Land-grab At Plot B90 Labone: A Tale Of Greed And Callousness

By Kofi Thompson

The path to the top of the greasy pole for some in Ghana, is strewn with the bodies of their victims - the dead and the traumatised living dead - who crossed their paths and ended up as their victims.

The shabby story of how forged documents ended up in the Lands Commission to give legal cover for the alleged seizure of a property, which a wealthy younger sibling erroneously thought belonged to her older sister, who apparently owed her a hundred thousand dollars that had been outstanding for over 8 years, is a tale of the unfathomable greed and utter ruthlessness, which characterises a certain type of entrepreneur in Ghana.

For such individuals, ethics and corporate good governance principles are weaknesses of fools to be taken advantage of - in their no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners scorched-earth-approach to business.

The question in what ought to be a case-study of how the ruthless-wealthy steal prime land in urban Ghana is: Who at the Lands Commission aided and abetted the person who had the audacity to demolish a senior citizen of 87's house on plot B90 Labone - when that brave old lady, who refused to sign away her right to her own property when approached to do so - has never sold it to anyone, since she bought the lease from the government of Ghana: some 36 or so years ago?

The Hon. Inusah Fuseini, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, must take this matter up.

Although now a much-improved entity, it is a quintessential example of the handiwork of the few crooked elements, who still remain at post in the Lands Commission, and give it a bad name.

One also wonders whether this incredible story of arrogance and impunity has elements of tax evasion and money-laundering to it.

Naturally, the relevant authorities will have to either eliminate or confirm that. And being someone who never gives up and is never intimidated by anyone, nothing will stop me from making sure that justice is done in this particular matter.

Those who think they can seize land and demolish property that is not theirs, but which they covet, because they are powerful and wealthy, must be taught a lesson: that they cannot abuse the human rights of others and get away with it all the time.

Senior citizens in their 80's need the protection of society from the vampires in our midst. And I intend to protect that particular senior citizen, who is 87 and the rightful owner of plot B90 at Labone, who has never sold her (now demolished) house on it to anyone before.

And for the Lebanese nationals at the periphery of this dreadful affair, a word of caution: they had better back off.

Some Ghanaians are aware that for some Lebanese, Ghanaian citizenship is like a tramp-steamer flying a flag of convenience.

They must also know that some Ghanaians who speak Arabic, are aware of how individuals like a number of them often disparage Ghana and its people, when conversing amongst themselves.

Well, for their information, this is the one case in Ghana, in which no amount of bribes they pay, and no matter how impressive the number of powerful connections they might have, will make a jot of difference for them.

For whom the cap fits, let them wear it. We shall soon meet in a court of law - my being prevented from taking more recent photographs of the outrage going on there notwithstanding.

The attempted land-grab at plot B90 Labone - that tale of unfathomable greed and callousness - will fail: despite the wealth and power of those involved in it.

Email: peakofi.thompson@gmail.com.