Land guards have brutalized a man and his wife as they watched them demolish a property at the University for Professional Studies in Accra.

Dr Kwaku Agyapong who runs a small business close to the property said the gangsters mistook him for a whistleblower when they saw her speaking on the phone.

But he was only giving direction to someone who was visiting his site, he told Joy News Komla Adom in his ripped up shirt.

This was at about 10:30 am Wednesday, he said.

The gangsters at the instruction of their leader, Clemence Dzato, pounced on the woman beating her up until she began spitting blood, he narrated.

His attempt to intervene also attracted a beating.

“All of them beat me,” Dr Agyapong said looking distressed.

The parcel of land under dispute 

The shaken man said he managed to get into his car and while speeding off to report, he saw Dzata pull out a gun.

He said he heard shots ringing above the menacing threats of the gangsters to kill him. 

“Dzato told me, he will eliminate me”, he told the reporter repeatedly. Police have since arrested five of the gangsters.

But Dr Agyapong expressed dismay that even before their statements were taken, a directive had come in to have the suspects transferred to Accra.

The businessman said he suspects an attempt by some persons in power to have the assault and the happenings that morning hushed.

Clemence Dzato has denied leading an assault on the residents. He said he is in charge of government lands acquired by Executive Instrument which have been encroached.

He told JoyNews, he directed his men to cease the woman’s phone because she was recording their activities.

“Nobody beat anybody…it was a struggle over a phone”, he said and challenged his accusers to show evidence of an assault.

Pictured: A pistol in one of the gangster’s car

He said one of his men was run over by Dr Agyapong’s car and had to be rushed to the Legon Hospital.

“I wish you see the state of somebody’s child. It is very bad,” he stated.

Dzato said he came to report the matter to the police but ended up being assaulted by the officers. 

“They won’t even listen to me to explain so I was locked up,” he told the reporter.

“I was beaten mercilessly,” he said. 

Dzato also denied shooting a gun.

“Nobody shot a gun. The gun is there. If the police take the gun right now they can identify the bullets,” he insisted.