Mariville Estate Homeowners express disappointment in Airport Police

Residents of Mariville Home Estate at the Spintex Road in Accra have expressed their disappointment at the performance of the Airport Police following a series of reported assaults on its members.

The latest alleged assault happened on Monday when Mr Vincent Appiah, a brother of one of the residents was returning plastic chairs he had borrowed for a wedding reception.

Mr Valentine Appiah, the resident and the victim’s brother, said when his brother got to the estate gate, one Selasi, who claimed to be a security guard at the gate stopped him and as any attempt to reach him (Valentine) for assistance failed, the security men started beating him.

He said by the time he got to the gate, his brother had been severely beaten and brutalized beyond recognition.

Mr Appiah, who is also the Secretary of the Marivile Homeowners Association, told GNA in Accra, that there had been several instances of brutalities experienced by the residents that had been reported to the Airport Police but no action has been taken on them.

He said they have exhausted all avenues of the law to restrain the alleged land guards from the rampant brutalities being meted on them to no avail and have even petitioned the Inspector General of Police for the presence of security at the estate.

“We virtually live in fear and no longer feel safe,” he added.

Mr Appiah said currently, there is an illegal on-going repossession of lands from owners in the estates who have not developed their land within the stipulated five-year period without any refund by the estate owner Mrs Maria O’Sullivan- Djentuh.

He said the repossessing of the lands were illegal as there has been a restraining order from the Accra Fast Track High Court published in the February 13, 2012 edition of the Daily Graphic preventing Mrs Djentuh from repossessing the lands of members or continuing to levy fees without recourse to the court until otherwise ordered.

Dr Nana Akua Salah-Mensah, a Doctor at the Ridge Hospital, where the victim (Vincent) has been admitted told the GNA that, due to the assault, the victim has developed a fracture in the right thigh and injuries on the face.

She said the condition of the victim was critical and needed a surgery to be able to stand on his feet.

Chief Inspector James Aduah of the Airport District Police command confirmed the incident to the GNA but said there were investigations on-going to ascertain the truth of the matter adding that the command had arrested the suspect of the alleged assault, Selasi, who is currently in police custody pending further investigations.**