A Dansoman Circuit Court judge has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of one Ussha Haruna, the alleged ringleader of a gang of 10 landguards arrested last Thursday for terrorizing residents of Ashongman in the Ga East District of the Greater Accra Region.

The arrest warrant followed Haruna’s failure to appear in court today when the case regarding the prosecution of the 10 suspects was called.

It is not immediately clear why Haruna did not appear in court.

However, information gathered indicates that some individuals at the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra have requested that the case docket be brought to them, casting doubts in the minds of Ashongman residents.

Many fear that some officials within the CID, who allegedly have an interest in the case, want to—as they claim— “make it a forgotten case.”

It is unclear how the situation will unfold, but some state prosecuting officers have expressed concern over the turn of events, questioning the CID's mandate to demand a case that does not fall within its jurisdiction.

They argue that such interference undermines established prosecutorial arrangements.

This worrying development comes at a time when the police claim to have made a major breakthrough in the fight against landguard violence.

This follows a special operation carried out last Thursday, July 3, 2025, by the Anti-Landguard Unit led by DSP Nafiu Shittu, which resulted in the arrest of 10 notorious landguards in Ashongman Estates.

Acting on credible intelligence from distressed residents, the police team stormed the Bank of Ghana lands around 10:00 AM and apprehended the gang of suspected landguards who had long tormented landowners through threats, property destruction, and illegal land claims.

The suspects were arrested without resistance during the well-coordinated raid. They are currently in police custody and face charges under the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999).

Their reported sponsor, Ussha Haruna, is also under investigation for orchestrating the group’s illegal activities.

The land in question, officially acquired in 2014 through a government auction and backed by court rulings in 2010 and 2024, has been a flashpoint for violent confrontations.

Despite the legal clarity surrounding its ownership, armed landguards repeatedly laid false claims, extorted payments, and intimidated residents.

DSP Shittu emphasized that the raid forms part of a broader national strategy to dismantle landguard networks and restore confidence in land ownership security.

Grateful residents of Ashongman Estates expressed renewed hope and appreciation for the police intervention and commended the Inspector General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for his dedication since assuming office.

Many had endured years of fear and financial loss due to the unchecked actions of these landguard groups.

The operation highlights the growing importance of community-police collaboration in combating urban land insecurity.

It also reinforces the need for robust legal enforcement against landguardism, which continues to plague parts of Ghana’s rapidly developing neighborhoods.

The land in question, located at the heart of Ashongman Estates, was legally acquired by its original owners in 2014 through a government auction, with full compensation duly paid.

The legitimacy of the ownership was further solidified by court judgments in 2010 and 2024, which affirmed the rights of the owners and dismissed any counterclaims.

Despite these rulings, landguards—often armed and operating with impunity—had been terrorizing residents, laying false claims to plots and extorting payments from legitimate landowners.

Acting on intelligence following multiple complaints from affected residents, the Anti-Landguard Unit meticulously planned the operation to apprehend the culprits.

On the morning of July 3, officers swooped in on the Bank of Ghana lands, catching the landguards off guard. The swift and coordinated effort ensured the suspects were apprehended without incident—a testament to the unit’s professionalism and resolve.

In an engagement with the media, DSP Nafiu Shittu, Commander of the Anti-Landguard Unit, revealed that the arrested individuals were part of an organized group notorious for intimidating residents, demolishing properties, and illegally claiming land.

He further disclosed that the operation was part of a broader initiative by the Ghana Police Service to crack down on landguard activities across the country.

The arrests have sparked hope among Ashongman Estates residents, who have long felt abandoned in their struggle against the unlawful activities of landguards.

The 10 apprehended suspects, who were reportedly sponsored, facilitated, and encouraged by Ussha Haruna, include: Yussif Touffik, Chief Ali Ibrahim, Abdul Wajeed, Seidu Issah, and Graham Smith.

The others are: Latiff Larry, Mohammed Omar, Emmanuel Mensah, Abdul Wallah, and Said Abdullai—all of whom are currently in custody and charged with causing damage and engaging in landguardism under the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999).

The successful operation at Ashongman Estates underscores the importance of collaboration between communities, law enforcement, and government institutions in tackling the landguard menace.