Alleged landguard granted 60 million cedis bail

Accra, Jan. 21, GNA - Kankam Botwe, 36, who jumped bail since last year, on charges of alleged harassment of land developers at Asabahan, Ngleshie-Amanfro, near Kasoa, was on Friday arraigned before a circuit court in Accra following his arrest on Tuesday on a bench warrant. Botwe, also known as Dawuda, whose plea was not taken, was granted 60 million cedis bail with two sureties until Jan. 28.

The court, presided over by Mr Nathaniel Osam, ordered Dawuda, who had allegedly recruited a number of "landguards" from Nima in Accra, apparently to frustrate the activities of genuine land developers in the area to stop the harassment to enable them to carry out their legitimate work.

Hajia Akwele Amudalatu, an Accra businesswoman had told the court that Dawuda had sold out portions of plots of land she had purchased in the area, which were covered by title deeds issued by the Lands Commission. The court detailed a team of investigators to inspect the land and report to it on activities in the area at its next sitting.