<<Print>>

A group calling itself Lenshie family of Teshie, led by the Dzasetse, Nii Ashikwei Kwaobtswe II, has pointed accusing fingers at a senior officer of the military for trespassing on its property at Teshie. The group accused the senior military officer of inciting his men from the military police to assault labourers hired by the family to protect six plots of land under contention. At least five persons were allegedly manhandled and assaulted on Friday, February 17, 2012 by a group of military police officers numbering about 20 who were detailed by the said top officer to offer security to workers on the said land. Nii Kwaobtswe, spokesperson for the group, also accused the Teshie Police, who are currently investigating the alleged assault case, of conniving with the military to fraudulently take over the land, adding that the police�s refusal to give the alleged assault victims police medical form to be endorsed by medical doctors who attended to them, smacks of conspiracy. However, the military chief in an interview with DAILY GUIDE explained that he acquired the said parcel of land some six years ago together with other officers at the said location through one of the factions in the Lenshie family. He noted that he never had problems with the family since developmental works on the plot started about five years ago until recently. He revealed that as a military officer he knows what pertains in law so could never use brutal force to acquire a property. �I only sent the men to my land to offer protection,� he told DAILY GUIDE. Asked if his officers reported happenings on the fateful day to him, he explained that they told him that one person resisted arrest when the police were called to apprehend them. The police, according to his officers, had to use a minimal force to get that person arrested. The military capo revealed that he sent officers from the military police to secure the land because his labourers complained of constant harassment on the site by the said aggrieved persons. He however expressed readiness to negotiate with all persons involved in the case and called on the feuding members of the Lenshie family as well as Okponwe to exercise restraint. Meanwhile, the Teshie Police, in a sharp rebuttal, said there was no assault case before it. The Commander, DSP Samuel Tibil Punobyin confirmed that he gave instructions for the arrest of some persons who were causing damage to a private property of a military officer following a complaint by the said officer. The Military Police had escorted the suspects and the police officers to the station. Seven persons, who were arrested, included Nii Agoe Kaatso, 72, Nelson Ashitey Armah, 60, Nii Ashitey Armah, 52, Armah Odidi, 34, Y-Bi Ashitey, 31, Nii Armah Ashitey, 32, and Richard Armah Ashitey, 33. Three of the seven persons were granted bail immediately after the arrest considering their age and health while the rest were released on Monday February 20. The police chief disclosed that two out of six fenced plots belonging to the said military man were resold to another person who is currently mounting pressure on the family to either refund his money or give him back the two plots. In this regard, the family hired men who caused damage to the wall and gates in order to gain access to the property. According to reports, they entered unlawfully and further caused damage to an inner wall partitioning the four plots on which a project was being executed. They also destroyed over thousand concrete blocks on the land. DSP Punobyin stated that the victims never reported any assault case in their statements, adding that the photos were doctored to attract public sympathy. He stressed that the said victims did not sustain injuries, but the police took them to hospital when they complained of ill health. They were treated and discharged. The land under contention is part of an approximately 32 acres of land lying behind the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre and the Military Training School. It was originally acquired by the government for the military but was released to the Lenshie family as the original owners in 1974 after government failed to use it for its intended purpose. Even after the release, the military allegedly held onto the land until a deed of exchange was brokered between the Lenshie family and the military. Under the said deed of exchange, the Lenshie family gave the military the current plot on which the Kofi Annan Centre is located in exchange for the 32-acre-land. The Teshie police have threatened to arraign the seven persons before court on three counts of conspiracy, causing damage, and offensive behaviour while the case docket would be forwarded to the Property Fraud Unit of the CID Headquarters for further action.