An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah has slapped an estate developer, James Okine, and three others with a total bail sum of GH¢250,000 and eight sureties.

James Okine's bail bond was GH¢100,000, with two sureties who are public servants, earning not less than GH¢2,000 monthly.

The other accused persons - Abubakar Issah, unemployed; Kamach Yeboah, Caterpillar operator and Ali Amadu, Caterpillar operator - were given bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties each.

They were arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and unlawful protection of land. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court has adjourned the next hearing to February 6, 2023.

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 two other people, Stephen Okutu Kofi alias Kofi Santos, and Benjamin Djanker aka Asaa, 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 unto 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 and Amadu using a payloader machine to grade the complainant’s family land under the protection of Issah, Okutu and Benjamin.

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

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