A dispute over a 2.3-acre plot of land in Ashaiman has ignited outrage among members of the Peaceful Settlers’ Association, who claim they are being forcibly removed despite occupying the land legally for over two decades.

The group has accused a private developer, Alhaji Haruna, of encroaching on their property with the alleged support of influential political figures.

Although court injunctions have been secured to halt construction on the land, work continues unabated, raising concerns about corruption and power dynamics in Ghana’s land administration system.

The conflict escalated in December 2024 when Alhaji Haruna, who owns land adjacent to that of the settlers, allegedly extended his development onto their property.

When the settlers removed the barricades he had erected, Alhaji reported them to the police, leading to the arrest and detention of 13 association members for 12 hours. The settlers, however, argue that the police have failed to act impartially in the matter.

“We expected fair intervention, but instead, the police sided with Alhaji and called for a so-called mediation meeting while construction continued unchecked,” a member of the group stated.

Documents from the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) confirm that the Peaceful Settlers’ Association holds legal ownership of the land.

However, enforcement of the court order has been slow, leaving the settlers vulnerable to forced eviction.

“It is shocking that despite a court injunction, construction on our land continues. Alhaji is using his political influence to intimidate us and take what is rightfully ours,” a resident lamented.

The group has accused Ashaiman’s Member of Parliament, Ernest Norgbey, of colluding with Alhaji to seize the land, though the MP has denied any involvement.

Mr Norgbey clarified that he intervened only after receiving a petition from the settlers and is now pushing for an out-of-court settlement.

The ongoing dispute has had severe economic consequences for the settlers, many of whom are market traders. Several have lost their stalls and primary sources of income due to the encroachment.

“Our businesses are suffering, our people are losing their livelihoods, and justice is moving too slowly. We are taking this fight to the media because there are many others like us whose lands are being taken unjustly,” a representative of the association declared.

The settlers insist that their case is just one example of widespread land injustice in Ashaiman and across Ghana. They are calling for urgent reforms to the country’s land administration system to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

“We are not just fighting for ourselves. We want to shine a light on this issue so that others do not lose their lands to the powerful and well-connected,” one member asserted.