abubakar Issah, unemployed; Kamach Yeboah, a Caterpillar operator and Ali Amadu, also a  Caterpillar operator, are all on a charge of unlawful protection of land.

James Okine, Abubakar Issah, Kamach Yeboah and Ali Amadu have already pleaded not guilty to the charge and have been granted bail in a total sum of GH¢250,000.00.

The facts

The court was informed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong that the complainant was Godrich Ardey, a businessman who resides at Katamanso in the jurisdiction of the court.

He added that James Okine, Abubakar Issah, Kamack Yeboah and Ali Amadu are residents of Zenu-Ashaiman, Teiman and Oyibi respectively.

ASP Oppong told the court that Stephen Okutu Kofi and Benjamin Djanker, who should be standing trial with the accused persons, were at large.

According to the prosecuting officer, on January 3, 2023, the complainant reported to the Police that his family owned 1.625.474 acres of land at Katamanso with the appropriate title certificate covering the said land.

In addition to the land title certificate, the complainant also has a Power of Attorney from his family to back his claims.

ASP Oppong said Police investigation revealed that the complainant’s family has owned the said land for several decades.

The court was also informed that the complainant’s family had also leased portions of the land to some estate companies who have built houses on the land without any challenges.

Meanwhile, the Police were informed that the first accused, who also is the owner of Greenlake Estate,  had recruited land guards onto the land in question and together with his workers,  were unlawfully grading the land to commence development.

The prosecutor told the court that on January 5, 2023, the Police visited the scene with the complainant and found Kamack Yeboah and Ali Amadu using a payloader machine to grade the complainant’s family land under the protection of Issah, Okutu, and Djanker.

He stated that Kamack Yeboah and Ali Amadu were arrested. During the investigation, James Okine followed up and was also arrested.

They were then charged and put before Court. The Police said efforts were being made to arrest the two other accused persons.