Mother and son dragged to court over GH¢155,000 land fraud scheme at Fise

A 54-year-old trader, Salamatu Musah, and her son, Derrick William Nii Darko First-Quao, a data analyst, are standing trial at the Accra Circuit Court 8 for allegedly defrauding a building contractor of GH¢155,000 in a land sale scam at Fise, near Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region.

The two have been charged with conspiracy to commit a fraudulent transaction, grant of land without lawful title, and defrauding by false pretence. They both pleaded not guilty when they appeared before His Honour Jojo Amoah Hagan.

The court granted each accused bail of GH¢200,000, with two sureties to be justified by property ownership. Prosecutors were also instructed to amend one of the charges to reflect defrauding by false pretence accurately. The matter has been adjourned to November 19, 2025.

Presenting the facts, ASP Emmanuel Haligah told the court that the complainant, Joseph Kwamena Hagan, a building contractor residing at Abelemkpe, met the accused persons through a mutual acquaintance, Ernest Asuman, in November 2022.

The prosecution stated that Salamatu and her son convinced Mr. Hagan that they owned a parcel of land at Fise available for sale. To prove ownership, they took him to the site and presented it as their property.

Believing their claim, the complainant paid GH¢120,000, for which Derrick issued a handwritten receipt. He subsequently drafted an indenture dated December 10, 2022, transferring the supposed property into Mr. Hagan’s name.

Trouble began when Mr. Hagan attempted to develop the land, only to be confronted by another man who insisted he was the rightful owner. When pressed for answers, the accused could not justify their ownership but instead offered to relocate him to another site — if he paid an additional GH¢35,000.

Trusting their assurances once more, the complainant made the extra payment. But shortly after beginning construction on the second parcel, another group appeared, claiming ownership and ejecting him from the site.

Feeling deceived, Mr. Hagan lodged a complaint with the police. Investigations revealed that the first piece of land was legally registered to one Boateng Asante Gyan under Land Certificate Number GA.22509 since 2002.

Further checks at the Lands Commission confirmed that the land had long been leased to a group of auto mechanics, who had operated there for over two decades — proving that the accused had no legal rights or title to either parcel of land.

The two were subsequently arrested and charged after police established that they had misrepresented ownership to defraud the contractor.

The court has fixed November 19, 2025, for the next hearing as prosecutors prepare to present amended charges.

The prosecution insists that the accused deliberately orchestrated the fraud, exploiting the complainant’s trust and profiting from a fictitious land deal that left him financially devastated.