Accra Regional Police Undertake Unlawful Demolition
The Accra Regional Police Command has been accused of conniving with a developer to unlawfully demolish a four- single room self-contained apartment at Mpehuasem, near UPSA, Accra.
The police, led by one DSP Boampong of the Regional Operations and one Clement Dzato, now claimant of the land, allegedly sacked occupants of the house and with a bulldozer, razed down the fenced and gated property without any court order.
One of the occupants of the house who allegedly protested the unlawful demolition was threatened with a gun by the police when he resisted the unlawful action.
Madam Dorothy Abban, owner of the said property, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare to look into the matter and call those officers to order since that has been the modus operandi of some of the officers; they team up with some unscrupulous persons to intimidate individuals in their bid to usurp properties unlawfully.
In a petition, Dorothy Abban said she acquired the two plots of land from Nii Sordji Obodai, Chief of Mpehuasem and with the consent of the principal elders of the Sanshie family of La in 2014 and registered same at the Lands Commission.
She said she put up a four-single room self-contained apartment and rented same to tenants in the area eight years ago.
“On May 19, 2022, the tenants were in the house one morning when police vehicles with registration numbers GP 4629 and GR 3231-18 led by DSP Boampong and Clement Dzato invaded the house; chased occupants out and demolished the property without any court order or notice.
Initially, the tenants were told the place was a government land and that the order for demolition was from the presidency and was being carried out by the Lands Ministry.
“One of the tenants named Kofi Boahen, who challenged the police and their cohorts over the issue, was threatened with a gun by DSP Boampong,” she said.
Mrs. Abban said she reported the matter to the police at East Legon, but she was initially told that the operation was sanctioned by the Regional Command, so she went to see the Regional Commander for an explanation, but the Regional Commander denied knowledge of the operation.
“We were also told that the demolition was done on behalf of the Land Ministry, but they have also denied the the allegation,” she added.
Mrs. Abban said she is seeking legal action from the Adenta High Court against the said Clement Dzato for unlawful demolition.
She is also calling on the Inspector General of Police to look into the matter and call his men to order since some of his men, for their own parochial interests and without any order, provide protection to hoodlums to commit illegal activities, thus bringing the name of the service to disrepute.