Dansoman court remands pensioner and contractor for destroying property on disputed land

Two individuals accused of forcibly demolishing structures on a disputed parcel of land in Kwabenya, Accra, have been remanded into custody by the Dansoman Circuit Court.

Rosaline Adjeley, a pensioner, and Godfred Yaw Ntifafa Tsorxe, a building contractor, are facing four charges, including conspiracy, unlawful damage, and trespass. The accused, who allegedly stormed the site with a bulldozer and armed protection, pleaded not guilty during their appearance before the court on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

Presiding judge Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit denied them bail, siding with Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, who requested that the accused be remanded to allow investigators time to complete their probe. They are set to reappear in court on June 9.

An alleged accomplice, Peter Nii Ngleshie Addy, is currently at large.

Background of the Dispute

According to the prosecution, the land in question was acquired in 2020 by the complainant from the Odai Ntow Family of Teshie. The complainant took possession of the land, fenced it, and installed caretakers to prevent encroachment.

Later, members of the Nii Ngleshie Addy family challenged the ownership and initiated legal proceedings. However, after years of litigation, the court ruled in favour of the complainant, who subsequently registered the land with the Lands Commission and obtained a Land Certificate.

The land was later leased to various individuals who began developing it—erecting fence walls, an uncompleted building, and storing construction equipment and materials, including a concrete mixer.

Violent Demolition Allegation

On March 28, 2025, the accused persons, along with others dressed in military uniforms and accompanied by armed land guards, reportedly entered the property with a bulldozer and razed all existing structures to the ground. The prosecution said the act was carried out despite the court judgment affirming the complainant’s rightful ownership.

The case has reignited debate over land disputes and the violent tactics used by some individuals to assert land claims in Ghana, often involving land guards and impersonation of security forces.