Family begs Bawumia for justice after a self-acclaimed chief allegedly used his office to demolish their building

Residents in the upscale neighbourhoods of Labone and Cantonments are on high alert following a series of violent incidents involving landguards.

In the past few weeks, at least four families within a 150-meter radius have been embroiled in intense conflicts with these organized groups, who are allegedly working under the guise of official authority.

One of the most alarming cases occurred on Sithole Road, stretching from Morning Star to Kofi Baako, where a family’s house was demolished in broad daylight.

The BJ Lomotey family, who had renewed their lease with the State Housing Company just last year and have no known debts or disputes, was shocked to find their home wrecked two weeks ago and completely leveled by Sunday morning September 1, 2024.

The coordinated attack involved at least 60 individuals, including armed police officers, masked thugs, and a large group of men on motorbikes who were allegedly being led by one Lomotey, Chief, and another, Peter.

In a matter of hours, the house was torn down, and the debris was removed. The attackers, who claimed to be operating under the authority of the Vice President’s office, left the family and neighbors in disbelief.

“It’s one thing to see stuff like this in WhatsApp videos, and a completely different ball game to watch it live,” said a resident who witnessed the event.

Concerns have heightened after one local resident had the chance to review documents linked to the landguards.

“It is scary to see which agencies were involved. The official documents these people have to seize and demolish people’s property are terrifying,” the resident said.

In an interview, the grandson of the late JB Lomotey, Sylvester Ashon called on Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's office to step in and launch an investigation on behalf of the family, as the alleged chief claims to be associated with his office.

“For now, we are pleading with the government, because the man is going around saying he is from the office of the Vice President and so we are pleading with the government to come in and unravel what is happening. Because it is a dent in the government.

“It is a complete dent on the government and so we are pleading for justice because this is our property. Again, we are asking that one engineer from LADMA who is alleged to have signed some papers be picked and questioned,” he said.

These incidents are reportedly linked to an ongoing boundary dispute between the Lands Commission and State Housing.

The involvement of such powerful entities has left residents feeling vulnerable, unsure of where to turn for protection or recourse.

Local authorities have yet to make a formal statement on the matter, but the affected families and their neighbors are calling for immediate action to curb the escalating violence and protect their properties.

In the meantime, residents of Labone and Cantonments are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police as tensions in the area continue to rise.

AM/KA

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