'Palpable falsehood' - Lawyers dismiss land grab allegations against Dr Randy Abbey, Richard Jakpa

Lawyers for the owners of a disputed parcel of land at Tse Addo in Accra have dismissed media reports alleging that COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer, Dr Randy Abbey; and National Security operative, Richard Jakpa, forcibly seized private property under construction.

In a rejoinder signed by Kuenyehia and Nutsukpui, lawyers for Comfort Adjeley Odamtten, Salomey Adjeley Odamtten, and Kai Odamtten, the claims were described as 'a palpable falsehood and gross misinformation.'

It stated that; “The said publication… sought to put out a totally false narrative of events concerning our clients’ parcel of land and the circumstances under which officers of the National Security Secretariat and Dr Randy Abbey had to step in to save our clients from being unlawfully and blatantly dispossessed of their land.”

The lawyers explained that the land, a 0.20-acre parcel located behind the Ghana International Trade Fair Center, was inherited from the late E K Odamtten and has been in the family’s undisputed possession for over 22 years.

A two-bedroom home had been built on it, which was demolished in February this year, it added.

“Poppy Osman, in the company of some hardened land-guards armed with sophisticated weapons, besieged our clients’ property at around 2 AM, forcibly evicted them and their infant children, and demolished their residence on the land with total impunity,” it added.

The lawyers further claimed Osman began constructing a 12-storey building on the site, damaging nearby properties, including that of Dr Abbey.

Despite lodging complaints with the La Police and the Property Fraud Unit at the CID Headquarters, the family reportedly received no help.

A letter from the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly dated April 28, 2025, confirmed no permit had been issued for the construction and that a “Stop Work” notice had been served on Osman.

“In their frustration and haplessness, our clients petitioned the National Security Secretariat to come to their aid. The National Security Secretariat approached Poppy Osman to provide his permits and other title deeds… [but he] obviously failed to provide any supporting documents,” it added.

According to the lawyers, a National Security team led by Richard Jakpa was deployed on May 9, 2025, to halt the illegal work and prevent further damage.

“It is therefore a palpable falsehood… to claim that officers of National Security engaged in some illegal acts. They have rather restored peace and order on our clients’ parcel of land,” Bosompem added.

It further noted that Dr Abbey never misused state power.

“It is absolutely not true that Dr Randy Abbey has used National Security to intimidate or abuse the property rights of any of his neighbours in the area. On the contrary, he was also a victim of the damaging effects of the blatant illegal construction works by Poppy Osman," it added.

JKB/AE

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