Residents and property owners in New Ogbojo have appealed to the government and national security authorities to intervene in what they describe as a worsening land dispute marked by alleged illegal evictions, intimidation, and the activities of armed land guards.
At a press conference, community leaders accused state institutions of failing to adequately protect residents despite numerous complaints lodged with law enforcement agencies, raising concerns about land administration, security, and the rule of law.
Speaking on behalf of the Nuno Okotse Adjei family of Ogbojo, Jonas Obudai Torto said hundreds of residents who legally acquired land from the family are living in fear amid what he described as persistent harassment linked to a longstanding ownership dispute.
According to him, residents have occupied and developed the area for decades, establishing homes, schools, healthcare facilities and businesses. He claimed that despite a previous court case dating back to 1995 involving parties connected to the dispute, tensions have resurfaced in recent years with alleged forced evictions and intimidation.
Mr. Torto alleged that descendants associated with the disputed claims, accompanied by armed men, have forcibly removed occupants from properties, padlocked homes and disconnected utility services without lawful authorization.
He said repeated reports to security agencies, including the police, have yielded little progress despite recommendations by specialized anti-landguard investigators for legal action.
“We are law-abiding citizens and deserve the protection of the state,” Torto said, calling on President John Dramani Mahama, national security agencies and law enforcement authorities to take urgent steps to restore peace and ensure that disputes are resolved through the courts rather than through force.
The concerns were echoed by the New Ogbojo Landlords Association, which accused armed groups of carrying out unlawful evictions and demolitions in the community.
Addressing the media, the association’s spokesperson, Leslie Gyan, described the situation as a growing security threat that requires immediate government intervention.
He alleged that landlords and tenants have faced intimidation, destruction of property and the disconnection of electricity and water services, actions he said have disrupted lives and endangered vulnerable residents, including schoolchildren and the elderly.
Gyan further claimed that individuals behind the operations have acted with impunity and continued to carry out evictions without court orders.
According to the association, complaints have been submitted to several state institutions, including the Madina Police Station, the Property Fraud Unit, anti-landguard units, the Emergency Command Centre and the Criminal Investigations Department, but residents say the response has fallen short of expectations.
The landlords are therefore appealing directly to President Mahama, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Coordinator to investigate the allegations and ensure the protection of residents.
“Our lives are in danger, and we need immediate protection,” Gyan said. “The ongoing intimidation threatens not only our community but also the peace and stability of the nation.”
Residents claim that investigations by anti-landguard agencies recommended prosecution in connection with some of the reported incidents, but they say no prosecutions have yet taken place.
The residents further alleged that one officer they identified as Commander Amal Mohammed has repeatedly obstructed investigations whenever complaints are filed. These claims have not been independently verified.
Community members also reported what they describe as daily harassment, including stones allegedly being thrown into homes and incidents of physical attacks on residents.
The community is appealing for direct intervention from President Mahama and relevant state authorities to ensure the protection of residents and the enforcement of the law.
Residents insist that any competing claims to the land should be pursued through established legal channels and are urging authorities to ensure that justice is served and peace restored in the affected communities.
The developments have renewed public debate over the effectiveness of Ghana’s fight against landguardism and the enforcement of property rights, an issue successive governments have pledged to address.
Attempts to obtain responses from the individuals named in the allegations and the relevant security agencies were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
