Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Wednesday, October 8, 2025 edition of the Ghanaian Times under the above headline, which contains several inaccuracies and misleading claims attributed to the Katamanso Manste, Tatse Nii Laryea Akuetteh X.
In his response to the September 16, 2025 edition of the Ghanaian Times titled: “Landguards on rampage… Attack Residents, Estate Developers at New Legon,” the Katamanso Mantse alleged that Mr Oko Borlabi of Bi-Fon Limited and his son, Jeff Bortey, were behind the said publication.
He further claimed that the two were scheming to dispossess genuine grantees of the late Katamanso Mantse, Nii Otu Akuetteh IX, of their lands and that they engage in landguard activities to forcefully annex properties for resale.
We wish to state without any equivocation that neither Mr Borlabi nor his son did anything wrong even if they caused the publication to be carried out since it was their right to let the world know the level of injustice, they are being subjected to by the Katamanso Mantse and his assigns.
Like many other residents and developers of New Legon who have suffered from persistent landguard harassment, it was their right to grant interviews to the author of the story in the interest of public safety and truth.
Secondly, we categorically deny the baseless allegation that, Mr Oko Borlabı of Bi-Fon and his son Jeff Bortey are seeking to dispossess rightful land owners of their lands.
As a legally registered entity and a fully paid up member of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), we have the right to defend our properties through all legitmate means, including, the use of the media.
Indeed, the lands in question are lands legally and rightfully acquired from the Nungua Stool by Bi-Fon Limited represented by Mr Oko Borlabi as far back as 1994.
Records at both the Lands Commission and the Nungua Stool clearly shows that the lands legitimately belong to Bi-Fon Limited and rather it is the Katamanso Mantse, Nii Laryea Akutteh X, and his associates who are trespassing and scheming through every foul means as well as unlawful means to appropriate these lands.
Furthermore, it is completely false and defamatory to suggest that Mr Oko Borlabi and his son are engaged in any form of landguard activities.
The records available, clearly shows that at all material time, the two have resorted to lawful means in protecting their properties— including filing numerous reports with the Lake Side Police Station, the Greater Accra Regional Police Command and the National Police Headquarters, as well as pursuing the matter through the law courts.
It is important to emphasize that currently as we speak, Bi-Fon Limited represented Mr Oko Borlabi and his son have lodged series of reports with the Property Fraud Department of the Ghana Police Service and investigations are still ongoing.
It is also unfortunate and disingenuous for the Katamanso Mantse to attempt to drag the religious beliefs of Mr. Oko Borlabi into this matter. As a law-abiding citizen and a Jehovah’s Witness, Mr Oko Borlabi is enjoined by law and conscience to defend his properties through every peaceful and legal means, and to imply otherwise is both offensive and misleading.
In his rebuttal, the Katamanso Mantse, Nii Laryea Akuetteh X, further claimed that Vandam, Aaron Laryea Otoo, Ebenezer Quaye Kumah and Cephas Oklay, alias OK are not landguards but elders of the Katamanso Traditional Council.
If that were the case, what then explains their persistent violent conduct— attacking innocent developers and destroying individual properties running into several millions of cedis at New Legon?
It is on record that these individuals were arrested by the police on September 17 and 18, 2025 respectively, after attempting to attack workers of Bi-Fon Limited while lawfully working on site.
Facts of the Matter
The crux of the matter is that, in 1994, Bi-Fon Limited lawfully acquired 61.42 acres at New Legon from the Nungua Stool, the legitimate owners of the land encompassing Katamanso.
A 2018 Accra High Court (Land Division) ruling in Suit No. SOL/4/2016 — Nii Otu Akwetey IX v. Kwadwo Asante Boateng and Nii Ashong Kojo III affirmed the ownership of 670 acres of land in favour of the Nungua Stool and directed the Lands Commission to delete from its records the 14,405.28 acres wrongfully plotted for the Katamanso Stool.
It is also on record that the Gborbu Wulomo remains a constant authority in the alienation of any Nungua Stool land, and without his consent, no land transaction is valid.
In a recent letter, the Gborbu Wulomo reaffirmed his full consent to Bi-Fon Limited’s acquisition of the 61.42 acres, declaring that “no one has the right to litigate with Bi-Fon Limited in the face of possession rights.”
A search at the Lands Commission confirms that the 61.42 acres have been legitimately plotted in the name of Bi-Fon Limited. We therefore challenge the Katamanso Mantse to clarify:
Did the Lands Commission err in registering Bi-Fon’s documents?
Is the Katamanso Mantse implying that the very institution on which he serves—as board member on the Regional Lands Commission—is fraudulent?
Is Katamanso not part of the Nungua Stool?
Has the Nungua Stool not already sold the same lands now being resold by Katamanso?
Did he not meet with the Nungua Mantse, King Odaifio and Gborbu Wulomo- Shitse, the Spiritual leader and Overlord of the Gadangme State regarding this matter—and what was the outcome?
Bi-Fon Limited maintains its rightful ownership of the 61.42 acres at New Legon and will continue to rely on lawful institutions of state to protect its properties.
We are by this rejoinder urging the general public and our clients to disregard any form of misinformation about the legitimate ownership of the 61.42 acres at New Legon.
In good conscience and within the rule of law, we will not engage in any unlawful activity, except to assure that we will go to every length to protect what is legitimately ours using all the appropriate institutions of state.
We are also through this publication urging the police to fast track the processes of investigations and charge the four individuals arrested in connection with the destruction of Bi-Fon Limited properties at New Legon on September 15, 2025.
Please kindly find attached scanned search report from the Lands Commission.
Thank you.
