Landowner alleges property takeover by man mentioned in GhanaWeb report

A private citizen, Nii Odartey, has accused a man identified as Hon Mustapha of forcefully taking over his land at Aburi in the Eastern Region, claiming that the same individual was mentioned in a GhanaWeb report involving the arrest of 10 suspected land guards in the area.

Nii Odartey linked his claims to a GhanaWeb publication from May 2026 concerning the arrest of 10 suspected land guards at Adamrobe.

The suspects were arrested during a joint security operation over alleged security threats linked to a planned chief installation. Police said they retrieved pump-action rifles, ammunition, a taser, and impounded two vehicles during the operation.

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The suspects, who were dressed in Ghana Immigration Service camouflage uniforms, were also alleged to be connected to attacks on farmers and landowners in the area.

During interrogation, one of the suspects allegedly identified a man known as Hon Mustapha as the person who provided the uniforms.

Nii Odartey claimed that some of the individuals featured in the GhanaWeb report were present during a police fact-finding mission on his land.

According to him, in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb on May 7, 2026, the incident began in February 2026 when caretakers on the property informed him that unknown persons had entered the land and begun grading it.

Explaining how he discovered the alleged encroachment, Nii Odartey said he visited the site after receiving the call and found that work was ongoing.

“On that fateful day, which, if my memory serves me right, was sometime in February 2026, I received a call from caretakers on my land informing me that some people had encroached on the property and were grading it. Obviously, I had to quickly go and see for myself what was going on. I went there, and it was true. My land was being graded,” he said.

He stated that because the incident occurred on a Sunday, he decided to report the matter to the police the following day.

“My land was being graded. This was on a Sunday, so I tried to approach one guy who was claiming ownership of the land. Because it was late, I didn't get into any altercation with him. I decided to let it go and make a complaint to the police station the following day, which was Monday,” he added.

Nii Odartey further alleged that when he returned to the site with police officers, some workers ignored instructions to stop work and instead took orders from a man they referred to as their boss, who was allegedly identified as Hon Mustapha.

“I went there with the police on Monday. The number of people on the land was in excess of 10 to 15. When we got there and the police tried to get them to stop working, there was one gentleman whom they referred to as 'boss' [Hon Mustapha]. If the police gave an order to stop, he would counter the order and tell his people to continue working. He was ridiculing the police and issuing threats to me and a friend of mine who was there with me,” he alleged.

He said he acquired the land in 2009 and had never encountered any ownership dispute until this year.

“I've had this land since 2009, and since I bought it, I've never had any issues until that fateful day this year,” he stated.

According to him, he later petitioned the Police Headquarters, leading to a fact-finding visit to the property by senior officers.

“As a matter of fact, I had to submit a petition to the Police Headquarters, and they came with me to the land to conduct an investigation and gather facts for themselves. It was a fact-finding mission. Some of the individuals featured in your news publication were there that day,” he said.

He further alleged that he remains unable to access the property because development work is still ongoing.

“Well, there is a video out there that would corroborate what I'm saying. I don't have access to the land because the honorable is still on it. As we speak, he's put up a wall and is continuing development on the property,” he said.

MAG/MA