Residents of New Ogbojo in Accra have appealed to the President, John Dramani Mahama, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene in what they describe as persistent attacks, intimidation and forced evictions allegedly carried out by armed land guards.
The residents, under the Landlords Association of Ogbojo, said the alleged activities had left families living in fear and disrupted life in the community.
They alleged that the land guards had disconnected electricity and water supplies, removed residents’ belongings and demolished apartments in attempts to force them out of their homes.
They further said some schoolchildren had stopped attending school following alleged threats to their lives and the destruction of their learning materials.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, a member of the association, Mr Leslie Gyan, who read a statement on behalf of the executives, said residents had lived in the community since 1990 and 1992 after legally acquiring their lands.
He said the association was concerned about what it described as persistent harassment, intimidation and forced evictions allegedly carried out by armed land guards engaged by individuals identified as Johnson and Lomotey.
Mr Gyan alleged that the perpetrators had claimed that the police could not stop them because they were protected by “the powers that be” and other influential people in society.
He said elderly residents had been particularly affected, while families were increasingly anxious about the safety of their homes and properties.
“Without a home, people are deprived of security, dignity, privacy and stability,” he said, adding that the situation had undermined peace and safety in the community.
Mr Gyan said the association had reported the alleged incidents to the Madina Police Station and subsequently escalated the complaints to the Property Fraud Unit, the Emergency Command Centre’s Anti-Land Guards Department and the Anti-Armed Robbery Department at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters.
He, however, said no meaningful action had been taken to stop the alleged activities.
He further alleged that whenever police personnel arrived at the scene, the land guards contacted a man identified as Commander Awal Muhammad, after which the officers allegedly left.
The association questioned Mr Muhammad’s interest in the land and called for an investigation into his alleged involvement.
Mr Gyan said the individuals named in the complaints continued to harass residents without court orders or judicial decisions authorising their eviction.
He also appealed to the Minister for the Interior, Mr Muntaka Mubarak, and the National Security Coordinator to take immediate steps to address the situation and ensure the safety of residents.
Mr Gyan said the association remained committed to pursuing lawful means to protect the rights of its members and other residents.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
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