Two remanded over alleged land guard attack at East Legon

Two men accused of taking part in alleged land guard activities at East Legon broke down in tears after an Accra Circuit Court remanded them into custody.

Gabriel Abotsi Ahor, 29, a carpenter, and Benjamin Essel, 32, a concrete mixer, are alleged to have helped demolish an uncompleted building and a fence wall on a disputed property.

After the court refused them bail, the two men knelt and pleaded with the complainant for forgiveness.

Some relatives who were present in court also wept as the police escorted the accused persons away.

Their lawyer later stepped in to calm them down.

Ahor and Essel have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, prohibition of land guards’ activities, engaging in land guard activities, conspiracy to cause unlawful damage and causing unlawful damage.

They are expected to reappear on September 23, 2026.

Three other alleged accomplices, identified as Watara, Usha and Shamsudeen Hussein, are currently at large.

The prosecution opposed bail, arguing that the accused persons could interfere with investigations if released.

It also told the court that land guard activities had become a serious menace, especially for vulnerable property owners.

According to the prosecution, police are still pursuing the alleged masterminds behind the incident.

The court was also told that Ahor had not provided investigators with a verifiable address.

Defence counsel had argued that the accused persons had fixed places of abode and reliable persons ready to stand as sureties.

Counsel also assured the court that they would not interfere with investigations.

The court, however, declined the application and remanded them.

The prosecution said the complainant, whose name was withheld, is a public servant living at Community 25, Tema.

Ahor is said to live at Shiashie, while Essel resides at Ablekuma.

According to the facts presented in court, the complainant’s father bought two plots of land at Adjiringanor in 1997 from Seth Laryea Mensah, Head of Family of the Ashong Mitse Odatei Family.

He later obtained the relevant land documents and built a 10-bedroom house and other structures on the land.

After his death, the property was transferred to the complainant and her two siblings.

In July 2026, the complainant and one of her siblings demolished the old structures to make way for a modern house.

The prosecution said trouble began while the new construction was ongoing.

Ahor, Essel and the three alleged accomplices are said to have repeatedly harassed and threatened the complainant in an attempt to take over the land.

On July 15, 2026, the accused persons allegedly invaded the property while armed with cutlasses and other implements.

The prosecution said they assaulted the complainant and two workers, Atsu Michael and Joshua Ahinful, seized their tools and chased them from the site.

The complainant later petitioned the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department on August 26, 2026.

On September 5, at about 8 p.m., police received information that the accused persons and their accomplices had returned to the land.

A team of officers was deployed to the site.

The prosecution said the suspects fled when they saw the police.

Ahor and Essel were arrested after a chase, while the others escaped.

Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects.