The Accra Circuit Court has granted bail of GH150,000 to three individuals accused of fabricating deeds and other land documents in order to unlawfully evict tenants.
Traditional ruler Daniel Nii Martey Laryea and businessman Robert Nii Abbosey Djane were charged with preservation of land and interest in land, while jeweler Philip OkpotiNai was accused of forging land documents.
The three defendants pled not guilty, and the court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted them GH50,000 bond with two sureties each.
The court ruled that the sureties must be Ghanaians and rescheduled the hearing for May 31, 2023.
Nii Okyeame and Alex Zinkam, their accomplices, were currently at large.
Superintendent (Sup) of Police Augustus Yirenkyi stated that Mr. Ellis Nii Larnyo and Mr. Bernard Amoako were residents of Tema Community 5 and East Legon, respectively.
According to the prosecution, two of the defendants resided in Teshie and one in Madina.
According to Sup Yirenkyi, Nii Larnyo's wife acquired land in the American House neighborhood of East Legon in 1989, and the property was transferred to Nii Larnyo.
The court heard that NiiLarnyo erected a fence wall around the property and temporarily leased portions of it to several individuals, including Mr. Amoako.
According to Sup Yirenkyi, the tenants located their kiosks and shipping containers on the land, which they use as residences.
According to the prosecution, Nii Larnyo and his tenants have owned the property since it was purchased.
According to Sup Yirenkyi, in 2021, Mr. Amoako obtained copies of the land's indenture, acquired a land certificate, and claimed ownership of the land.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Amoako contacted Laryea to evict tenants from the property.
Laryea, according to Sup Yirenkyi, recruited Djane, Okyeame, and Zinkam, who then illegally tore down a portion of the fence wall on the property.