Some Real Estate Developers in the Greater Accra Region have accused the police of doing little to tackle the activities of land guards in the region.
The developers allege that some senior police officers have been compromised by the land guards hence their inability to act.
Last year, the Accra Regional Police Command declared war against land guards which led to the arrest of several suspects.
The alleged leader of the group Sarriki Awala was also declared wanted.
However, speaking to Citi News, one of the developers, Austin Ade Asante said the suspects and some other syndicates are still terrorizing residents and developers.
“When it comes to him [Sarriki Awala] and his matters, when you take it there [the police], they don’t even take you seriously. They say they are looking for him. For months now, Kwesi Fori says he is looking for Sarriki Awala. But on a daily basis, agents of Sarriki walk in and out of there,” he stated.
“The issue is that if they don’t do their work properly, there will be a blood bath in that area because the core mandate of police is to protect life and property. So if the police are not doing their job, then the landowners obviously will also have to find their own way to protect their property.”
Background
The Accra Regional Police Command began a manhunt for one Sarriki Awala, the alleged ring leader of a group of land guards terrorizing the lives of property owners at Tseado, a suburb of the La Dade Kotopong Municipality.
This came on the back of a swoop by the Police command as part of efforts to combat the operations of land guards in the city.
The Director of Operations at the Accra Regional Police Command, ACP Kwesi Ofori told Citi News at a separate swoop that some 13 suspected criminals were arrested at their hideouts at the Awudome Cemetery.
Issues relating to land guards terrorizing residents of particular areas in the capital city Accra have been on the rise for quite a while now.
Residents of Otinibi in the La-Nkwantanan Municipality about two months ago lamented about how some scores of armed military personnel, including well-built men, believed to be land-guards allegedly harassed them.
According to them, these military men had been preventing them from visiting their sites, at the same time pulling down buildings belonging to other people.
Similar incidents happened in Ashongman Ablorh Adjei as some homes, structures, and walls were destroyed by land guards in the area despite some individuals claiming to be the legitimate owners of the said lands and houses.
