Police round up four land guards

Accra (Greater Accra), 29th June 99 -

The Police on Saturday arrested four land guards, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Angwubutoge Awuni, Head of the Police Public Relations Directorate, told newsmen in Accra on Monday.

The four, Albert Wilson, 48, Alhassan Osmanu, 56, George Lartey, 37, and Solomon Nii Ayitey, 32, were rounded during a police operation at Amanjo, a suburb of Accra.

Narrating the circumstances leading to their arrest, DSP Awuni said the four, employees of Nii Adu Kotokro of Abola Pian (Lartebiokoshie), used to take money from the residents of Amanjo and assured them of protection.

He said when the residents became fed up with the harassment from the land guards; they reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police.

DSP Awuni said, at a secret meeting between members of the Amanjo Landlords/Landladies Association and the land guards, personnel from the Panthers Unit effected the arrest of the guards.

DSP Awuni said the Police would continue to "fight" the land guards, and cautioned them to find alternative jobs to do, "because we are getting closer to them."

He warned that in their own interest, chiefs, who are harbouring the guards, should flush them out.

DSP Awuni said the chief is to be picked up to assist the Police in their investigations, adding that the guards would be put before court as soon as investigations are completed.

In another development, the Police arrested Attuquaye Botchway, draughtsman, for causing damage to other people's property at Teshie-Nungua.

According to DSP Awuni, Botchway trespassed on a plot of land belonging to the international soccer star, Abedi Pele and inscribed "IGP's Property" on some pillars on the land to deter other people from encroaching on it.

DSP Awuni stated that when the IGP denied ownership of the land after a caller had rang for verification, Botchway was arrested.

He warned those, who have been using the names of important personalities in society to dupe others to desist from the practice since they would not be spared when caught.

Botchway, he said, will be put before court tomorrow.

GRi?/