A 68-year-old pensioner and a building contractor have been charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of unlawful damage and trespass following a dramatic land dispute in Kwabenya, Greater Accra Region, that led to the demolition of several structures valued in thousands of cedis.
Rosaline Adjeley Ankonum, 68 years, and Godfred Yaw Ntifafa Tsorxe, 44 years, are facing four charges at the Dansoman Circuit Court. A third accused, Peter Nii Ngleshie Addy, is currently at large.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder told the trial Circuit Court Dansoman that on March 28, 2025, the accused persons, along with unidentified accomplices, entered a contested parcel of land at Kwabenya accompanied by armed men in military-style uniforms and a bulldozer.
They proceeded to destroy a range of property including fence walls, a concrete mixer, a single-room structure, and building materials belonging to multiple individuals.
The property owners, Kofi Agyemang, Managing Director of Paytell Company Ltd and Michael Norman, an Accountant, had acquired and developed portions of the land over the years, after securing a favourable court judgment and land certificate.
Agyemang had initially acquired the land from the Odai Ntow Family of Teshie in 2002 and erected a perimeter wall to ward off encroachers.
However, the Nii Ngleshie Addy family later laid claim to the land, leading to a protracted legal battle which ultimately ended in favor of Agyemang. The land was officially registered under his name.
Despite this, the accused allegedly entered the land with heavy equipment and demolished structures put up by the complainants and other developers.
Rosaline Adjeley Ankonum admitted to the act in her police statement and presented a now-invalidated land certificate in her late father’s name, purportedly issued by the same Ngleshie Addy family.
Investigations revealed that this certificate had been expunged and official documentation recognised Agyemang as the rightful owner.
The prosecution told the court that the damage caused is still being assessed by the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL).
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, remanded the accused into custody to allow police to complete their investigations and arrest the remaining suspects.
The case has been adjourned to June 9, 2025.
