Court orders service of contempt motion on Greater Accra Regional Minister

Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo has been ordered to appear before the Adentan High Court to answer a contempt application arising from a disputed land development at Dodowa.

The court wants the Minister to explain why she should not be committed to prison for allegedly disregarding an injunction relating to land said to be earmarked for the relocation of the Dodowa Market.

The order follows an application by Bernard Oduro, who is suing through his lawful attorney, Felix Mishio Ankonam.

The case is titled Republic v. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, ex parte Bernard Oduro.

At the latest sitting, the court granted an order for substituted service after directing that the contempt motion and hearing notice be brought to the Minister’s attention through several channels.

Copies of the documents are to be posted on the notice board of the Adentan High Court.

They are also to be posted on the walls of the Minister’s residence or left with an adult at the residence.

The court further directed that copies be served on the Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and published in the Daily Graphic.

The matter has been adjourned to June 24, 2026.

The dispute centres on a parcel of land at Dodowa which the applicant claims is already the subject of litigation between him and the Attorney-General.

According to Mr Oduro, the court granted an interlocutory injunction on October 22, 2025, restraining the Minister from undertaking development on the land until the case is finally determined.

He says the order was served on both the Minister and the Chief Director.

Despite that, the applicant claims he later discovered, around April 17, 2026, that people had moved onto the land and were clearing and grading it.

He alleges that enquiries revealed the work was being carried out on the instructions of the Regional Minister.

The matter was reported to the police, and some of the persons found working on the land were arrested.

Mr Oduro further alleges that on April 24, 2026, the Minister went to the Police Headquarters and caused the arrested persons to be released after stating that they were acting on her orders.

He also claims the Minister said work would continue because the land was needed for the relocation of the Dodowa Market.

According to the applicant, this was said despite reminders that an injunction was still in force.

He also alleges that the Minister later spoke on two Accra-based radio stations on April 28, where she acknowledged both the court case and the injunction but maintained that the intended project would proceed.

Mr Oduro argues that the Minister’s alleged conduct amounts to wilful disobedience of a court order.

The court has therefore directed that she be served with the contempt processes and hearing notice to appear and respond.